'Drishyam' will remain a standalone story despite cinematic universe trend: Jeethu Joseph

Jeethu Joseph, the filmmaker and screenwriter who redefined the visual language of Malayalam cinema with ‘Drishyam’, is back with another thriller. His latest film, ‘Mirage’, has now reached theatres, promising a fresh dose of suspense for audiences. In an exclusive conversation, Jeethu opened up about the making of ‘Mirage’ and shared updates on the much-anticipated ‘Drishyam 3’.

The idea behind ‘Mirage’
“‘Mirage’, as the name suggests, is about something that keeps shifting the closer you get to it. It’s a state where what you see constantly changes. That idea forms the basis of this film,” Jeethu explains. “I wouldn’t call it a magical world or an illusion, but rather a story woven around such a condition. Yes, a Spanish film with the same name exists, but beyond the title, our film has no connection with it.”

Why he chose this project
According to Jeethu, it was the story that drew him in. “‘Mirage’ is an eventful thriller that goes through many unexpected turns. Originally, I wanted to make it in Hindi, and I was pursuing that for nearly three years. But due to various reasons, it didn’t happen. That’s when I decided to do it in Malayalam.”

Casting choices
The film features Asif Ali and Aparna Balamurali in the lead roles. “I had worked with both of them earlier,” Jeethu says. “From the moment I started thinking about ‘Mirage’, Asif was in my mind. The film largely revolves around Aparna’s character. Not every actor would be open to working in a story where the heroine is at the centre, but Asif immediately agreed after hearing it.”

On expectations and pressure
Naturally, the conversation shifts to ‘Drishyam 3’. “Of course, the huge success of the first two films creates pressure. But I have never made a film purely for commercial gain. For me, ‘Drishyam’ has always been a family story, about the emotional struggles of two households. After ‘Drishyam 2’, I felt it was the right time to move the story forward. That’s how the third part took shape.”

Possibility of ‘Drishyam 4’
“Let’s finish the third part first. How the audience receives it will decide everything else. If the right moment and story come along, I won’t rule out a fourth installment,” Jeethu hints.

On sequels to other films
Jeethu admits he has considered a sequel to ‘Memories’. “But I don’t want to make a sequel just for the sake of it. A strong story is a must, one that can recreate the impact of the original. If I come across such a story, ‘Memories 2’ might happen.”

On underrated works
Some cinephiles consider ‘Life of Josutty’ to be his most underrated film. Jeethu agrees: “Among the films I’ve made, ‘Life of Josutty’ and ‘Mummy & Me’ are closest to my heart. I love stories rooted in life. Personally, my favourites also include ‘Kumbalangi Nights’ and ‘Sandesham’. ‘Life of Josutty’ was released right after ‘Drishyam’, which might be why it didn’t get its due. If I get a similar plot again, I’d happily make another film like it.”

On ‘Ram’ with Mohanlal
Talking about his upcoming collaboration with Mohanlal, Jeethu says: “‘Ram’ is planned as a two-part film. We’ve only completed about 30 percent of the shoot. Then there was a long break, and we couldn’t continue. At this point, I don’t know when we’ll be able to restart.”

On a Jeethu Joseph cinematic universe
With cinematic universes being the trend, could his films ever cross over? Could Sam Alex from ‘Memories’ appear in ‘Drishyam’? Jeethu dismisses the thought. “I’ve never considered creating such a universe. ‘Drishyam’ is a standalone story. I don’t want to bring in characters from my other films just to force that idea. But in the future, maybe I’ll attempt a different kind of cinematic universe. For now, ‘Drishyam’ will remain as it is.”