‘It doesn’t take long for time to change’ – this is director Leo Thaddeus’ WhatsApp status. Now is the time for that time shift for Leo. The film ‘Twelve’, which presents the great man who walked before the world as a way and light by singing the gospel of love, is progressing with the praises of the fans and critics. To Leo’s words about the Twelve.
What is twelve?
I saw the name twelve as the smallest unit of the human race rather than the twelve disciples of Jesus. 12 is a standard number. 12 tribes. 12 traits, 12 signs etc. That number was being brought to a coastal area. For outsiders, this is a gangster movie. The film tells the story of an elder brother and younger brother. But beyond that, there are many dimensions to the story and the characters. Immanuel Jesus is presented through the lives of Anthro (Vinayak) and Patro (Shine Tom). Miracles happen through those brothers. In a word, Pandarad is a movie that travels through the soul of Anthro.
How long did it take to write the script?
The answer to this question is as long as my life. This is a screenplay that has stitched together experiences from various stages of life. Not a single word from the Bible was used to write the dialogue. But there was an insistence that its struggle should come into dialogue. It is not a thriller but a mystical action drama film. Some miracles happen in this movie. But it would not be ‘mystical’ to say the reason for it. The biggest challenge in the script was to bring together Anthro’s quotable stories and the purification of his soul.
Why Vinayaka?
Without Vinayakan, this film would not exist. He has done many subtle and intense moments in Anthro’s life so beautifully. We have been close for a long time. Vinayaka has given exactly what is meant by a scene. He wants the spirit to speak rather than the scene. In a scene walking through the sea, you can see the smile on Vinayakan’s face that comes from the heart of someone who has touched his own soul.
The fact that the producer, who knows the essence of the story, came to me is also the main reason for this film to happen. After twelve years of discussion, we have arrived at this project.
Audience response, next movie?
I started making this film by purifying even my thoughts. I wanted to see the result in the theater. This movie shows that even a fish can get caught in the net of a runner. I believe it will happen to me as well. There are people who called me on the phone after watching the movie and burst into tears. A logician saw this and said ‘I know God’. There are people who have changed their long-standing quarrel after seeing the film.
A full-length commercial film that can be watched without thinking at all is now being made. Its writing is complete. Mine is one of the five screenplays selected to be sent to the Cannes Festival in collaboration with NFDC. Its works are also in progress, which is completely a festival film.