Interview By: Suhas KM   Compiled by: Shilpa Ann Stanley   Words by: Charishma Thankappan    Featured image: Jinu Abraham

He began his journey as a scriptwriter and made his way into the director’s seat. Jinu Abraham talks about how he found his inspiration for Adam Joan in this exclusive interview with FWD Life.

Adam Joan is your directorial debut. What made you don the director’s hat?

I had no plans to direct the film. But as I was very thorough with the script, Prithviraj asked me to direct it.

How did you get the storyline for Adam Joan?

Years ago, I was in Scotland, searching for the location for the film London Bridge. The weather was gloomy, with dark skies and fog. I imagined that there was someone who was very disturbed. He was wandering about and searching for something. From that moment I got a story started taking shape in my mind.
A lot of things were added and contributed to this movie. It took more than two and a half years to complete it.

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What made you venture into black magic/ satan worship in Adam Joan?

It is primarily the story of a girl who is kidnapped and tracing the story behind it. Indian films have generally explored the subject of kidnapping with the stories of organ transplant, trafficking, etc. But Satanic worship is a new notion that came into my mind.

One day when I was driving through Edinburgh, my Line producer Shine showed me a lady on the road, who looked very strange. She was walking fast, wearing a black dress. Shine told me she was going for satanic worship. This incident gave me the idea for Satanic worship in Adam Joan.

I researched a lot on satanic worships. I read books and watched movies which had satanic worship because I never wanted any kind of influence of those movies in Adam Joan. I am from a Jacobite orthodox family in Pathanamthitta. When I was young, I had heard a lot of myths like Karuthachan ootu which is black magic. So, I have taken a lot from these for the film.

Did you always have Prithviraj in mind for the title role?

Yes. I shared the story with Prithviraj and I was very sure that he would show an interest in this film. We know each other since the days of the film Masters. Even though the film wasn’t a big hit, he had always trusted and believed in my work. That gave me courage.

Adam Joan has a lot of foreign actors. How did you rope them in?

I had a concept about how the villians should be. So, we made all the settlements and I sent all the references to my line producer Shine. He made all the arrangements with the casting agencies of Scotland. They gave us a short list, from which we selected our crew.

There were strong women characters in your first film Masters and now in Adam Joan as well. According to you, how important are women characters in this film?

Masters gave a lot of importance to women characters but it went unnoticed. In Adam Joan as well, after Prithviraj, the next important characters are Lena and Bhavana. Their characters of Daisy and Shwetha were never created with a conscious effort of giving prominence to women characters. I had a plan to create an entire film about the character Daisy, and so the character for Adam Joan was inspired from that.

How was your entry into the movie industry?

I was always very interested in movies. I had a passion for writing, reading and I used to watch a lot of movies. I admire MT and Padmarajan’s movies. I also idolise Madhu Muttam the script writer of Manichitrathazhu, under whom I have worked as assistant scriptwriter for Bharathan Effect. After that I wrote for Masters and moved into films fulltime.

You are a known scriptwriter, and now a director. How is your experience with the two?

It was a great experience for me. I am a very lethargic person. When I was the scriptwriter, I was tardy to reach the sets. But things changed when I became a director. I had to take a lot of responsibilities. But I enjoyed my work to its fullest and it has been a great experience.

What are your future projects?

I have some stories in my mind. I will choose the one which inspires me more. Basically, I am a scriptwriter, so I have a few more commitments to finish. Maybe after that, I will return as a director.

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83 feature films, 40 ad films and 20 international shoots in 32 years and still successfully surviving, Priyadarshan, the highly paid director in Indian cinema was awarded the Padmasree by President Pratibha patel at her residence. From comedy movies to action thriller movies and to inspiring award winning splendid themes, Priyadarshan has cast a solid colosseum of his own in the Indian film industry.

Congrats on your Padmasree. What is your next project?

Thanks. I have stopped making comedy movies. My next movie is a serious subject one. I am shooting Mohanlal for an emotional family film full of suspense. This happens to be my first meet after me discussing the same with Mohanlal. So, my first official announcement of it. The story was discussed and Lal agreed to it. But the film is not named yet.

Was the CCL team because you couldn’t develop an IPL team?

I was crazier on cricket But was little ignorant about the youngsters in cricket. With the CCL, Lissie proved I was wrong. I am passionate about cricket and used to play in league, School and college level Even today, I follow cricket seriously.

Your take on Tendulkar’s 100-100’s?

He took a very long time to hit that long 100. If it was anyone else, it would have been marked as a failure. Though sachin played and won, it didn’t exhibit a full glory by itself.

Your pick amoung young directors?

I am seeing sparks, but not fire. There is lot of one film success. But, a second and third film success is what rates a team in films. The most wonderful film of this time is Zindagi na milengi dubaaraa by Farhan Akthar.

What is it that you think shall improve the face of Indian Cinema?

All the producers without any intelligence or common sense, who comes in to produce films just for the sake of glamour should be ousted from the industry. That will take Indian cinema to its worldly heights. You can never teach cinema. You can only show cinema. The Kerala film academy is trying to show maximum films to the public to help them learn more of it.

Biggest difference between the way Industry works, when you were establishing yourself and now?
It has become electronic from mechanical; digital from analogue. In our times, it was easy to learn cinema. But, now we need the help of an engineer to teach cinema. You have to be little educated today to survive in cinema. You have to be a technician by yourself. the future is going to be worse. Every time of my career, I had many teachers.
Charlie Chaplin, Bharathi Raja, Mani Ratnam all have helped me learn. I was mostly influenced by David Lean. I was mostly influenced by David Lean. The 1965 epic drama ‘Doctor Zhivago’ directed by him taught me the basics and masters of Cinema alike. Now I am learning how to go fully digital in film making. I am learning how much black I can expose; what exactly is a pixel; what all are the visual sensibilities involved while shooting digital and so on.

About family, possible return of Lissie in your movies?
Marrying a women of my choice was the biggest success in my life. I have invested so much on film. Since Lissie knew every corner of this industry, we could do it well together. Since she is busy with our own work, she won’t be acting in films any more. My daughter is a fantastic painter.

Major Investments and a flop investment you would like to share?
The biggest foul investment I made was on the analogue projectors. Suddenly after I invested, there was a digital jump, which I could’t for-see. When the recording rooms changed to Rehman’s room, how long can equipment survive?

Favorite Brands of Shoes, Clothes, watches?
I am not a brand man. I am just a middle class man. When I see something, if I like it, I will buy and wear it. There are no special shops to brand on.

Five things you cannot live without?
Water, fish, boiled rice, a good sleep and time to talk to my children.

Favorite food?
Boilded rice and fish curry.

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