Finding humour in a horror movie: Ranjith Sankar

Gone are the days when the average Malayali audience looked forward to family dramas alone; their sensibilities have undergone a sea change and now, they are open to any genre of movie. One such movie the crowd is looking forward to is the horror-comedy Pretham. With two more weeks to the release, director Ranjith Sankar, who is busy with some last-minute post production works, gives a sneak-peek into the movie.

“It was my long-time wish to direct a horror movie. Horror movies have many risks associated with it. People might go to watch an English horror flick, but I am not sure about a Malayalam horror movie. What attracted me the most about Pretham is the humour in it,” “The movie has a humour by default, it is not forced. This factor has given me confidence to direct this movie,” says Ranjith.

Elaborating on the genre, he says, “Horror-comedy is a vast genre commercially, and is yet to be explored here. There is a certain amount of risk that comes along with it. It has to be balanced properly and I think, I have brought that balance here.”

Revealing more, he says, “The film is about three friends, played by Aju Varghese, Sharafudeen and Govind Padmasoorya (GP), who had big dreams of starting a business of their own. The three part ways after college and the movie begins from 10 years later when they come together to fulfil their dream. With their saved money, they buy a resort and run their business there. Then a man named John Don Bosco, played by Jayasurya, comes into their life and the rest forms the crux of the movie.” Pretham, mostly shot in Cherai, will hit the screens on August 12. “What stands above the fear factor is the humour and curiosity. I hope the audience will enjoy it,” Ranjith sums up.