Lijo Jose Pellissery initially envisioned Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam as a thriller: ‘Then, I experienced a state of depression…’

Malaikottai Vaaliban director Lijo Jose Pellissery recently remarked that he doesn't adhere to any specific style in his films, preferring instead to draw from his accumulated experiences.

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Lijo Jose Pellissery's Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam starred Mammootty in the lead role and received widespread acclaim. (Image: Mammootty Kampany/Facebook)

Considered one of the modern-day auteurs in Malayalam cinema, Lijo Jose Pellissery stands out as a filmmaker with a substantial fan base, his works are often hailed as among the best in the industry, including his recent film Malaikottai Vaaliban. LJP, however, recently remarked that he doesn’t adhere to any specific style in his films, preferring instead to draw from his accumulated experiences.

Emphasising that he hasn’t developed a specific or distinct style, LJP told Galatta Plus, “I only make use of styles that many people have created, which have influenced me over time. I strongly believe that there is nothing truly original and that no one is making entirely original films.”

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Opening up about his previous directorial venture, Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam, which received widespread acclaim, LJP noted that the Mammootty-starrer is particularly personal to him, as his late father, veteran actor Jose Pellissery, once operated a theatre company.

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“I used to travel with them as a child, especially during vacations. I accompanied them wherever they put up a set and started performing the drama, and followed them as they wrapped up shows and moved to other venues. So, I grew up witnessing that life. Those images, their lives, which were somewhat in the gypsy zone, and how they all functioned like a family, their conflicts, etc., came from those childhood experiences. The Velankanni trip depicted in the film itself is drawn from our experiences of going to the village along with the members of our drama troupe and their respective families,” he recalled.

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While acknowledging that not all his films are deeply personal, LJP explained that he takes real-life experiences and infuse them with dramatic and cinematic elements to create a sense of personal.

“Inspiration can come from anywhere. Nanpakal was inspired by a TV commercial I watched long ago. At that point, the idea was different; it was for a thriller and it lingered in my mind for years. At some point, the dots connected and I approached the film from a different perspective, adding my own personal experiences to it. Nanpakal emerged shortly after I experienced a state of depression. I was very anxious for some time. After coming out of that, I could make this idea into a very emotional piece. That’s why I said there is a lot of personal connection in the character (James) and the way he emotes,” he observed, adding that Ee Ma Yau (2018) was crafted based on the thoughts he had when his father passed away.

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