4.5 Gang director Krishand on whether there will be Season 2, why he chose Sanju Sivram as the lead, and more

In an exclusive interview with OTTplay, noted director Krishand talks about his Malayalam series titled Sambhava Vivaranam Nalarasangham (The Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang) and more about his craft.

Krishand with the lead cast of 4.5 Gang

Director Krishand is truly one of a kind, even for Malayalam cinema, which has been riding the new-age wave for quite a while now, as the rest of the film industries have finally acknowledged. The talented filmmaker has crafted distinct cinematic experiences for each of his outings, from the National Award-winning Aavasavyuham to the stellar Purusha Pretham. His latest venture, the Malayalam series titled Sambhava Vivaranam Nalarasangham (The Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang), coming close on the heels of his movie Sangarsha Ghadana, takes you on a madcap journey where wacky comedy, zany emotions, and dark crime intertwine brilliantly.

In an exclusive interview with OTTplay, 4.5 Gang director Krishand talks about whether there will be season 2, choosing Sanju Sivram to play the lead, and more about his innovative craft.

You have had two major releases in August - the film Sangarsha Ghadana and The Chronicle of The 4.5 Gang. How excited are you?

It is very happening. I am so excited that two gangster stories are coming out - one is an anti-war movie and the other one is a gangster comedy. I am so excited that people get to watch both and see the difference in treatment, and everything and why certain choices are made for the pace of both materials.

How did you come up with this story of 4.5 Gang - particularly choosing flower/milk mafia which is (not or) rarely explored?

So I grew up in a certain part of Trivandraum, around a slum, then we moved out to other places. We knew a lot of people from the place that I was staying earlier. They were all into these small ‘businesses’ which are also a crime. So I started writing a series in 2014-15 and I thought I would include this weird mridualamya (soft) lobby, so I ended up there.

It took us two years to complete the series, from the date of announcement to the date of release.

Also read: The Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang review: Krishand delivers a wacky series stamped with his signature style

Jagadish’s Maithreyan describes A-class gangsters involved in smuggling, B-class in quotations while c-class goes after flower and milk mafia. This is not just hierarchy in the criminal world, can it also be read as allegory or metaphor of the film genres as a lot of big-budget movies are made on smuggling?

(laughs) That even superstar Vikraman (character in the series) says, ‘if there was some gold, spirit or something, I would also have had something to do. This is milk, flowers!” We have not deliberately meant any particular actors or stars, just that such dealings would have been petty for them.

Why did you choose Sanju Sivram to play the lead character of Arikuttan?

Sanju and me go back a long time. He has lived in Trivandrum, although he is not from there. So he knows the accent and he knows people like these in the series. It was actor Tovino Thomas who introduced us. Tovino suggested Sanju for a film long back in 2013. Though that film did not happen, we grew pretty close. He is also a hard-working person. Since we have tight deadlines given by the platform, we have to choose a dedicated person.

Sangarsha Ghadana takes inspiration from the ancient Chinese work - the Art of War, inspiration for 4.5 Gang?

We have taken inspiration from several works, including Gangs of Wasseypur, Gangs of New York, and The White Tiger (book).

What was the most challenging part of shooting for the 4.5 gang?

Shooting the climax of the series was the most challenging aspect for 4.5 Gang as we also had to deal with production issues. Shooting choreography and design, handling crowds. For the climax shoot, every day we had around 400 plus people. It is very tough to manage those people, and the budget. I even wanted the elephant to run amok, but due to all the constraints, we could not even think of executing it.

Lack of sleep too. We shot for 90 days, across a 120-day schedule. In that, 40 days were night shoots. That is really harmful for everyone’s sanity, decision making and everything. Four nights of fighting, truck chase and all were traumatic. I don't know how Sanju and Niranj (Maniyanpilla) shot, because if there was even a small lapse in judgement, it would have caused an accident. Though we had the necessary precautions, including an ambulance and all in place.

Will there be season 2 for 4.5 gang?

I am game if the platform confirms it and it also depends on the audience reception.

In 4.5 Gang, women, especially Zarin Shihab’s character, didn’t get much screen presence though she is a talented actress.

We have just introduced characters of Zarin and even Zhinz Shan. Their stories are just beginning.

Which do you rate as your best work till now and why

Sangarsha Gadana is my favourite personal now. Everybody loves Aavasavyuham, but Sangarsha Gadana is more philosophical.

In a recent interview, you said that Sangarsha Ghadana is meant for a target audience and you had a soft release with nearly no promotions. Still you opted for a theatrical release instead of OTT?

When we showed Sangarsha Ghadana to the main OTTs, they did not readily give their nod. They were like ‘Let's think about it’, ‘Let’s see once it releases in theatres’. Also if it gets a theatrical release, it completes the cycle of that film. It is not everyone’s cup of tea. If you randomly market this product and bring a user, who will end up hating that product, it would do more harm to the film than (releasing it in theatres). If someone is actually following my work, they can watch it in theatres. So that is why we made such an attempt.

You have chosen varied subjects for each of your projects. Auteur filmmaker KG George sir had earlier said that he wanted to make a movie on each subject. Is that the road ahead for you?

Exactly. That’s my attempt as well. I want to make movies in all main genres we have seen. Aavasavyuham is a superhero film for me and Purusha Pretham is a police procedural, while Sangarsha Ghadana is an anti-war film. 4.5 Gang is like a proper gangster.

Your titles like your projects are unique and quite difficult for non-Malayalis to even pronounce. Thought behind naming such titles?

For the non-Malayali audience, there is always the English titles. A literary flair, and the layers of meaning in those words. Not just stick to one meaning, but keeps going to the next.

All your projects have an underlying element of humor to it, dark comedy or satirical elements to it. Do you believe humour is the best means to convey your idea?

Humour is a democratic emotion, and we can give the rest of the information in a layered format, viewers will not find a propagandish nature to it.

About your next project Masthishka Maranam - when can we expect a release?

Masthishka Maranam is a cyber punk project. The shoot is over and it will be completed by December. So we can expect it by January-February. Rajisha Vijayan and Niranj Maniyanpilla Raju, Jagadish sir and the rest of the 4.5 Gang from are all there.

Also read: Kammattam review: Sudev Nair’s thriller series takes up a twisted case, but does not quite crack it

FAQs

Q. When to watch Sambhavavivaranam Nalara Sangham or The Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang release?

A: You can watch Sambhavavivaranam Nalara Sangham or The Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang released on Sony LIV and OTTplay Premium.

Q: Which are the films directed by Krishand?

A: The director is well-known for his earlier films, including Purusha Pretham and Aavasavyuham which are also available for streaming on Sony LIV and OTTplay Premium.

Q. Which is the best Malayalam web series?

A. Kerala Crime Files Season 2 and The Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang are among the best Malayalam web series that are available to stream on OTTplay Premium.

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