Jude Anthany on why 2018 is the Kerala story: ‘When everything has a political agenda, these deeds inspire hope’

This Friday saw the releases of two movies, with polarizing content about Kerala. While director Sudipto Sen’s The Kerala Story works more as a propaganda movie, as per majority of the critics, Jude Anthany Joseph’s 2018, which revolves around the 2018 Kerala floods, serves as a reminder of the time the people of Kerala rallied to help each other.

The Malayalam disaster movie has also already won praise from critics and audiences across all quarters. In an exclusive chat with OTTplay, Jude tells us why the movie, which took him more than four years to make and release, was important, considering the times we live in.

Also read: The Kerala Story: Netizens recall John Abraham's old statements about Kerala's communal harmony 

Incidentally, most of the actors who had worked in the movie, including Tovino Thomas, Kunchacko Boban and Asif Ali also did what they could during the 2018 flood rescue and relief efforts.

“From what I have understood from working with them, be it Chackochan, Asif, Tovino or Vineeth, is that beyond actors, they are humans who would go all out to support their fellow beings. I think the majority of the people are like that,” says Jude. “We might not be calling the ones we know everyday or even smile at the person we pass daily on the road, but when they encounter a problem, we might be the first to reach their side and help out. That was the case in 2018 too when the actors reached out to help.”

Also read: 2018 is a journey about unseen, unheard stories and unsung heroes: Jude Anthany Joseph 

The filmmaker, whose house was also affected during the 2018 disaster, further explains that the people of the State would turn up to help each other during a crisis. “I think that’s the inherent nature of a lot of Malayalis. I am not saying that it’s not there in people of other states, but I am saying based on my experience of being a Malayali and living in this State,” he adds.

On why 2018 is an important movie, Jude, who has co-scripted the venture with Akhil Dharmajan, says, “In the current scenario, what we are also missing is this. We are going through a weird phase where everything is dissected based on political parties’ agenda and castes. But because there are positive people who inspire hope and have humanity, we are still standing united and progressing.”