Govind Vishnu always wanted to make a movie based on boxing, and he is happy that his first film is receiving rave reviews from the audience. In an exclusive interview with South First, Govind shares his journey with 'Daveed'.
Published Feb 27, 2025 | 3:31 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 27, 2025 | 3:31 PM
Govind Vishnu and Antony Varghese on the sets of 'Daveed'. (Supplied)
Govind Vishnu’s debut directorial Daveed, featuring Antony Varghese in the lead role as a boxer and Lijo Mol Jose as the female lead, has won the hearts of the audience. The film is running in packed theatres and has become a hit with family audiences, making it a success.
Govind Vishnu always wanted to make a movie based on boxing, and he is happy that his first film is receiving rave reviews from the audience. In an exclusive interview with South First, Govind shares his journey with Daveed.
Here are the edited excerpts:
Q. How did you decide to do a movie on boxing?
A. I am an ardent lover of sports, and I have always wanted to create an action film. The current trend in Malayalam cinema is to offer something with a “wow factor” to captivate audiences, and I feel that a proper boxing film has yet to be made in the industry. Recently, I came across a news report from a foreign country, which became the central theme of my movie. To make the story more believable, I decided to incorporate real-life characters.
While researching, I was shocked to discover that there is a boxing village called Pooladikunnu in Kozhikode. It was new information to me that a coach had spent 55 years training boxers in that village.
The movie begins with a surrealistic tone and later shifts to a more realistic one. The major highlight of the film is the relationship between a daughter and her father, with the daughter viewing her father as her hero.
The concept revolves around the character of Daveed, a common man who takes on a world champion. The story centres around a father preparing for a world competition, all for the sake of his daughter. This one-line premise encapsulates the heart of the movie.
Q. How did foreign actor Mo Ismail join the movie?
Govind Vishnu in action. (Supplied)
A. The central theme of Daveed—the fight between a common man and a world champion— called for the involvement of an international star. We reached out to casting agencies, conducted online auditions, and shortlisted three actors.
From these, Egyptian actor Mo Ismail was selected for the role. It was a challenging task to bring him on board, as he was a busy actor, anchor, and sportsman. He also faced visa issues, so we had to wait for him to sort everything out.
Q. Can you tell me about the character played by Vijayaraghavan?
A. Vijayaraghavan sir is a genius actor, and I feel fortunate to have worked with him. His vast experience in cinema was invaluable for Daveed, where he portrayed the real-life character Puthalath Raghavan, who played a key role in training many boxers in Kerala.
Raghavan lived in Pooladikunnu, and his relatives and students, after watching the film, said they couldn’t imagine anyone else in the role but Vijayaraghavan.
Q. How did you decide on the lead actors? Were Antony Varghese and Lijo Mol on board?
‘Daveed’ is Govind Vishnu’s debut movie. (Supplied)
A. The producers suggested Antony Varghese for the role, and he was perfect for it. He’s an exceptional actor with great potential to become a star. His screen presence brought a unique aura to the film. Antony trained with professional boxers for six months and received a professional boxing license from The Kerala Boxing Council, based on his skills shown in the climax scenes. He’s the only actor in the world to receive this.
We had Lijo Mol in mind for the female lead after finishing the story. She embodied the character of a woman next door—supportive, strong, and with depth. While the hero fights in the ring, the female lead fights in real life. Her performance was bold and impressive.
Antony’s character is lazy, but Lijo’s gives him strength. Her character, representing the working class, is rarely explored in commercial cinema. Similarly, the unemployed man (Antony’s role) is also uncommon in films today.
The casting has received positive feedback, with no overacting. Child artist Jess Kukku deserves special praise for her performance. She and Antony created a memorable father-daughter relationship, making her the trump card of the movie.
Q. How were your conversations with music director Justin Varghese and cinematographer Salu K Thomas?
Crew of ‘Daveed’. (Supplied)
A. Justin Varghese is one of the most talented music directors in Malayalam today. During our discussions, we talked about references from Santosh Narayanan’s works, and Justin was excited to work on it.
For cinematography, Salu K Thomas did an excellent job. We couldn’t shoot at the actual boxing ring in Pooladikunnu, as National Highway construction was going on there, during the shoot. While the scenes set in Kochi were shot there, the parts supposed to be in Kozhikode were actually filmed in Poothotta, Kochi.
Q. Can you tell me more about Pooladikunnu?
A. Pooladikunnu is a boxing village in Kerala. The first women boxers from Kerala were from this village. With this movie, more people came to know about this boxing village.
Q. What made you become a filmmaker?
A. I have been a fan of the late film critic and journalist A. Sahadevan, who used to do film reviews for the Indiavision news channel. He sowed the seeds of cinema in me. Though I never met him, his program greatly inspired me to become a filmmaker. He introduced me to boxing films like Raging Bull, Rocky, and The Ring.
I was also a volunteer at the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) in 2010, and this experience further fueled my passion for cinema.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
