Violence in 'Marco' pales in comparison to crime stories aired on television at 10 pm: Haneef Adeni

The theater experience provided by the movie Marco fully justifies its tagline as one of the most violent films ever made in Mollywood. It has now become an incredible action movie, earning pan-Indian hit status by garnering great reviews in Telugu and Hindi. Remarkably, its success stories have even crossed borders and reached Korea. While the movie continues to celebrate its achievements nationally, with actors and technicians actively promoting it in public spaces, one man, the captain of the ship—Haneef Adeni—has largely stayed out of the limelight. In this interview with Mathrubhumi.com, he shares the filming stories of Marco and reveals why he avoids public functions.

Marco as a pan-Indian hit

We were confident about the success of Marco, but we didn’t anticipate such a massive response. We’re especially thrilled to see this reception for a movie with an ‘A’ certificate. It’s incredible to see such appreciation even from audiences outside Kerala. We had expectations for the Hindi dub, but the overwhelming response from Telugu audiences was unexpected," Haneef said.

Appreciation  from Allu Arjun

One of the most rewarding moments was receiving an appreciation call from the actor Allu Arjun. We spoke for some time, and he praised the movie and its entire crew. He highlighted the film’s exceptional making and quality and even invited me to Hyderabad for a meeting. It was an honour to speak to a star like Allu Arjun, and I’m happy about it."

Though Unni Mukundan appeared in only a few scenes in Mikhael, the impact of his character, ‘Marco Junior,’ was massive. This project emerged from that impact. We had hoped to collaborate during Mikhael’s schedule, and now the time and circumstances have aligned. When we narrate a character to Unni, he completely immerses himself in it. His dedication, especially to action sequences, is unparalleled.

A cool producer

The courage of producer Shareef Mohammad led to the production of Marco. We met Shareef through Unni Mukundan, and he was impressed with the story during the initial narration itself. He connected with it deeply, and after that it was not cumbersome for me as a director. Shareef fully supported the film and never compromised on quality, even though the budget expanded to include experienced technicians. His commitment ensured Marco became a visual and technical spectacle.

Kalai kingson

During the filming of Mikhael, Kalai Kingson was working as an assistant. Although I knew him then, a single movie of him was released for reference when Marco started. But in our conversations, I sensed the fire in him. While the producer was willing to hire famous fight masters, I was confident Kalai was the right choice. Seeing him receive appreciation now makes me happy.

We aimed for a distinct style in the action sequences, avoiding clichés. The choreography required a unique approach, and Kalai’s inputs brought those ideas to life. Movies like Monkey Man and John Wick inspired our fight scenes. Incorporating intense fight sequences within our confined spaces elevated the film’s action.

The Most Violent Movie?

Censorship was a significant hurdle. We obtained the censor certificate after multiple screenings. While we were curious about how audiences would react to the violent scenes, we always maintained that the violence in Marco pales in comparison to the crime stories aired on television at 10-11 PM.

Censoring in the movie

The censor board’s existence sparks an important debate. Personally, I believe films should not be censored, as it infringes on the freedom of writers and filmmakers. Instead, movies should be given an R certificate and released without censorship. While Marco has an ‘A’ certificate and isn’t advisable for kids, I’d like to point out that other media platforms remain uncensored. Why should movies alone face such restrictions?

Graphics In the movie

It’s important to acknowledge Prashanth, who handled the CGI, and Sunilettan, who managed the artwork. Both are fresh talents. Sudhi, who handled makeup, and cameraman Chandru, who is new to action movies, are part of my trusted team. Prashanth delivered exceptional CGI work ahead of schedule, and I’m sure he’ll be a part of future projects.

We were meticulous about maintaining the film’s colour palette across different locations. For instance, while shooting in Munnar, we avoided cliché shots of tea plantations, opting for a unique mood. Tools like Scriptle software helped streamline production and pre-production, saving time and ensuring precision."

Villain’s Marco

Jagadeeshettan (actor Jagadeesh) was thrilled when I narrated the story to him and eagerly embraced the challenging character.

‘Abhimanyu was excited at the time of the story narration itself. I can do this or should I do that? He cleared doubts through the phone. He tried his maximum to become that character. He used to call me at times and ask for the dialogue. As per my way of direction, I don’t provide the dialogues early. Though he asked me several times, I am not able to give. But I have confidence in Abhimanyu. He was cool while presenting the character ‘Rasal.’

Avoiding Public Functions?

I avoid interviews and public functions because they’re beyond my comfort zone. While I’m comfortable directing on a set with thousands of people, addressing even ten individuals in a formal setting feels daunting. That’s why I prefer to stay away from public gatherings.

Actor Vikram in Marco 2 ?

Marco 2 will definitely happen, but it’s too early to reveal details about the crew. These updates will be shared at the right time.