The buzz around the Jayasurya-starrer, the curiously titled IDI ( Inspector Dawood Ibrahim ), started with its name and later, its trailer. As the film gears up for release, it hits screens next week, it’s director, debutant Sajid Yahiya, says the logic for the film is simple, “So many films, re-dubbed from Telugu, are doing well at the box office. There is an audience for out and out stunt films. This is our take on those.” That said, this film is not of the mindless variety – there is a method to it, he adds.
Latest in a line of police-based films that have been coming thick and fast since Action Hero Biju (the latest being Kasba) , IDI is a fast-paced comic thriller, he says. An all-out entertainer, “the cuts are slick; how one scene merges into the next…it’s fast, fast; no-time-to-think fast. We have had a number of ‘realistic’ Malayalam films, now this one is an entertainer. There are films that make you emotional; this is one that will make you laugh out loud on account of the sheer thrill of it.”
Jayasurya is Inspector Dawood Ibrahim, who dreams of being a cop and whose sole ambition is to catch lawbreakers. The film is about how he fulfils his ‘dream’. The humour is the crazy kind; bits of the trailer are reminiscent of Lijo Jose Pelissery’s Double Barrel .
“I admire his work and have been part of his films. I have observed how he works, so there might be influences – but my film is different.”
The cop, IDI, wants to be a hero and, as Sajid says, “There can’t be heroes without villains; a good hero needs better villains.” There is a line-up of interestingly-named villains, literally a rogue’s gallery – Vasco and Gang, whose right hand man is called, believe it or not, Kai (Malayalam for hand), a ‘gang of techies’ XYZ and Akbar Ali and Gang. Even the good policeman is Dawood Ibrahim. Sajid wanted to make a ‘maas’ entertainer and hopes he doesn’t disappoint.
This film, scripted by Sajid and Arouz Irfan, may be his debut as director, but he is no newbie to showbiz. Sajid’s is a face we have seen in many films, in bits and not-so-bit roles, in films such as Theevram , Bangalore Days , Double Barrel , Amen , to name some.
He has been involved in film production, with Friday Film House, and film promotion ventures. An acquaintance, and later friendship, with producer and actor Sandra Thomas got him into the industry.
The first film he was part of was Friday . “Sandra produced the film and I was the executive producer; she put in the money, not I,” he clarifies. That film, and subsequent involvement with Friday Film House, showed him the way around films – of how one gets made or rather how to make one. “I narrated the story to Sandra and she suggested I make it into a film.” The film was announced a couple of years ago, a couple of actors considered it, but eventually ‘it happened’ when Jayasurya came on board, he says.
Since stunts are a big part of the film, the stunt choreography is by stunt master Action G., who has assisted Peter Hein. “He brought so much of his experience to the film. We needed one from among the best – there are vehicle jumps, twists, there is one where the car rolls eight times, accidents; the stunts have slides, jumps – it will be entertaining.”
The cast includes Joju Thomas, Saiju Kurup, Sunil Sukhada, Molly Kannamaly and Ssivada among others. Of Ssivada’s role, Sajid says, “Her character is a bank employee in the film. She is also part of the whole ‘stunt’ scene in the film.”
Sajid’s mother makes her debut as singer in the film, “It’s all due to Rahul Raj’s efforts, my mother used to sing when she was younger. There is a lullaby for which, we thought, she would be best.” Rahul Raj has composed the music for the film, produced by Magic Lantern Productions and Eros International. It is due for release on August 12.
