He talks about making the film, during a pandemic and waiting for its release which takes place on April 27
He talks about making the film, during a pandemic and waiting for its release which takes place on April 27
As the release of Prithviraj-Sooraj Venjaramoodu-starrer Jan Gan Man Director Dijo Jose Antony is busy with last minute post-production work. Shot in six schedules spread over 80 days over a period of one year and seven months, the film is an all-out pandemic project. Whatever could have gone wrong with a COVID-19 project, it did – after the cast and crew including Prithviraj and Dijo tested positive for the virus, shoots were canceled and the film was put on hold even temporarily. The wait can be long, but worthwhile.
Dijo Jose Antony | photo credit: special arrangement
He says that the film could not have been made in any other way as it should have been released in theatres. This was also the first question Prithviraj, whose Prithviraj Productions co-produced the film, asked director and film’s writer Sharis Mohammed when he gave him the story. “At that time, we did not know when, how and how the theaters would open. But there was no other way to do it,” Dijo says.
Revealing the details, he says, “It’s a story that will resonate with audiences anywhere in the country. The sentiments portrayed are not about the suffering of an individual, either individual or lonely, but are social ones that are disconnected from the society.” are relatable and is something that affects everyone.Thus the film’s naming also underscores what Dijo believes, the universal resonance of the story.
The film has been shot in Kerala, Lucknow, Mangalore, Mysore and Langkawi in Malaysia. “Though it is a Malayalam film, you will hear Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Hindi and English being spoken. That’s where the appeal of the film comes in…Entertainment is universal, it knows no bounds.”
stories like them
His directorial feature debut, Queen (2018), written by Sharis Mohammed and Zebin Joseph Antony, is based on a college student (Sanya Ayyappan) who is sexually assaulted and dies as a result, and how her friends bring criminals to justice. trailer and teaser of Jan Gan Man Also suggest a demand-revenge/justice theme.
Left, with Sooraj Venjaramoodu during the filming of Dijo. photo credit: special arrangement
Does a story like this – socially conscious – attract him? He said, ‘Making such films is not a deliberate decision. Both the stories have a social connection, I also know that at the end of the day a film has to be entertained. So[being socially aware]is not the only factor.” he lists rang De Basanti And Kai Po Che as films of their kind, “packed with” Passion (Excitement)” and these are the kind of stories he wants to tell.
Jan Gan Man The trailer was released last month and a buzz was generated about the film, in which once again we see Prithviraj and Sooraj Venjaramoodu together after the superhit film. driving license (2019). The cast includes Mamta Mohandas, Sherry and Shammi Thilakan.
Since Prithviraj is known to choose his projects carefully, the question arises as to what attracted him to People’s… “He liked the script, the best part was that he watched it in its entirety. His question was ‘What’s the plan? It’s huge, it’s a theater film.’ I replied that I can do it.” Only that they had to wait for more than a year for the film to hit the theaters due to the pandemic.
no one understands
Compromise was not an option, says an electrical engineer who switched careers to make the film.
They mean reducing the size of the canvas of the film. Dijo admits that it takes time to make Jan Gan Man Its release was tough for him as other films were being made and released on OTT platforms, even as he and the team were waiting for clarity on the status of reopening of theatres. He is grateful to the producers – Prithviraj Productions and Magic Frames – for waiting.
The word is, what is the first time in Malayalam cinema, People’s… There may be a second part. But Dijo neither confirms nor denies the suggestion, “If something about the ending resonates with the audience, it is a hook for the second part and could be one. There is closure of some characters in this film, but the stories of others are open. They have to keep going, their pain needs to stop and the other part for that. let’s watch!”
The film has been dubbed in Tamil, Kannada and Telugu.
Jana Gana Mana in theaters on April 28