Tovino Thomas Reveals He Wanted To Play A Villain In 'Minnal Murali'

Director Basil Joseph and actor Tovino Thomas have revealed some of the most explicit details of their current film, 'Minnal Murali.' The Netflix film has been well received by viewers all across the world, and it has effectively broken down the language barrier.

In an interview with The Indian Express, the duo discussed how the theme of mental illness, the societal stigma that accompanies it, and the lack of understanding about mental health in society inspired the fundamental narrative of 'Minnal Murali,' which premiered on the OTT platform on December 24, last year.

Despite the fact that there are analogues in Hollywood superhero movies about how society's apathy leads regular people into supervillains, Joseph's idea for it was indigenous, just like his heroic character, Minnal Murali.

바카라�There is a movie called Thaniyavarthanam (1987), in which the hero바카라�s uncle is mentally ill. And society thinks that the hero has inherited the illness of his uncle. And he바카라�s treated like an outcast. But, eventually, he will turn out to be someone like바카라� (Shibu). Shibu바카라�s mother has an issue of mental illness and society thinks he might have inherited it. So they treat him like an outcast. Even when he바카라�s asked to marry a girl, the girl바카라�s brother refuses his proposal citing his mother바카라�s mental illness,바카라� Joseph said.

Sibhu's rage, according to Joseph, sprang from the suffering inflicted by years of persecution and humiliation, not from disease.

바카라�At the beginning of the movie when Sibhu says that he lost his wallet, the police officer surprisingly asks, 바카라�even you have a wallet?바카라� As if he바카라�s someone who was not supposed to have a wallet. And the tea shop owner slaps on the back of Sibhu바카라�s head. After years of being mistreated by people, he becomes a loner and loses confidence in himself. But, with his superpower, he becomes more confident. He starts to comb his hair, cut his nails. Sibhu is not doing what he바카라�s doing because he바카라�s mentally ill. He acts that way because he바카라�s treated like a mad person,바카라� he added.

Tovino Thomas also mentioned that he wanted to portray Sibhu's part at first because he believed it had a deep emotional core. He relinquished his goal, however, as Joseph informed him of his plans to transform 'Minnal Murali' into a franchise. 바카라�I asked Basil if I could play Sibhu. And when the villain role is getting all the praise, I am so proud that my judgment was right,바카라� he added.

And Thomas argues that, while Sibhu is not inherently bad, there are other nasty characters in the film who get away with it.

바카라�I think he바카라�s (Sibhu) not the villain of the movie until some point. I think the people around Sibhu are more villainous than him, including the guy who sets Sibhu바카라�s house on fire. Whatever Sibhu is doing, he is doing out of his loss. He바카라�s not doing it just to hurt people. He has been treated like sh**t since his childhood and that바카라�s why he바카라�s giving back to those people. But, a lot of innocent people come under Sibhu바카라�s attack and that바카라�s why Jaison had to intervene and do all these things. So I don바카라�t consider him as an ugly villain we see in other movies,바카라� he explained.

Joseph suggested that while no one can justify Sibhu going on a killing spree, the audience should also be aware of the reasons that prompted Sibhu바카라�s actions.

바카라�Sibhu바카라�s actions can바카라�t be justified and at the same time, the actions of people around Sibhu also can바카라�t be justified. They make a villain out of Sibhu and then judge him. I don바카라�t think that바카라�s fair,바카라� added Thomas.