In an interview with South First, Vishnu Vinay spoke about his debut movie and other thoughts about films.
Published Dec 12, 2024 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Dec 12, 2024 | 10:14 AM
Vishnu Vinay. (Instagram)
Vishnu Vinay son of veteran Malayalam director Vinayan made his debut as a director with Anand Sreebala which has received a good response from the audience and critics.
Vishnu is also an actor. He debuted in 2017 with History of Joy and did key roles in Pathonpatham Noottandu (2022) directed by his father Akasha Ganga 2 (2019).
In an interview with South First, Vishnu spoke about his debut movie and other thoughts about films.
Here are the edited excerpts:
Q. After pursuing aerospace engineering, you entered the cinema, what prompted you to do so?
A. I have been watching cinema since my childhood, and have been visiting my father’s movie sets. I had also acted as a child artist. But during my plus-two, I didn’t have any plans to enter the movie industry, so I chose the subject I liked the most.
During my engineering in the USA, we had optional subjects apart from the core courses and I gave preference to film studies and related subjects. While studying the subjects, I missed films and the Malayalam language. At one point I also did a small documentary film for the ‘International Students Association’, and found it interesting.
Vishnu Vinay in ‘Pathonpatham Noottandu’. (Supplied)
At the same time, my father also was facing a boycott from the Malayalam industry, it was then that I started thinking about films. The issues faced by my father made me closer to the cinema.
While doing my master’s, I realised I didn’t fit into the job role, and became closer to the cinema, so I came back here. I started working with my father in his production house to understand more about other aspects of cinema apart from the creative side.
Later my friend Vishnu Govind directed History of Joy. My intention was not to act, but to be part of the writing and direction team. The producer whom we approached asked if I could do the lead role. That is how I became an actor.
Q. Anand Sreebala is based on a real-life story. What were the challenges as you also criticised the police system?
A. We did receive a response from the policemen who saw the movie, but it wasn’t severe criticism. They mentioned that it was still an active case and there wasn’t a need to criticise the police.
What we have understood is that they aren’t projecting it as a big issue, and are handling it lightly. There have been other movies that criticised the police system, but the police haven’t retaliated before either.
In this movie, we haven’t faced any backlash and the incidents narrated in this story are well documented in news reports. We have support there and haven’t written based on hearsay and that could also be a reason for not receiving much criticism.
Q. The combination of Anand and Sreebala (two major characters) has evoked some dramatic scenes. Have you ever felt the audience will dislike it and call it a cringe scene?
Vishnu Vinay on the sets of Anand ‘Sreebala’. (Instagram)
A. When we were writing the movie, the riskiest part was the mother-son relationship. This is primarily an investigative film, and since the case is popular, people were eager to see how it would be solved.
I had a few concerns about the story. In most investigative films, we see how the protagonist deals with inner struggles. But when Abhilash told me the story, I felt it was more unique, and we knew the risks involved and worked accordingly.
While creating the dramatic scenes, we were aware that some would like this element, and others wouldn’t. It’s one of those situations where opinions are divided. After the film’s release, we received mixed feedback—some liked it, others didn’t.
Our goal was to avoid making the trope too cliché or cringy, aiming for a balanced approach. I know there was criticism in this area, but we didn’t want to present the character in a typical way.
In character-driven investigations, the protagonist’s hallucinations can get repetitive, and we were conscious of that. In some parts, it worked, and in others, we managed to avoid it becoming melodramatic.
Ultimately, I think most people liked it, which is why the film was well-received. When I first heard the story, I knew I wanted the movie to stand out.
Q. Arjun Ashokan’s character isn’t a typical hero and he isn’t having any heroic moments. How did you make sure this will work in the movie?
A. I found this character unique for several reasons. Anand Sreebala, played by Arjun Ashokan, is not a police officer but a common man with his own limitations. Being a regular person is also a blessing for him, as it makes him more approachable when interacting with others. We subtly highlighted these aspects in the investigation process. In that sense, this character stands out from typical investigation thrillers.
If we added more heroism to him, it would not do justice to the character. From start to finish, we kept his energy level consistent, and that was intentional.
There are a few heroic moments, but they happen because he is pushed to act. He does them out of passion, knowing he’s close to solving the case. Even when he gets the chance to interrogate the culprit, he questions whether he truly deserves it. The pacing of this character was carefully planned and intentional.
Q. The choice of actor Sangeeta was an interesting one. How was it working with such a senior actor?
A. While crafting this character, we debated whether it should be loud, humorous, or subtle. We had Sangeetha Chechi’s (sister) face in mind, knowing she could bring a subtle touch to the role. We were pleased after seeing her first shot with Arjun.
It was a comfortable experience working with her, and she was very cooperative. This was the first time she had taken on such a lengthy role since her comeback.
Q. Why didn’t you give some more scenes to Sangeetha in the movie as the story is mainly about Anand and his mom Sreebala?
A. My main takeaway from this movie was how to handle her character. I see it as a lesson. While writing, we realized that if the character had too much screen time, it would feel melodramatic. If she had too little, it would seem unimportant and distracting. We aimed for a balance in those scenes.
The challenge was that this was a subplot, so we couldn’t spend too much time on it. Our goal was to show how important she is to her son in a limited space. Sangeetha Chechi was perfect for the role, as she could convey everything needed for a character with a mysterious past.
Vishnu Vinay with his father Vinayan. (Supplied)
Q. Have you been inspired by your father while making your debut movie?
A. We had a discussion with my dad during the scripting process and took his feedback. However, I tried to maintain my style and followed the script written by Abhilash.
Q. What was the feedback from your father after watching the movie?
A. He saw the film before its release in the mixing studio and just said it could be shown to other people, nothing about if it is good or bad. However, after the release, he watched it with my mother in a packed theatre and told me the movie was good.
Q. Your father has fought with big names in the industry. He has also introduced many actors in the industry. What have you learnt from him?
A. My father introduced many people, including those in the technical department, at a time when it was difficult. He always wanted to work with new talent, even though there were other superstars in the industry.
I’ve been inspired by my father’s ability to introduce new people to cinema, and I hope to do the same in my future projects. He is an honest person, and throughout his career, he faced challenges because he spoke his mind. But because of his honesty, he was able to overcome those issues. He stood firm in his beliefs, never made mistakes, and nobody could corner him.
Cinema is a colourful world, and many try to adjust to it. But there’s no need to do that—just be yourself, be honest, and focus on your work.
Q. What do you prefer to be? Actor or director?
A. I will start my next movie in February, which was offered to me shortly after Pathonpatham Nootandu. After completing Pathonpatham Nootandu, I was satisfied and decided to take on films if the right opportunities came my way.
However, direction is my dream. I want to be a filmmaker who creates meaningful films with good ideas. I would love to continue in cinema as both an actor and director.
Vishnu’s film was received well. (Supplied)
Q. What kind of films do you watch and love to do?
A. I watch all kinds of films, sometimes I follow directors and watch their filmography, I also watch many films on OTT, that I feel shouldn’t be missed. But for native films, I try to catch them in the theatre itself. I have no reservations about watching films.
Q. What are your upcoming projects?
A. As mentioned, I will be working next as an actor for the movie titled Summons directed by Ann Sariga. I’m also hearing scripts for my next directorial.
Q. Do you have any plans to write a script?
A. I wanted to write a script, but after Pathonpatham Nootandu, I focused on acting opportunities. Anto Joseph, the producer of Anand Sreebala, told me that Abhilash Pillai had some stories and suggested I try directing, given my experience as an associate director with my father.
I seized that opportunity. In the future, I aim to write and direct my own films. However, my next project will be with another writer, as I was impressed by the story.
(Edited by Sumavarsha Kandula)
