The movie ‘Vashi’ starring Tovino Thomas and Keerthi Suresh is coming to the theaters. Sharing a message that family and work should not be confused, the film also discusses a great social issue called Me Too. Vishnu G started his film career as an actor with films like Orkut Oru Ormakoottu and Teevram. Vashi is Raghav’s first directorial venture. Vishnu came up with Vashi after acquiring experience in several award-winning short films and several commercials. Vishnu G with the highlights of his first film. Raghav joins Manorama Online.
The first film is in court
The first film was not intended to be a courtroom drama. This is a story that I thought I could do quickly in the stories I wrote. Another movie was supposed to be made first. But when it came to Kovid, travel difficulties came. The location of the movie was decided in Dubai and it was realized that it would not take place. The husband of co-author Janice (Janice Chacko) gave me the thread for this story. The story was developed by Janice. Because of this story, it seemed that the lockdown could be done from one place without going to too many locations.
Since Thiruvananthapuram is my place, it was not difficult to find any location. The courtroom was an area where I had no idea. My habit is to learn what I do not know. It does not matter if we work hard or not. The screenplay was written with great difficulty. All the experienced lawyers went and met and talked. I went to the court in Thiruvananthapuram and sat down and understood. Fifteen lawyers were regularly seen. They all helped me. It is a script and a film that has been done with such hard work.
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To the cinema
I studied at the Engineering College, Thiruvananthapuram. His father was associated with cinema from an early age. All my father’s friends who came home were filmmakers. In the past, I used to take a photo, but when I saw it, my father would point out the mistakes in it, and when I took a photo, I would remember the mistakes my father made and it would help me a lot. Then, unknowingly, he suddenly got into acting in a flow.
Her first film was Orkut Ormakuttu. Intensity after that. From there it felt like I had to work behind the camera. I made a short film when I thought I could direct. It won awards. Then he made a short film and after that the work of advertising films started coming. The next work came after seeing each work. At one point writing became a fascination for me and I wrote a lot of stories. I went to Vashi when I thought I could make a movie.
Long-term friendship with Tovino
When I started writing this story in 2017, the story was told to Tovino. It was not an opportunity to make a film then. Then, after finishing the story now, he told the story to Tovi again. He said we can do it. We have used our friendship well. In this film, we both got the benefits of being the director’s friend and the actor’s friend. At the end of each day’s shoot, we would gather somewhere and read and improvise the next day’s script. They would both ask each other what they felt and what they could add. They both co-operated well and stood together.
Keerthi also arrived unknowingly
When I was writing the screenplay, the stars were not on anyone’s mind. When it was written, it was felt that it would be better if each of the stars came at each stage and reached out to them. The first film I was supposed to do could not be done because of Kovid. That’s when I picked up this script that was written a year and a half ago. Again I made some changes to it. When I thought about the stars, I wanted a girl who didn’t look like a lawyer. I never thought about fame then. We are family friends. Keerthi has been known since he was a very young child.
When Keerthi’s sister Revathi called for a purpose, it suddenly occurred to her that Keerthi was there and why not cast Keerthi. Keerthi is a good actor and I need to know that. Keerthi is a player who does good hard work. Whether it’s a shoot or a dub, the effort that goes into giving fame is commendable. Keerthi and Tovi are very comfortable working with me. Revathi Kalamandir is the latest film to hit the screens. At first I did not think that the production would be done by Suresh Uncle. He did not do this because they were friends. Then somehow he turned around and reached for him. Thus each one reached Vashi at a time.
If the court shows that it will not be bored
It would not be cinematic at all if the actual court was shown. But the courtroom cannot be dramatic either. When watching a movie, a lawyer should not think that this is not the case with the courts. He had seen the lawyers and taken their opinion. There are extensions and arguments in court. Lawyers will come and tell the whole case before the judge, repeat it and state its legal aspects. When really questioned, it will repeat everything that the people who have been questioned so far have said. If it shows the whole thing, the audience will get bored of it. Audiences come to the theater to enjoy. Then the story is told from a safe zone, not just imagination but completely realistic. It was not easy at all.
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Dare to release in theaters even if it is not a mass film
The film has a larger audience now than ever before. Malayalees who watch various movies are now more updated. When a movie is released, it’s a time when the audience decides whether to watch it in the theater or at a convenient time at home. I believe it is a must see movie in Vashi Theater. I believed that people would come to the theater because of the subject matter and the value of the actors in this film as well as the fact that it is a commercial film. When another film is made, it is likely that everyone will pay attention because there is a crisis over whether it will get an audience or a break if it is released in theaters. The crisis will only get worse in the future. This is something we discuss, and every filmmaker has such a fear. Now it is time to think about how to overcome this.
Ratheesh becomes Keerthi’s father
Ratheesh was a family friend of Uncle Keerthi. Ratheesh Uncle’s son is our friend. Someone should put a photo of Keerthi as his father. Ratheesh’s photo was used thinking that if it was his uncle’s photo, the audience would remember him again. I was the one who came up with such an idea. That was a happy thing for Uncle Suresh too.
Happy with the responses
I am happy to get good response for my first film. Most of the responses are positive. Those who expect mass film may be disappointed, I did not make a mass film. It is a movie that everyone as a family can go and see and enjoy. My father, mother, grandmother and wife all saw and they are happy too.
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Those who stood strong for the first film
Director and editor Mahesh Narayanan has helped me a lot to make this film a reality. Bobby Sanjay was the biggest contributor to the script. Similarly, Advocate Krishnaprasad has helped me a lot in writing the court sequence. I always discussed the story with my friend Jyothish and Jyothish was also very motivated to do this film. By the time the cinematographer told the story to Neil, he was already with the film. I was told in the beginning what I wanted and never had to say it again.
Neil knew exactly what I wanted. The film is the result of Suresh Uncle’s production, actors, music, background score, my associate assistant directors and the unit’s teammates who made the film a reality. It was only when they all came together that they were able to complete a big subject easily in a short period of time.
New residents
I want to start re-thinking the film that Vashi used to do before. The completed scripts should be taken and reverted. It is hoped that everything will be done slowly.
