Director Jeethu Joseph’s latest film Mirage starring Asif Ali and Aparna Balamurali is currently streaming on SonyLIV. In an exclusive chat with IHNS, the filmmaker opened up about the film and shared information about his upcoming ventures including Drishyam 3 with Mohanlal.
jeetu joseph interview
1. Recently, your film Miraj starring Asif Ali and Aparna Balamurali made its OTT debut on SonyLIV. How was it working with the actors, especially after the success of Kishkindha Kaandam?
Answer: It was definitely a great experience for me. I have personally worked with both of them before and it was a gratifying experience because they are directors’ actors. Be it Asif or Aparna, both of them are extremely talented and when you work with people of their calibre, your workload automatically reduces.
Especially during the climactic battle, his dedication was remarkable. I wanted that whole sequence to look brutal and raw. Both of them gave their best and I am really happy that I got a chance to work with them for the first time.
2. Upon its theatrical release, Mirage faced criticism for having too many twists. How do you respond to this feedback?
Answer: When the producers and I decided to make this film, we were fully aware that there was an element of risk involved. Mirage is an experimental film. Initially, we had planned to make it in Bollywood when Manoj Khatri came to me with the subject. We had envisioned shooting it in London.
While many Bollywood actresses were keen to play the female lead, male actors were hesitant to play the co-lead.
We all have another face that no one ever sees, except in our characters or situations. This is what we have focused on in this film. The title and tagline themselves justify what we were trying to say: like a mirage, as we get closer to the characters, they change.
Every major character in the film transforms, and these changes naturally translate into twists. Many viewers now expect a change after seeing my name associated with a film.
Many also said that the story was predictable. We were aware of this. We knew that some things would be predictable; Our only focus was on the safety of the climax.
I always take genuine criticism seriously. I also asked for feedback from many people. Many people told me that they watch my films sitting on the edge of their seats, paying attention to every detail. Because he suspects every character at some point, he ends up saying, “It was predictable.”
Many Bollywood actors rejected Mirage because of its climax, mainly because the protagonist has a negative shade. Usually, when a hero is shown negatively, filmmakers tend to justify or justify his actions. In Mirage, we didn’t do that, she’s completely a villain.
I accept constructive criticism wholeheartedly. I listen and make changes in my future films. Of course, some people find fault just for the sake of it, and I don’t take them to heart.
I also believe that if one of my assistant directors had directed Mirage in my place, perhaps the reception would have been different. Because my name has expectations attached to it, the film faced more scrutiny, but I enjoy those challenges.
At the end of the day, I’m just trying to tell a story. I don’t expect continued success; Failures are part of the journey. In Mirage, each character had many layers, which naturally led to many twists. None of them were added just for the sake of it.
Another thing about Mirage is that the characters don’t have a lot of emotional depth. The only character with an emotional layer is Aparna Balamurali’s character, but by the end even she turns out to be a false story.
3. Your upcoming thriller Vallathu Vasathe Kallan starring Joju George and Biju Menon is all set to release in theaters soon. From the character posters, it appears to be set against the backdrop of crime in a hill town. What can you tell us about this project?
Answer: Unlike Mirage, Vallathu Vasathe Kallan is a very emotional thriller. I look at every film differently. I always try to bring something new even in the thriller genre.
Whether it is a crime thriller set in a hill station or not, it will be clear only after watching the film. This is a slightly different kind of film. I didn’t write the script – it was written by Dinu Thomas Elan, who also created Kudasha.
4. One of your most awaited ventures is Drishyam 3 starring Mohanlal. Multiple reports suggest that this will mark the end of Georgekutty’s story. is that true?
Answer: No, that wouldn’t be a conclusion at all. When I first made Drishyam, I never planned a sequel. Later, when I got another idea, I worked on it.
After the second film, I wondered if a third part was possible, and finally, I found a formula. The first film deals with an incident experienced by a family. We then skip six years and see how Georgekutty and his family have evolved.
Now, in the third part, we take another jump of about 3.5 to 4 years. We know how Georgekutty destroyed the evidence; Now we find out what happens in their lives after that.
I only write stories that feel natural. I don’t know if the story will end with this part or not…if a new angle comes up then maybe I’ll make a fourth. I’m not saying I would, but it’s a possibility. When I thought of an interesting angle in the third part, I started working on it.
I can’t tell what the “angle” is yet – you’ll have to wait for the film’s release. When I announced the third part, many people said that its script should be better than the second one. But I’m not counting on it to top the previous films; I just want to tell another chapter in this family’s life.
5. In an earlier interview, you had mentioned that the climax of Drishyam 3 was the first thing that came to your mind. How did you develop the rest of the story from that point?
Answer: When I first thought of the climax, I discussed it with Lleyton (Mohanlal). I presented the idea with that specific “angle” and he found it interesting in the context of his character.
Then I told him that although the angle was strong, I needed to develop the story to get to that point. As I worked on the process, I faced and overcame complexities like in Drishyam 2. Solving those challenges helped me shape the entire film.
6. Drishyam Movies: Including 12th Man, Ram and Neru, Drishyam 3 is your sixth collaboration with Mohanlal. How have your business relationships evolved over the years?
Answer: Not just me, every director who has worked with Laleton feels like working with him all his life. First of all, he is an exceptionally talented, natural actor. Secondly, beyond talent, there also needs to be a sense of camaraderie between the actor and the director.
Lleyton is a director’s actor. He shares his opinions but ultimately respects the writer and director. I can say with certainty that Mohanlal sir dedicates himself 100 percent to the creators. It’s a blessing to have such an actor; No one in their right mind would miss that opportunity.
This is why filmmakers from Bollywood and other industries are eager to collaborate with him. Be it 6 or 15 films, I will be happiest to continue working with him.
7. Talking about Ram, reports revealed that the film got delayed due to financial issues. What type of film is it and is there any update on its progress?
Answer: Yes, there has been some development with Ram. We faced financial constraints during production, due to which the project was stalled for some time. Producers tried to resolve this, but other complications arose.
During shooting in the UK, the lead actress suffered an injury, and other factors contributed to the delay. Weather and climate were also issues whenever we planned to start again; Conditions will change, or space will become unavailable. New investors came and went, and we had to restart the process several times.
Due to all these reasons the film was delayed. But now things are looking positive. I can’t confirm anything until production officially resumes, but I’m hopeful.
Ram will be an action film, not a typical mass entertainer, but a realistic and grounded action venture.
8. Finally, buzz is that Drishyam 3 will release simultaneously in Malayalam, Hindi and Telugu. Is that still the plan, or will the Mohanlal version release first like before?
Answer: The makers of the Hindi and Telugu versions have asked if we can release the film together. The point is that Drishyam has a massive following both in India and abroad.
Hindi and Telugu producers are worried that if the Malayalam version is released first, it may affect their box-office performance, as audiences will already know the story. They are discussing it with our producer, but nothing has been decided yet. Releasing all versions simultaneously may also impact our business.
As of now, we are continuing our shooting. By the time we finish, if a decision has been taken, we will proceed accordingly. Otherwise, we will release the Malayalam version first as before.
