Suresh Chawla of Greenwood-based Chawla Enterprises will be credited as an associate producer for his efforts in the making of the Western film “By Way of Helena” last fall.
“We wanted to acknowledge Suresh’s contributions to, not only our film, but to film in general in the state of Mississippi and as well as his and his family’s lifelong commitment to film in Greenwood and the Delta,” said Adam Rosenfelt, one of the movie’s producers.
Chawla, treasurer of the hotel company, said he found out about his title a month ago.
“It’s flattering that they choose me for this designation,” he said. “I was quite shocked. The criteria to be an associate producer is for someone to have helped this film out. There are so many people in Greenwood who helped this film’s production.”
“By Way of Helena” stars actors Liam Hemsworth and Woody Harrelson and was filmed at the former Florewood State Park and off Mississippi 7, north of Greenwood.
The movie was recently acquired by Lionsgate for domestic distribution last month during the Cannes Film Festival, after a deal was initiated before the famous event in France. Hemsworth and Harrelson also have appeared in Lionsgate’s blockbuster “The Hunger Games” franchise.
In November 2014, Rosenfelt wrote in a letter to The Greenwood Commonwealth that Chawla had worked “tirelessly behind the scenes” and extended credit on his hotels for the “Helena” crew and cast and a personal bridge loan to help the film “through a difficult time period.”
“The generosity and kindness of the Greenwood community to this film production company was incredible,” said Chawla. “There were literally about 100 vendors in the Greenwood community who gave extended credit to these folks on short notice — simply because we wanted to see a movie succeed in Greenwood, Mississippi.”
Rosenfelt said he and fellow “Helena” producer Maureen Meulen made the decision on Chawla’s associate producer credit after reflecting on their time in the Delta.
“We wanted to make sure our appreciation for Suresh’s contributions was acknowledged,” he said.
Ward Emling, director of the Mississippi Film Office, also recently recognized Chawla’s efforts in the making of “By Way of Helena.”
“Associate producers take many forms on productions, but Suresh Chawla proved himself invaluable to ‘By Way of Helena’ with his steadfast support and tireless work to assure the production would not just be in Greenwood, but be successful for Mississippi,” Emling said. “Suresh has become one of our great resources for the film industry in the Mississippi Delta — and not just as a businessman, but as a knowledgeable and understanding public citizen.”
Chawla has produced two other smaller movies — short films “The Retirement Party,” which won at The 48 Hour Film Project in Jackson, and “Grasshopper,” which won best short film at the Oxford Film Festival in 2013.
He is currently assisting in completing a documentary about the life of his father, V.K. Chawla, who passed away in May. Production on the documentary began two years ago and is being headed by Madison filmmakers Kevin Broughton and Ryan Bohling.
“I never thought I’d be into producing movies, but in the last couple of years, I kind of got a taste for it,” Chawla said.
In the past five years, Chawla has been involved with the filming of four movies in the Delta — “The Help,” “The Sound and the Fury” and “By Way of Helena,” all in the Greenwood area, and “Haunted” in Greenville — while his company’s hotels have hosted the cast and crew. Chawla said recently his family has been approached by three production companies, each with a movie script, that are interested in filming in the Mississippi Delta.
“I am totally convinced that movie making could be a big business and economic boom in the Mississippi Delta,” he said.
“By Way of Helena” is set in the late 1800s and centers around Texas Ranger David Kingston (Hemsworth) who is investigating a series of mysterious deaths in an isolated frontier town called Helena. Also in the film is Abraham Brant (Harrelson), a preacher who has a cult-like hold over the town’s residents.
The film was written by Matt Cook and directed by Kieran Darcy-Smith.
“By Way of Helena” also stars William Hurt, Alice Braga and Emory Cohen. Several people from Greenwood had small parts or appeared as extras.
A release date has not been set, but Rosenfelt said he and Meulen are looking forward to premiering the film in Mississippi.
• Contact Ruthie Robison at 581-7233 or rrobison@gwcommonwealth.com.
