Jai Mahendran director Srikanth Mohan: 'With OTT, work is more structured...' | Exclusive

In an interview with OTTplay, Jai Mahendran director Srikanth Mohan discusses the web series and the efforts behind creating each character in it.

Srikanth Mohan, Poster of Jai Mahendran

SonyLIV is all set to stream its first original Malayalam web series soon this week. On October 11, Jai Mahendran, which stars Saiju Kurup in the title role will be accessible on the well-known OTT platform. This production also marks Srikanth Mohan's directorial debut. In an interview with OTTplay, the young filmmaker discusses the web series and the efforts behind creating each character in it.

In summary, how would you describe Jai Mahendran?

Jai Mahendran is a light-hearted political satire with its share of feel-good moments. Mahendran is a government employee who works in the revenue department. Because of his crookedness, he frequently manipulates the system to achieve a number of agendas. However, viewed in a certain light, he represents a number of public servants who are forced to tweak the system in order to accomplish their goals. Making my directorial debut with this project was exciting, and having a platform like Sony LIV on board makes it even more fortunate. I have been involved with the project since its start in 2019.

I used to visit taluk offices with Rahul Riji Nair, the writer of Jai Mahendran, and we would have conversations with the staff to learn about their life. After hearing about all of their experiences, we discussed how to include every little detail in our characters.

You have assisted in a number of films before Jai Mahendran. How will the process vary when it reaches digital platforms?

When it comes to OTT and films, the production process is the same. Regarding the pre-production phase, there are a few minor variations; I would characterise it as more structured. The OTT platform requires us to submit the script in the beginning, and they offer their recommendations. There, collaboration takes place, and we are always talking about the project's development and potential. There are no conflicts of interest, and every reshoot is seen as an opportunity to improve.

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What, in your opinion, would pique viewers' interest in Jai Mahendran?

We thought about the shift in viewers' attention spans, even before the project started. As a result, we had these conversations with editors about how to keep the story precise and move along more quickly. Saiju Kurup's performance in the series is quite intriguing. Even though he has previously played humorous parts, this one stands out because he owns the act in a subtle manner while still maintaining the audience's interest.

Everyone would find Jai Mahendran relatable, especially if they are older than eighteen and have visited a government agency. Geographical boundaries do not exist for this aspect because the mechanism in government offices is essentially the same everywhere.

How was it to collaborate with Rahul Riji Nair, the National Award winner who both wrote the script and had a key role in the series?

In addition, Rahul is the web series' showrunner. His contributions have been crucial to the project's success, serving as a liaison between the OTT team and us while also helping with character development. His primary focus has been on creative responsibility throughout his supervision of the entire project. In the series, Rahul also portrays Mahendran's right hand.

What are your upcoming projects?

I am working on a script currently, and discussions are on. Hopefully, official announcements will be made soon.

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