{"id":185292,"date":"2023-10-05T09:26:02","date_gmt":"2023-10-05T09:26:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indiansapidnews.com\/?p=185292"},"modified":"2023-10-05T09:26:02","modified_gmt":"2023-10-05T09:26:02","slug":"we-will-bring-the-oscar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indiansapidnews.com\/tv-movies\/we-will-bring-the-oscar\/","title":{"rendered":"‘We Will Bring The Oscar’"},"content":{"rendered":"

‘Ours is a disaster movie with no big stars, songs or commercial ingredients.’
‘Yet, it is Malayalam cinema’s highest grosser.’<\/strong><\/p>\n

Even though it’s the highest grossing Malayalam film of all-time, and one of the highest grossing Indian films of the year too, not many outside of Kerala had heard of 2018: Everyone Is A Hero<\/em> till it was selected as India’s entry<\/strong> for the Oscars.<\/p>\n

Speaking to Rediff.com<\/strong><\/em> Senior Contributor Roshmila Bhattacharya<\/strong>, Director Jude Anthany Joseph<\/strong>, who has also written the screenplay with Akhil P Dharmajan, reveals that he himself was a victim of the 2018 Kerala floods which inspired the epic survival drama.<\/p>\n

Were you expecting an Oscar nomination?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Not at all.<\/p>\n

A week before the nominations were announced, I had read in an article that a film called Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani<\/em> was the frontrunner in the Oscar race.<\/p>\n

So though I had personally sent my film to IFFI and IFFK, I did not hold much hope for the Oscars till I got a call from CNN for an interview and learnt that 2018<\/em> was the official Indian selection.<\/p>\n

It reminded me of Paulo Coelho’s famous quote, ‘And when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it.’<\/p>\n

Since its release, I had felt that my film did not get its due appreciation. Maybe now it will.<\/p>\n

What’s the way forward, given that the Oscars demand a lot of lobbying?<\/strong><\/p>\n

My producer has a production office in Los Angeles and will try his best.<\/p>\n

My mind tells me that even without lobbying, we will bring the Oscar home.<\/p>\n

Most of the big hits, be it in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu or Kannada, have been action films or romances with a much-wanted star, fights and songs.<\/p>\n

Ours is a disaster movie with no big stars, songs or commercial ingredients. Yet, it is Malayalam cinema’s highest grosser.<\/p>\n

I attribute that to a strong emotional connection with the audience.<\/p>\n

Whether it’s Baahubali<\/em> or Jurassic Park<\/em>, these films have worked because viewers wanted the people’s king to win and the visitors in the park to be saved from the dinosaurs.<\/p>\n

Human emotions are universal everywhere.<\/p>\n

Our film was made on a budget of Rs 26 crore (Rs 260 million<\/em>), and this includes the remuneration of 129 actors, the fees of the technician, production and location costs, including hotel stays.<\/p>\n

We have already earned Rs 200 crore-plus (Rs 2 billion<\/em>), over Rs 175 crore (Rs 1.75 billion<\/em>) coming from the theatres alone.<\/p>\n

The dubbed Tamil, Kannada and Hindi prints were not ready on time and could be released only after two-three weeks.<\/p>\n

We didn’t get enough theatres then and I was disappointed.<\/p>\n

But now, people have started asking where they can watch 2018<\/em>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Are you planning to re-release the film following the Oscar buzz?<\/strong><\/p>\n

We might if there is no breach of contract with our OTT partner SonyLIV.<\/p>\n

The producer released the film worldwide, including the US, but we missed out on a few markets like Russia and China.<\/p>\n

Around three weeks ago, we were approached to release 2018<\/em> in these countries.<\/p>\n

How did the idea of a disaster film take root?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I was a victim of the 2018 Kerala floods myself.<\/p>\n

My house was flooded and I lost a lot of things.<\/p>\n

I moved to my sister’s home and was depressed for a while.<\/p>\n

Then, ironically, an NGO called Bodhini, approached me to make a short video that would offer hope to people, some of whom were suicidal.<\/p>\n

Earlier, I had made a short film free of cost for Bodhini to screen at schools.<\/p>\n

It’s on Child Body Safety titled No. Go Tell<\/em>, along the lines of Aamir Khan’s Good Touch vs Bad Touch<\/em> and has got a lot of views on YouTube.<\/p>\n

(Chuckles<\/em>) Every year, on Children’s Day, I get messages that I should watch my own film.<\/p>\n

On Bodhini’s urging, I started reading newspapers and watching videos on the flood.<\/p>\n

I realised that this subject could lend itself to a fascinating film as it underlines the triumph of unity.<\/p>\n

All of Kerala, from ministers and MLAs, the police, army, navy and air force, health workers, media and the common man came together in what is a huge success story.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

So the film came out of real life?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I started working on the script, stitching together small stories like that of the Polish tourists caught in the deluge, a pregnant woman who is airlifted by the Indian Air Force<\/strong>, a former military officer who drowned while rescuing others and got a one column mention in the newspapers.<\/p>\n

I narrated it to my producers, actors, technicians and friends and they loved it. So with my production designer, I started working on a huge water tank in which houses could float to economically execute the plan.<\/p>\n

The film was announced in 2018, we started filming in 2019 and had planned to finish by May 2020.<\/p>\n

But in March 2020, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the film was almost shelved.<\/p>\n

The producer wanted me to plan another film, but for two years, I tried convincing him to make 2018.<\/em><\/p>\n

Finally, we resumed shooting in May 2022, finishing in November and releasing the film in May 2023.<\/p>\n

Did COVID-19 bring about any changes in the script?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes, it did because the pandemic disrupted my life again.<\/p>\n

Since I wasn’t doing anything during the lockdown, I had enough time to work on the script.<\/p>\n

I was diagnosed with COVID twice, along with my parents, despite locking the door and taking every precaution.<\/p>\n

When I was in quarantine, life seemed so empty, the end seemed near, and there was nothing to do except prep for this film.<\/p>\n

In May 2020, when we started shooting, I was working with the third draft.<\/p>\n

When shooting resumed in May 2022, I was on my 12th draft.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

You must have got lots of appreciation. Any reaction from a flood victim that stands out in your memory?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I met the pregnant lady who was air-lifted and saved.<\/p>\n

She had had her baby and was crying because the scene in the film was so real, exactly how it had happened.<\/p>\n

She, her husband and parents hugged me after watching the film.<\/p>\n

It was very emotional.<\/p>\n

While the jury voted unanimously, a section believes that your film doesn’t stand a chance against stronger competitors.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes, I have read such comments, people have the right to express them.<\/p>\n

If the criticism is genuine, I will try and correct it in my next film.<\/p>\n

For now, even negative comments make our film a talking point.<\/p>\n

I know it’s potential.<\/p>\n

The floods united people in bad times, helped them overcome negativity.<\/p>\n

Maybe 2018<\/em> will too.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What did you think of RRR<\/em> which won an Oscar for Best Original Song?<\/strong><\/p>\n

RRR<\/em> was a huge commercial success.<\/p>\n

Baahubali<\/em> was great too.<\/p>\n

But it was (S S<\/em>) Rajamouli sir’s Eega<\/strong><\/em> which left a huge impact.<\/p>\n

Of the films you have watched this year, which ones made an impression on you?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I have watched a lot of films in different languages but none really impressed, not even mine.<\/p>\n

There was nothing like Tumbaad, Visaranai, Asuran<\/em> or Vada Chennai<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Even the political drama Maamannan<\/strong><\/em>, I feel Mari Selvaraj can do better.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

An interesting film you directed is Nakshathrangalude Rajakumaran<\/em>, Mammootty’s biography.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s a short film actually.<\/p>\n

I would love to turn it into a feature film, but Mr Mammootty insists his life is not interesting enough to merit one.<\/p>\n

I was working as an assistant director when I approached him with the idea in 2012.<\/p>\n

He agreed and I started writing the script.<\/p>\n

While the scripting was on, I was offered Ohm Shanthi Oshaana<\/em> with which I made my directorial debut in February 2014.<\/p>\n

When I went back to Mr Mammootty, he told me, ‘You have made a superhit film, why do you want to film my story now?’<\/p>\n

Even last month I went back to him only to hear, ‘No, no.’<\/p>\n

Maybe once you bring home the Oscar, he will agree?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I hope he does because I intend to make the film someday.<\/p>\n

I would require him for just two-three scenes in the last portion.<\/p>\n

Since the story is focused on his youth and childhood, I would have to take his son Dulquer Salmaan or some other newcomer to play him.<\/p>\n

Are you a Mammootty fan?<\/strong><\/p>\n

No, but Nivin Pauly (actor-producer<\/em>) is and he recommended a book based on Mr Mammootty’s life.<\/p>\n

I read it and was inspired by this emotional story of a man who was raised in a village, Chempu in Vaikom in the Kottayam district.<\/p>\n

Even as a nine-year-old boy, he wanted to became a mega star, and starting out with small roles, went on to become one.<\/p>\n

It’s a very inspirational story.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Your own story is very interesting too, given that in 2014, you changed your name from Sijo Joseph to Jude Anthany Joseph.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was because of a close friend, a distant cousin, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour.<\/p>\n

The family was very depressed knowing he had just a couple of years to live.<\/p>\n

That’s when I read about St Jude and wondered why people were praying to one of Jesus’s 12 apostles who had betrayed him.<\/p>\n

I learnt that this was another Jude, a cousin of Christ, and when I visited his church in Cochin, I was asked to pray for nine consecutive Thursdays and my wish would come true.<\/p>\n

On the sixth Thursday I learnt that my friend didn’t have a brain tumour, his report had got mixed up with someone else’s.<\/p>\n

I was ecstatic, and since I had promised St Jude that if my wish was fulfilled, I would praise his name to the world, I changed my name to Jude Anthany so everyone, like you, would ask me why and I could talk about the saint.<\/p>\n

So what next Jude Anthany Joseph?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I’m doing a Hindi film, an emotional father-son relationship which might work.<\/p>\n

Also a huge Telugu film, another relationship drama, with Chiranjeevi sir.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Source: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

‘Ours is a disaster movie with no big stars, songs or commercial ingredients.’‘Yet, it is Malayalam cinema’s highest grosser.’ Even though it’s the highest grossing Malayalam film of all-time, and one of the highest grossing Indian films of the year…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":185291,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n'We Will Bring The Oscar' - Indiansapidnews.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/indiansapidnews.com\/tv-movies\/we-will-bring-the-oscar\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"'We Will Bring The Oscar' - Indiansapidnews.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"‘Ours is a disaster movie with no big stars, songs or commercial ingredients.’‘Yet, it is Malayalam cinema’s highest grosser.’ Even though it’s the highest grossing Malayalam film of all-time, and one of the highest grossing Indian films of the year...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/indiansapidnews.com\/tv-movies\/we-will-bring-the-oscar\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Indiansapidnews.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-10-05T09:26:02+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"mediabest\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/indiansapidnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/We-Will-Bring-The-Oscar.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"mediabest\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/indiansapidnews.com\/tv-movies\/we-will-bring-the-oscar\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/indiansapidnews.com\/tv-movies\/we-will-bring-the-oscar\/\",\"name\":\"'We Will Bring The Oscar' - 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