Tovino Thomas

Thrissur: TN Prathapan MP reacts following watching the film 2018 in the theater regarding the flood era in Kerala. Pratapan came out with a Facebook post that started as a reminder of unity and unity, unaffected by religion, money, glory, caste and racial-communal thoughts, at a time when people were separated from each other by the equations of narrow concepts in the mind and soil. Appreciating director Jude Anthony for the presentation of the film, Pratapan also wrote on Facebook that we should see each other soon. He shared the fact that this film, which is leading Malayalam cinema to international standards, was made only in Malayalam. ‘Anyway Jude, this is a great event, you are a great artist’ – TN Pratapan also appreciated.

‘2018’ starts by thanking Comrade Pinarayi too, Judd says caste, religion and party should not be dragged and left

TN Pratapan’s note in full

At a time when people were walled off in the mind and soil by the equations of narrow concepts, the flood era was a reminder of unity and unity, unaffected by religion, money, glory, caste and the strictures of ethnic and racial thoughts.
Those days when the rain that we used to see only as a nostalgic and romantic expression came down among us like a cloudburst. Daylights ruled by torrential rains that came out of darkness. A people in fear. Every house is ruined. The people, their wealth and their cherished dreams were hidden by landslides and soil erosion. The days when the rivers, backwaters and finally the sea were worried that this country would be taken away forever.
2018 is the story of how we overcame fear, stood together, reached out regardless of religion and caste, and held on. On the occasion of the Karnataka assembly elections, Udupi was camping there as an observer of the All India Congress Committee in Chikkamangalur constituencies. He returned to Kerala on Monday. Straight to the KPCC leadership camp in Wayanad. After the event, the first thing to do when coming down the pass was to watch the 2018 movie Everyone is a Hero. Got a second shock ticket last night at Kairali, Kozhikode. I had called Rama and his daughter Ansi to Wayanad. The intention was to watch the movie together.
A story of unparalleled and miraculous rescue by fishermen with boats and stakes, and the collective survival of the police, army, NGOs, volunteers and common people, when everything was broken and lost while fighting once morest the fierceness of the sea. Kerala’s story of friendship, coexistence, tolerance and empathy. The Real Kerala Story!
When making a film like this, there is a high chance that the craft will slip into a docu-fiction. Or to make a spectacle out of all the opportunities of fiction. But 2018 is the events and developments that we have seen recently, which are indelible in our minds and eyes. But the crew has made it with such care. There is no doubt that Jude Anthony’s filmmaking and narrative is an immense asset to Malayalam cinema. Let me express my dismay that this film, which leads Malayalam cinema to international standards, was made only in Malayalam. But the fact that there is a uniqueness in this is another matter. Let the world see this in our own language. Let them know our real story. We struggle to watch world movies with subtitles. Now let the world listen to Malayalam and read the subtitles in their language and get to know the brilliance and excellence of our movies. Surely this film will break the boundaries of the world. It will shine as Tilak of Indian cinema. (If you tell the story of Kerala with actors who don’t know Malayalam, the scene where they speak Malayalam at the end will be laughable. That’s what we’ve seen.) Anyway, Jude, this is a great event; You are a great artist. Jude, we should see each other soon.
How accurate is the casting in the film? All of them have performed exceptionally well. My dear friend Tovino has been amazing in the group. Tovino has already proved that he is a good actor. But Tovino’s character ‘Anup’ is re-creating the boundaries that Tovino and the audience, reviewers and critics have given to Tovino. Among the roles Tovino has done, Anoop is now my favorite over Mathan in Mayanadi and Jason in Minnal Murali.
Initially afraid of the verification process from the Sena and impatient at the police station, Anoop, who is nervous, believes in the good of his village, has the eyes and vision of the character Bhasi played by Indrans, helps all the locals, falls in love with Manju’s teacher in a beautiful way, and finally remains a deep-seated grudge somewhere inside.
Kunchacko Boban, Asif Ali, Vineeth Srinivasan, Lal, Narine, Sudheesh and all the other stars have given memorable performances. There was a standing ovation in the theater as each actor was introduced. It was only now that I realized that Narine has so many fans. The applause for the sight of Lal, Narine and Kohl breaking through the windswept beaches and the scene of Air Force Officer Tovinok saluting became deafening.
Being born and brought up as the son of a fisherman, the sense of pride given to me by Nileen Sandra who came as Narain’s wife, defining the lives of fishermen was enormous. When I saw the scene of the fishermen raising their fishing boats and walking ahead of the rescue operation, I was shouting with tears in my eyes. The fishermen risking their lives to go out into the tumults of the sea forget their miseries and difficulties and try to rescue them. These scenes become a great message of humanity.
Apart from directing, he excels in all fields like cinematography, editing, music, background music and art direction. The dedication shown by the crew, the art director and the department of the movie 2018 will amaze us when we know that the flood was not made in VFX but on a huge set that was actually built. The movie says that everyone was a hero during the 2018 floods. Every character in the film underlines that. Karana becomes a lizard to save Varghese’s (character played by Sudheesh) family. So that creature is also a hero in this survival story. There is a scene in the film where even the flood becomes a hero. The floodwaters are flowing westward following demolishing the polluting factory of Periyar. The philosophy of this film is that the experience is different in every view and situation, from rain, flood, water, dam, water level, fear, happiness, wealth, pride, life and death.
The whole world will watch 2018- #TheRealKeralaStory. The life of stone-walled lies and propaganda made in the bazaars of hate will be outlived by good films kept in the caskets of love. That’s it!

Last Updated May 11, 2023, 12:40 PM IST