Minnal Murali director Basil Joseph pens heartfelt note for ex-assistant, RDX helmer Nahas Hidayath: ‘Tears well up…’

“In 2016,” Basil began, “during the pre-production of my second film Godha, this young fellow approached me, seeking an opportunity to join our direction team. He shared his life’s hardships, both financial and personal, along with his burning desire to become a filmmaker. Hailing from the small town of Kanjirappally, he had arrived in Kochi with nothing but sheer determination. At the time, he was working in a juice shop to make ends meet.”

Mentioning that he advised the youngster to build a portfolio, such as a short film, to substantiate his potential, Basil said that the chap took his advice to heart, left, and returned a few weeks later with a half-hour-long short film. “He had funded it using his savings from the juice shop and some borrowed money from friends. More than the short film I was really impressed by his determination to create it amidst all his challenges. That’s when he joined Godha as an assistant director,” Basil recalled.

“Years passed and he went on to create successful short films and music videos that gained popularity on social media. He began work on his debut film (Aaravam), which unfortunately had to be halted, midway due to the Covid-19 pandemic and other issues,” the Minnal Murali director noted.

Pointing out how struggles persisted in the youth’s life even after he joined forces with producer Sophia Paul to make RDX and how the project got caught in the middle of controversies, Basil further mentioned: “He eventually completed the shoot, thanks to the unwavering support of his producer, cast, and crew who stood by his side. Even on the eve of his film’s release, he called me, overwhelmed with nervousness.”

“Today, his movie is playing to packed theatres, with the audience erupting in cheers and applause when the director’s title card ‘NAHAS HIDHAYATH’ appears.”

Adding that while at the theatre recently, watching RDX, he encountered a group of young people who were there to watch the movie, Basil said that he asked them what they felt about the film. “They enthusiastically shared that it was fantastic. Filled with a deep sense of satisfaction and happiness, I proudly revealed to them, ‘Nahas is the director of this film, and he used to be my assistant director.’ The emotions were so overwhelming that tears of joy welled up in my eyes,” Basil added.

“Dear Nahas Hidhayath, Congratulations. You deserve all this success and many more. Let this be the beginning of a blockbuster career, just like your movie ❤️,” Basil concluded.