A handful of films and characters like Maheshinte Prathikaram, Android Kunjappan, Nna Thaan Case Kodu, Marana Mass, and Dheeran are enough to define actor Rajesh Madhavan. Not just an actor, this Kasaragod native has also worked as an assistant director and casting director. Now, he is making his debut as a director. His film Pennum Porattum, which won audience appreciation at film festivals even before its theatrical release, continues to receive strong responses. The film, a social satire centered on a dog named Suttu, is produced by Santosh T Kuruvilla under the banner of STK Frames. Rajesh Madhavan shares more about the film and his journey.

Expectations for the first film ‘Pennum Porattum’

Although I knew that film lovers who watched it at festivals liked Pennum Porattum, I was eager to know how general audiences would respond once it gets released in theatres. Since it was made with newcomers and it was my directorial debut, I was anxious about whether audiences would accept it. We didn’t add any commercial ingredients deliberately to attract viewers. In that sense, it’s rare for such a film to secure OTT pre-business even before release. The movie portrays society’s flawed attitudes and cruelty toward animals through satire. The story unfolds through the lives of Gopalan Master, Charulatha, her lover Baburaj, and his dog Suttu. The village of Pattada forms the backdrop.

Concerns about commercial success?

I don’t think about such things. But I did hope that the producer wouldn’t suffer losses. Our only focus was to make a good film. We didn’t follow any commercial formulas. All the actors are newcomers, and the hero of the story is a dog.

Challenges of working with newcomers and animals

Managing newcomers and animals together was challenging. We had to extract performances from them. Maintaining the emotional consistency of the dog playing Suttu throughout the film was the biggest challenge. We could shoot with him only for two hours at a stretch, after which he needed four hours of rest. The shoot was planned accordingly.

Why Tovino gave voice to Suttu

I like both Tovino as a person and as an actor. We are close friends. I had already decided whose voice Suttu should have — I wanted Tovino. But I wasn’t sure if he would agree to be part of a film with newcomers. After showing him the first cut, I asked if he could voice Suttu. He agreed immediately. He happily lent his voice to the character.

Casting actors from Palakkad

This time, instead of Kasaragod, we went to Palakkad in search of actors. People from Kollengode and Chittur were cast, and their natural local dialect was used in the film. No special preparation was needed. Just as I cast people from Kasaragod in Nna Thaan Case Kodu, I wanted natives of Palakkad for this film too. Casting required the most time and effort.

Releasing during the 10th anniversary of ‘Maheshinte Prathikaram’

I began seeing cinema as something magical. Beyond the real world we live in, cinema creates another world. Maheshinte Prathikaram gave me an identity 10 years ago. Now, after a decade, I’ve reached where I wanted to be. I’ve worked in many roles — actor, assistant director, casting director. Even while acting, I wanted to work behind the scenes. The time for that has come now.

Initially, I planned to direct a film titled Maranavamsam, a big project. But I decided to do Pennum Porattum first. The story, screenplay, and dialogues were written by my close friend and writer Ravishankar, which makes me very happy. Cinema is everything to me. I hope to complete many stories I’ve been thinking about. Let Pennum Porattum be the beginning. After all, mine are not small cinematic dreams.