Kishkindha Kaandam director Dinjith Ayyathan: 'Asif Ali was always emotionally tensed on the set...' | Exclusive

The public is responding overwhelmingly well to Dinjith Ayyathan's second film, Kishkindha Kaandam, which emerged as an Onam winner this year for its gripping story and performances. The director goes into further detail on the film and its characters in an interview with OTTplay. 

Why was Kishkindha Kaandam chosen as the film's title?

Although Kishkindha Kandam is a chapter in Ramayana, the film has no connection with the mythology. The story is set in the monkey-populated protected forest, Kallepathi. All of the movie's focus is on how people coexist with monkeys in the location. The main characters are common people forced to deal with exceptional situations.  

There are delicate emotional subtleties in the film that require careful execution. What was your main focus initially while shooting?

The only difficulty we faced was to maintain subtle emotions with continuity. Each of the three main characters, particularly Asif Ali's Ajayan, has a distinct emotional meter and dimension. Because Ajayan has experienced multiple traumas and his mind is wandering across a different world, the performer has to handle him carefully. Asif did a fantastic job portraying it by adding nuances unique to the part. We used to see him on set always tense with emotion because he was so invested in the character's feelings.

Since the movie was not shot in a sequential manner, maintaining continuity was our main priority. In that instance, I had instructed my assistant directors to alert me anytime I made a mistake. For example, during the fourth day of filming, we shot the conclusion, which was a challenging scene, and I made a mistake. But we did a second take during the last few days of shooting. 

Also Read: Kishkinda Kaandam movie review: Asif Ali’s effective slow-burn thriller is equally clever and moving

Last year, Kishkindha Kaandam was announced. Was there a specific reason for the release's delay?

The delay in release was due to several factors; nonetheless, no one intentionally made a mistake. Actor availability was a problem at first, and post-production work took longer than expected. Our original aim was to release the movie following the theatrical debuts of Thalavan and Level Cross, but those were also delayed for a number of reasons. But every movie has a destiny, in my opinion, and ours was to be released on Onam. The choice to release it around this holiday was made by our producer, Joby, and it actually worked out well for us.

Many audiences have expressed their appreciation for the film by drawing comparisons to other Malayalam slow-burning thrillers, such as Drishyam, since its premiere. What are your thoughts about it?

It's a good thing that Kishkindha Kaandam is being compared to a number of outstanding Malayalam thrillers. The thought that people have acknowledged our work as having reached the level of certain notable filmmakers is undoubtedly a feat. However, every cinema is unique and, in my opinion, has a special place.

In contrast to your debut film, KishKindha Kaandam works with a distinct genre. Which genre would you like to try out next? Or are you currently working on a script?

My first movie, Kakshi: Amminippilla, is a feel-good drama with a cheerful filming ambiance. However, creating a thriller can be a distinct experience, as everyone on the set was in a serious mood. I love to work on any genre, but it has to have an idea or content that's exciting for me to work on. Since I am an artist and paint mostly, I have a certain amount of preference for perfection. I get personally bothered by things I work on that I cannot relate to.

Also Read: ARM emerges triumphant this Onam; Kishkindha Kaandam earns more praise

Asif appears in two distinct personalities in your movie. Based on his performances in your two films, how would you characterise him as an actor?

In interviews, I consistently bring up my belief that Kakshi: Amminippilla provided Asif with a chance to mature as an actor. Prior to this film, he was primarily recognised in these kinds of young roles that were typecast. However, Adv. Pradeepan Manjodi in this film made him more palatable for a family audience. Then Kettyolaanu Ente Malakha came out, which completely altered his acting career. 

He plays Ajayan in Kishkindha Kaandam, who is a devoted and conflicted father as well as son. His range as an actor has changed for the best. Asif clearly pays attention to the most minute details, maintaining the character's equilibrium. When it came to Ajayan, we had little influence because Asif was enamoured with him as a performer.