'Why don’t you direct it yourself?': How Mammootty inspired the creation of 'Bazooka'

Kochi: Bazooka, directed by newcomer Deeno Dennis and starring the legendary Mammootty, is set to hit theatres on Thursday, generating much anticipation.

Deeno Dennis recently shared how Mammootty's encouragement played a pivotal role in his decision to direct the film. "When I presented the story to Mammootty, he told me, 'You should direct it yourself.' His confidence in me and his unwavering support inspired me to step into the director’s chair," Dennis explained.

Mammootty, in a recent interview, praised Dennis' meticulous approach to filmmaking. "Every frame he creates is a lesson. Every scene, every shot is precisely executed. When he brought me the story, I told him, 'No one else could tell this story better than you. Why don’t you direct it yourself?' Though he had no prior directing experience, I am sure you’ll judge the result when you watch the film," Mammootty said.

The film is produced by Yoodlee Films and Theatre of Dreams, with Mammootty and Gautham Vasudev Menon in prominent roles. The project took shape in March 2018, when Dennis, having worked on the script for nearly three years, approached Mammootty with the story. The actor, seeing potential in the script and Dennis’ vision, encouraged him to direct it himself.

Along with Mammootty and Gautham Vasudev Menon, the cast of Bazooka includes Babu Antony, Neeta Pillai, Gayathiri Iyer, Divya Pillai as Annie Benjamin, Jagadish, and Sidharth Bharathan as Arjun Ramaswamy.