2018 director Jude Anthany Joseph: ‘Impressive visuals alone won’t make lasting impact; an emotional core is a must’

“When envisioning a film, it’s impossible to predict the extent of its reception. My only aspiration while bringing this ambitious, big-budget project to life was for it to be watched and appreciated by everyone. However, the response in theatres surpassed our wildest expectations. I am delighted to see that even after a month since its theatrical release and subsequent OTT premiere, the film continues to maintain its momentum. While I am overjoyed by the congratulatory calls and messages, my current dream is for people to embrace my future works with the same enthusiasm,” Jude tells indianexpress.com.

As we mentioned in our review of 2018: Everyone Is A Hero, when filmmakers make movies about traumatic incidents, they often fail to empathise with the survivors. Directors sometimes prioritise showcasing their ability to portray destruction on screen over considering the emotional impact they may have on survivors. As a result, survivors may find it triggering to watch and relive those moments. 2018: Everyone Is A Hero, on the other hand, excels in this area by showing empathy towards survivors.

‘Tovino’s character was inspired by a news report’

The movie, as indicated by its title, was envisioned as a tribute to the countless individuals who united in the midst of devastating floods in Kerala, providing mutual assistance during a period of profound adversity, rather than being a literal portrayal of real events. When asked what prompted him to adapt this kind of narrative, Jude says, “Incorporating impressive visuals on a grand scale alone would not suffice to make a lasting impact on the audience. Without a strong emotional core, the film will fail to resonate. This thought process guided me as I delved into the concept. We all witnessed what happened during the floods. We saw the visuals live or through news reports. For me, there was nothing more to add to what people already knew. However, when I began conceptualising the film around the lives of ordinary people, a narrative began to take shape.” 

“The character Anoop, portrayed by Tovino Thomas, was inspired by a news report I stumbled upon, which mentioned the tragic incident of a man drowning during rescue operations. This report made me think about this man’s back story, his family, and his friends. It was by examining the entire story through an emotional lens that this film came into being. Had we chosen to focus solely on showcasing high-quality flood sequences and landslides, the film might have been praised for its technical brilliance but would have failed to deeply connect with people. The true essence of the film lies in its ability to evoke genuine emotions and resonate with the audience on a profound level,” Jude adds.

‘I was scared from the very beginning…’

Though there were portions in the film that utilised computer-generated imagery (CGI) or visual effects (VFX), most scenes in 2018 were made possible with the help of manually built sets. Almost all the props, including the chopper, were made by the art department led by production designer Mohandas. 

Unlike Jude Anthany Joseph’s prior undertakings, 2018 necessitated a substantial budget and a grandiose production, in addition to the fact that he was venturing into the portrayal of one of Kerala’s most deadly disasters. When indianexpress.com asked Jude how he, as a director, readied himself for the monumental challenge, Jude remarked, “I was scared from the very beginning. Although I have experienced similar feelings when starting all my previous films, this one was exceptionally daunting because if it failed, I would have found myself in a predicament where I couldn’t even continue living here.”

“I made it a point to watch every flood-based film that had been released worldwide up until that moment. I also took the time to delve into their making videos. Despite gaining insights from these films and comprehending their production processes, I always knew that the main challenge I would face was the budget. Those movies must have been created with hundreds of crores, which we simply couldn’t afford. Therefore, I started brainstorming different strategies to bring forth a magnificent film within a budget that our industry could realistically afford.”

‘Covid unexpectedly played a positive role’

“Hence, I took a seat alongside the art director and engaged in a detailed exploration of potential avenues to achieve our goal. We began crafting miniature models and conducting experiments to determine the best approach. This process provided us with valuable insights on how to proceed. Afterwards, I proceeded to craft a storyboard that focused solely on the pivotal sequences, collaborating closely with the cinematographer to refine our concepts. However, amidst these fruitful discussions, our plans were abruptly disrupted by the outbreak of the Covid pandemic. As a consequence, the cinematographer had to depart from the project due to prior commitments. Nevertheless, I persisted in my efforts. I tirelessly revised the script and reevaluated the shot division,” he says.

“Upon reflection, I now recognise that the period of Covid unexpectedly played a positive role. The revisions made during that time resulted in the script becoming five times better than its original version. Although the fundamental story remained unchanged, its treatment and incorporation of emotional elements underwent significant alterations. It is through these transformative changes that the film has attained its present form. If it hadn’t been for Covid, I doubt that the film would have achieved the remarkable success it enjoys now.”

‘The physical challenges of filming never crossed our minds’

Despite the extensive physical demands of shooting a significant portion of the film, Jude Anthany Joseph asserts that the entire cast and crew approached it with a unified perspective. They did not view it as a gruelling task; instead, they were all committed to a common goal of completing the project successfully.

“Our primary objective revolved around completing the film within a specific timeframe. Given its multi-star cast, with each actor juggling other simultaneous projects, meticulous planning for the shoot became paramount. We carefully orchestrated the schedule, aiming to wrap up Tovino’s scenes in 45 days, Asif Ali’s in 22 days, Vineeth’s in just five days, and so forth. Throughout this process, the physical challenges of filming never crossed our minds. Our achievement was a result of sheer determination and relentless effort. Understanding the necessity of such efficiency, we remained focused solely on our work. This approach aligns with the Malayalam industry’s ethos of maximizing productivity within limited time frames,” Jude adds.

Pointing out that the airlift sequence brought him the “utmost happiness”, Jude also acknowledged the difficulty in shooting it. “It was a completely new experience for us. While we could handle the other aspects somehow, the airlift scene demanded tremendous effort and hard work. We filmed the entire scene at night, in the midst of rain, with a large number of junior actors, including elderly people and children. It took us eight nights to complete the sequence. If any of them had fallen ill after just one or two days, our efforts would have failed. All of us pushed ourselves to the limit to ensure perfection in this scene. And as the director, I can confidently say that our hard work paid off, as it turned out to be the most outstanding sequence in the film.”