18 Hours was fast-tracked due to stress-related issues during the pandemic: Rajesh Nair

It’s not just the financial aspects of films being stalled and theatres not reopening that is plaguing the film fraternity, says Thrissur Pooram director Rajesh Nair, adding that the mental pressure of those working in cinema have been enduring are equally damaging. This is also what prompted the filmmaker to begin work on his movie 18 Hours, which will be premiering on Manorama Max on August 1. 

Talking to OTTplay about the movie that stars Vijay Babu, Indu Thampy and six youngsters among others, the director says, “This project was planned several years ago and we had completed the script too. An artiste had also come onboard and it was supposed to be made on a big scale. But during the pandemic, stress and anxiety-related issues were also taking a toll on people. The reason I decided to fast-track the film was due to a stress-related issue faced by a person who has worked in 18 Hours. I thought if we don’t get engaged in some sort of work, people would take adverse actions.”

The initial plan was to make a lockdown movie set within a room or a house, considering the pandemic restrictions and ease of shoot. “But after watching a few of these ‘chamber’ films, I understood that already people are stuck in the confines of their house and they wouldn’t really be happy watching similar movies. That’s how we decided to shoot 18 Hours, which has a lot of outdoor locations,” he says. 

The story of the movie also prompted the team to hunt for fresh faces. “I have introduced the most number of newcomers into the industry with my films – be it scriptwriters or composers,” says Rajesh, who had earlier helmed Salt Mango Tree and Kalyanam. “For this movie, we did close to 300 video auditions and found some great talent, with whom we conducted a 10-day workshop during the lockdown. This also included a six-day action workshop and after the stunt master gave them the training, I also become confident of doing the movie.”

On the movie’s plot that spans 18 hours, Rajesh says, “Often in films, we show girls being kidnapped and ultimately a hero or cops have to come to rescue them. But in 18 Hours, we try to show what if the cops don’t reach in time and how the smart kids of today’s generation have the skills to survive.”

The movie will also mark actress Indu’s comeback in a lead role. “Indu and her husband Kishore are close friends,” says the director. “We pitched this script to her when she was planning to discontinue her acting career. She is a Type 1 diabetic and hence has to carry an insulin pump with her always. We have added that aspect to her character in the movie too.”

Apart from Vijay Babu and Indu, the film also has director Shyamaprasad and music director Ratheesh Vega in pivotal roles. “Shyamaprasad sir is a legend and compared to him, our filmmaking style is a bit different. So, he was a bit confused on the first day but from the second day onwards he got involved. I personally think it’s his best performance as an actor. Similarly, I made Ratheesh do a small role of a police officer in Thrissur Pooram. So, I asked him to do another cameo in 18 Hours but it soon evolved into a prominent character,” says Rajesh. 

About the film releasing directly on an OTT platform, the filmmaker says, “It’s a movie that was made for a theatrical experience but I have no regrets releasing it on OTT. We have to change with technology and I think whether the movie releases on OTTs or theatres, people will like it if the content is good.”