Voice Of Sathyanathan director Raffi: ‘Young filmmakers have given a pan-India status to Malayalam cinema’

Filmmaker Raffi’s Voice of Sathyanathan is poised for release - with Anupam Kher, Jagapathi Babu, Dileep, Jude Anthany Joseph and Makrand Deshpande playing key characters. Speaking in a recent interview, the director said that new-age filmmakers have helped Malayalam cinema gain recognition across the nation in recent years.

“The new batch of filmmakers has remarkable talent, and they demonstrate courage in their approach,” Raffi told Kaumudy TV. Recalling his initial years in the industry, the director said that there was a time when none of the newcomers would utter a word against the approach adopted by the experienced lot. “Unlike us, the new generation explores a wide range of topics that were previously left undiscussed,” he added.

According to Raffi, Malayalam cinema did enjoy a distinct value across India, even amid films in other languages that are crafted with substantial budgets and a grand approach. “But now we are able to produce big-budget films as well as small projects, ensuring they possess rich and compelling content,” he elaborated.

Sharing his enthusiasm working with new filmmakers, Raffi said, “Earlier, the interval between shots were used for sharing jokes. But the younger generation engages in discussions about cinema.” He also highlighted the limitations of filmmaking in the past, where one had to wait for a month to see how a shot turned out.

Known for the iconic film Thenkasipattanam, Raffi has also helmed films like Punjabi House and Pandippada, as well as Ring Master and Role Models. Meanwhile, Voice of Sathyanathan is ready to hit theatres on July 14. The film is touted to be a comedy drama with thriller elements in it. Apart from Dileep, Joju will be seen as a significant character in the film, with Veena playing the female lead. Anupam, on the other hand, is making a comeback to Malayalam films after Nayana, Kalimannu and Pranayam. Raffi and Dileep had previously collaborated for Ring Master, which had a decent run at the box office

Raffi has also done the screenplay, story and dialogues for Voice of Sathyanathan, while Jithin Stanislaus and Swaroop Philip will lens the film, with Shameer Muhammed as the editor. Ankit Menon scored music for the lyrics penned by Vinayak Sasidharan. M Baava is the art director, while costume design is handled by Sameera Saneesh. Eleven Cinemas, Badushaa Cinemas and Graand Productions are backing the movie.