Director Aashiq Abu: Naaradan is about the universe of television journalists

Starring Tovino Thomas and Anna Ben in the lead, the film on the conflicts of interests in newchannels, reaches cinemas on March 3

The idealistic, ethical editor, the greedy media owner, the puppet of politicians and corporates, the crusading editor, the daring, adventurous investigative reporter, the ruffians and the laidback scribes... Viewers of Malayalam cinema have seen a gamut of journalists, mostly unrealistic and exaggerated, on screen.

Blockbusters starring A-listers and helmed by mainstream directors like Joshiy, IV Sasi, Shaji Kailas, Blessy, and so on have put the media centre stage. However, most of the films were not always about the media or its work. Many a time, the films turned into investigative or political thrillers.

All eyes are now on Aashiq Abu’s Naaradan, releasing on March 3. With an ensemble cast led by Tovino Thomas and Anna Ben, and written by Unni R, the film delves into newsrooms and behind-the-scene working of news channels. Also in the cast are Indrans, Renji Panicker, Sharafudheen, Joy Mathew, Balachandran Chullikad, Vijayaraghavan, Kunchan, Rajesh Madhavan and Navas Vallikunnu among others.

How different will Naaradan be from similar media-based movies in the past? Aashiq responds, “I want viewers to answer that. For instance, the political and social conditions that existed during the time of P athram (1999) do not exist now. TV channels were not so pervasive and popular. The dynamics of news and the way it was handled and disseminated were different. Na aradan delves into ethical issues and internal and external conflicts that have a bearing on visual media journalists. Na aradan is about the universe of television journalists.”

He admits wryly that expectations make him nervous and that is why he does not make any claims about the film.

Aashiq says for some time now, he had been observing the cut-throat competition among news channels and the pressure it creates on journalists.

Says Aashiq: “I have watched the pressure of 24x7 live news channels on my friends in the media and how it has affected their lives. Some of them, like Unni, moved on to other fields. I wanted to discuss all that in a film.”