PremiumExclusive! Santosh Sivan: With Jack N’ Jill, I wanted to do something that was fun and closer to my heart
The acclaimed cinematographer and director talks about his upcoming movie, which has Manju Warrier, Soubin Shahir and Kalidas Jayaram
Last Updated: 01.37 PM, May 17, 2022
The wait for cinematographer and filmmaker Santosh Sivan’s next Malayalam directorial after Urumi has prolonged for 11 years. But in a few days, the director’s Jack N’ Jill, which had wrapped up shooting in 2019, is all set to hit theatres. The movie, which has elements of sci-fi, comedy and thriller, is also close to his heart, says Santosh, a reason he was willing to wait it out even when the pandemic and consequent lockdowns pushed the film’s release indefinitely.
In an exclusive interview with OTTplay, the award-winning filmmaker talks about his Jack N’ Jill, working with Manju Warrier and his upcoming projects that includes a Malayalam period film.
Jack ‘N Jill was initially set for an April 2020 release. Why did you hold on to it for over two years?
At the end of the day, I could have always released it on OTT but because I have always been familiar with the theatre experience, I believed this movie should be seen in cinema halls. That’s why I thought I could afford to wait. I am finally happy it’s releasing. Creativity always starts in darkness; just like a baby is born or a seed germinates. So, that’s why I feel theatres can never be replaced.
From the trailer, Jack N’ Jill has a quirky concept.
Yes, quirky is the right word. Everyone has been asking me when am I going to start my next epic film. So, I wanted to take a break and do something that was contemporary and fun, without the expectations that come with my films. I also wanted to make something that was closer to me.
The idea of Jack N’ Jill took shape when we had this interesting school reunion after 40 years in Thiruvananthapuram. All my classmates from Loyola came for the event; there were doctors, scientists from the US and UK. We had great conversations. This film talks about the nostalgic elements as well as the future and embraces the idea of artificial intelligence, which is ruling our lives right now. In fact, without Google chechi, we can’t go anywhere. So, Jack N’ Jill is about the future meeting the past.
That contrast is what I am trying to show. You have characters creating a science lab in the middle of a sacred grove. When the scientists are fitting lights at the lab, you have people lighting up lamps at the kaavu. There’s also a mismatch between a foreign-returnee scientist and the villagers. The film also has a revenge motive, and Manju’s character in it is unpredictable.
The movie also has Soubin Shahir, Kalidas Jayaram, Shaylee Kishen, Basil Joseph, Aju Varghese, Indrans and the late (Nedumudi) Venu chettan. Along with them, I also have a few new artistes. Some of them are my classmates. I think it’s a fun, unpredictable film to be frank.
How was it working with Manju in the movie?
Manju is a versatile, passionate artiste who is eager to work and easy to work with. She is ready to put in the hard yards. I wanted her to do action with the grace of a dancer in the film. She rehearsed it multiple times. So, whatever you see on the screen is not something that she did spontaneously. She has put in that kind of effort.
It’s not a film that fits your previous body of work in Malayalam. In that sense, did it give you the freedom to go all out and experiment?
Yes, the only expectations I had were from my schoolmates. But at the same time, I wanted it to have something new while adhering to the conventional storyline. This is a movie where the audience has to see to truly understand it.
The movie also has a Tamil version titled Centimeter, which is slightly different from the Malayalam one. At a time when Malayalam movies are being watched by a pan-Indian audience, in hindsight, did it really warrant a separate Tamil version?
The Tamil version has Yogi Babu in it. We didn’t want to dub it. Centimeter also has a different editor. Though a lot of it is similar, Centimeter will make for a varied experience because Yogi Babu has brought in the Tamil flavour to it. In Malayalam, Soubin is playing that character.
You have also completed shooting for Mumbaikar. What’s its status and what are your next films?
Mumbaikar has been completed and its rights have been sold to an OTT platform. I will be doing a Hindi film next and after that a Malayalam period movie. I haven’t decided on when the movie will go on floors but it’s always good to get back to the roots.