Renowned filmmaker Jeethu Joseph has lauded director Dominic Arun for his latest film Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra. Speaking at a press conference ahead of the release of his new film Mirage, Jeethu emphasised that “the real merit lies in selecting a good subject and executing it well, and that is exactly what Lokah has achieved.”

Recalling his earlier struggles, the director said, “it took me two and a half years to find a producer for Mummy & Me. Now the situation has changed.” Actor Asif Ali, who plays the lead role in Mirash, was also present at the press meet.

Jeethu further expressed his views on experimenting with genres: “I would love to work on films in different genres. I believe that within an industry, movies of different genres should come up. Now Lokah has been made. Next, some may say they will attempt a superhero film. That should not be the approach. Lokah was made, and they will do the next. Whether it’s a comedy or a drama, what matters is presenting it in a way that entertains the audience. Once the film reaches theatres, it should appeal to viewers. If we pay attention to the script, the intended result will surely follow.”

He also revealed details about Mirage: “The script of Mirage was something I had been working on for two to three years. Among the scripts I am developing now, one includes a children’s film. That may happen after two years. If a story comes with space for multiple protagonists, it will be made that way. If it includes a superhero, I would do such a film too. I never step into filmmaking thinking that I must focus on one specific genre. For Mummy & Me, I had to search for a producer for two and a half years. Times have changed. Today, there is no need to differentiate between women-centric or male-centric films. If the audience likes it, the film will find success in theatres. That has always been a proven fact.”

Jeethu praised Lokah for being a positive step forward and is happy in being part of the Malayalam film industry: “The real merit lies in selecting a good subject and executing it well. That is what Lokah has done, and it is a very positive achievement. The greatest blessing is being part of the Malayalam film industry. Here, we have both the space to make good cinema and an audience that appreciates it. Other language industries are looking at Malayalam cinema as a model and are gradually changing. Our market is expanding, and this is a very favourable time for Malayalam cinema.”