Debutant directorial and scripted film Dattaan is garnering huge appreciation. How do you see audience reactions?
Very happy. It is a happy thing to say that a police station written in 2017 at Aliparamb in Malappuram, which is not known to anyone, will be built in Elapara in 2022 and people in Kerala will see it in 2023.
Coming to the movies?
The film was being pursued since 2010. I used to try to take small shot films with mobile camera. I used to do most of the editing and camera work myself. The shot films made in this way will be shown to all friends. If I feel bad after making, I will delete it myself. So many shot films have been made.
After a while, I felt that it was not enough to do this. Because people shoot films professionally with a good camera. When I felt that I was doing it in a small way, I took a job. Joined the post office as a postal assistant. After studying Gyachar for one year, he entered by writing the exam. So some savings. The shot will be filmed when the budget is adjusted to the extent that a day’s shoot is completed for Rs. It was the people around him who acted in all this.
In 2015, he did a one-shot film called ‘Inn Jaya’. That shot film received awards from 17 festivals in Kerala. I was doing nothing wrong and then I realized that I was connecting with someone. Along with this, he started writing the script for the film.
Despite not having a big film background, an actor like Joju George became the hero in the first film. Produced by Martin Prakat Films and Appu Pathu Pappu Productions. How does the twin reach such a scale?
Director Sajid Yahia is the first to make this film. It was then that he started Cinema Prentiss Productions. Joju reaches Chetan via Sajidika. Joju Chetan read the script and said ok. Then came the covid. With that, it was not possible to shoot the crowd. At that time, Sajidika was working on another project. Joju Chetan said that he will produce it when he came to know that the double will be delayed. He said he could produce because of his confidence in the subject. Martin Chetan also felt okay after hearing the story. He also became a partner in this.
Was Joju in mind as the hero when the film was being discussed?
Joju Chetan was not in mind while writing. There were ideas about what the character should look like and what layers are needed. The character has a huge range. I only got Joju Chettan in the first option to play two such characters.
Joju’s performance is being discussed. Apart from some external differences in the appearance of the dual characters, Joju maintains that difference in behavior, behavior and looks. What was the instruction given to Joju to portray these two characters?
Joju Chetan’s film is coming in 2020. He is the one who says that this can be made as a big film. It was magnified by his input. Joju Chetan has been with him since then. Pulli knows even the smallest details in the script. Vinod and Pramod had a clear understanding. There is no need to say more to the spot about it. It was very helpful for me as a beginner. He is a great actor. You will know when you watch the movie. Both of them walk in two ways. Pramod does not have Vinod’s lifestyle. Only a good actor can perform brilliantly down to the minute details.
The fight between Sabumon and Joju was very well done with only one cut in between, what were the challenges in executing it?
The fight was planned in one shot. It was cut at one point because it was too intense and too time-consuming. It is important that the actors are ready to play such a scene. There is a possibility of hitting and cutting the body. Sabuchetan and Joju Chetan were injured. Both of them showed that one commitment. It had results.
At the press meet, he had said that initially there were no double characters, one character was Joju and the other was someone else. Wouldn’t the originally planned climax be like this if it wasn’t for twins? Was anyone chosen to play the character alongside Joju?
So no one was selected. The climax was similar. There was a slight difference. No double climax. To say more would be a spoiler.
New projects?
At the same time as the twin, another film was on. A couple are under discussion. It has not reached the stage of announcement.
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