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Judd Anthony Joseph 2018: Everybody’s a Champion It became an exceptional example of a still life movie Strong presence in theaters, even after its release on the OTT platform. It was released in theaters on 5 May 2018 and has crossed ₹200 crore worldwide. Presently, the movie is available for streaming on SonyLIV.
Besides receiving acclaim for its uplifting portrayal of human bond, which was magnified with the devastating floods occurring in Kerala in 2018, the film captivated audiences by flawlessly displaying the natural disaster. The depiction of various areas of the state submerged in flood waters was particularly well received by Malayali film audiences, many of whom experienced the disaster first hand.
However, a question lingered on audiences’ minds: How did the filmmakers achieve such an accurate replication of the disaster? Were these parts accomplished through the use of computer-generated imagery (CGI) or visual effects (VFX)? If so, how?
But what if we told you that the use of sound effects was minimal in 2018 and that most scenes in it were made possible with the help of manually created sets, and that almost all props, including the helicopter, were made?
Believe it or not, it’s true!
“Recreating the flood waters using graphics and making sure of the high quality would have cost a bomb. Malayalam cinema couldn’t afford it yet. So, we decided to use real water. Hence, the scenes where the actors wade through the flood waters are real. The scene showing Aluva River which actually flooded in August 2022, when it swelled again. The entire film was made on an approximate budget of Rs. 30 crores. The airlift scene was shot over eight nights,” director Joud Anthani Joseph told Matinee Live in a recent interview. .
Everything was created artificially
Explaining the process of making the film, 2018 production designer Mohandas, who has been a part of the film since day one, said, “Everything from houses and intersections to dams was created artificially.”
“The flood was created artificially in a tank built on a two-acre land,” Mohandas told Manorama Online. “The first time I met Judd, he showed me the script and asked how we could recreate the Flood. He had approached several art directors for this film before me. I pitched an idea to Judd, and he loved it. That’s how this movie happened.”
“While planning the film, I met Mr. Priyadarshan and related my plan and asked him if he had any advice. Find a place with a water catchment area in the background, that is very important,” he said. So, we decided to find a place where water availability would not be a concern. But one of the main concerns here was about returning the water to the river after it is used. We can’t pollute it. So, we understood that we needed at least 25 acres of land keeping in mind that no one would put such a huge land vacant.”
“A total of 14 houses were built and later converted into…”
“We found a plot of land in Vaikkom. Then we started discussing the budget, the reservoir, the size of the reservoir, how to build the houses, and other things. There was no photographer at this time. After Corona, Fino Konappelli enters as co-producer. Mr. Venu has a construction business. With the help of his engineers we decided how to make the tank. They made a tank that could be filled with water. Townships, intersections, and homes were all built within it. All items were detachable and could be changed into something else. A total of 14 houses were built and later converted into different types of houses and used as needed. The engineer pointed out that elements such as electric poles, plants and trees were all made of waterproof materials.
Can you believe that even a sequence featuring the sea was filmed on this set?
“The real sea was only shown twice – once in a scene involving Asif Ali and again when the boat was approaching the shore. The ship was only created via CGI. The rest was shot with artificial lighting on the set itself,” he confirmed.
We made three tanks for this movie. Water can be loaded through a tank at the junction. It is not done aggressively. The main tank was very powerful. It did not crack or move. It was eventually demolished from there. A JCB was brought in and the plot leveled… A roller was brought in to make it strong and the entire concrete was poured on the tank… The tank was built on top of it. It took 12 to 15 hours to fill this tank. We planted trees, electricity poles and trees. Sea and waves were worked into the collection. For us, the set was like Ramoji Film City. After filming, the place was completely restored.”
Behind the scenes of the airlift
“We ourselves made the helicopter for the airlift scene. It cost us about Rs 14 lakh. Taking cue from the internet also, we made a helicopter and hung it on one crane and put the propeller and raft on another crane.
“That’s how the scene was done. The helicopter shot was the hardest. When it was done, everyone was happy. The shoot was shot in June and July as I wanted a rainy and windy atmosphere in the background so everything looked natural.” The engineer added that even the shot showing the Idukki Dam was created with a kit.
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