In twenty minutes, you get to watch three stories. Stories that are familiar because Vishnu Raghav and Anu Mohan have weaved them around the clichés you hear and see in Kerala every day. The two actors have got together to make their second short film Open Your Mind.
Not that Vishnu quite enjoyed giving the film an English name, but the name was most suitable for the film, especially since it was going to be released online.
He’s got quite a few big names acting for him — Bhavana, Saikumar and Bindu Panicker. Anu Mohan will also be seen in the film, and so will Rony, brother of musician Roby Abraham.
“So that people will watch,” candidly replies Vishnu, when asked about roping in these stars.
He and Anu have made a social satire on attitude issues of Malayali, issues they believe should have changed years ago.
“Like the remark we keep hearing about clothes that women wear being a provocation for rape!” They have chosen three such clichés and written three stories, an anthology in twenty minutes. And if that isn’t hard enough, Vishnu tells you how he had to create a convincing storyline for a less-than-one-minute ad film for Label‘M Boutique.
“I got my friend Deepa Antony to write the script, which was narrated by Madonna Sebastian (Premam fame).” A bride narrates her story (voice over by Madonna) leading up to her wedding in 55 seconds. “It is different from making short films, the story has to be convincing and you have very little time to do that, and it has to look good.”
There was also the responsibility of not wasting someone else’s money. “The first short film we did — For Hire — was produced with our own money.” Incidentally, the film has just won Vishnu and Anu their fourth and fifth awards for best director and best film from the Jaihind Channel.
