Valatty director Devan: 'If people don't throw a stone at a dog after watching the film, that's good enough for me'

Debutant filmmaker Devan’s canine-led Valatty: Tale of Tails has finally released in theatres on July 21. The movie, which is told from the perspective of dogs and hence has a cast featuring the animals, also arrives at a time when the stray dog menace in Kerala has once again hit headlines.

In fact, the very week the makers had released the trailer of the movie in June, a child was attacked and killed by stray dogs in the State, triggering discussions on animal birth control to curb the menace. In fact, the movie’s trailer also showcased a glimpse of how this is also an angle that has been explored.

Also read: Valatty director Devan: We had to devise new tricks to get various reactions from the dogs 

In an exclusive chat with OTTplay, Devan, however, tells us that the movie, which is a feel-good romcom featuring two dogs and their companions, isn’t aimed at changing people’s opinions on dogs. “I have not intentionally done this film to change anybody’s views on animals. But if after watching the movie, somebody decides to not throw a stone at a dog that night; that itself is a big deal,” says the filmmaker, who has also scripted the movie.

Also read: Valatty 2023: Release date, plot, trailer, voice cast, who plays who, behind the scenes, OTT platform and more 

Valatty, he says, is not just a children’s film. “There’s a certain innocence associated with dogs. We know for sure that children will get that. But this film can be enjoyed by anyone who carries that innocence in their hearts and minds, irrespective of their age,” he says.

The main characters in the film are played by a Golden Retriever, a Cocker Spaniel, a Rottweiler, a Labrador, a rooster and a dog of an indigenous breed. These characters are voiced by Roshan Mathew, Raveena Ravi, Sunny Wayne, Indrans, Aju Varghese and Soubin Shahir, respectively.

The dogs were bought as pups by the makers almost three years ago and were trained for the purpose of the film during the pandemic lockdown. The movie will also be released in other languages in a week’s time, according to Devan.