My next film won’t be 'Minnal Murali 2’: Basil Joseph hints at a new big-budget project

Basil Joseph is a star who has been delivering back-to-back hits in the Malayalam film industry. His recent films, 'Pravinkoodu Shappu' and 'Ponman', were widely appreciated by audiences for their unique premises. But what sets him apart is not just his talent behind or in front of the camera, it is also the way he breaks the modern-day idea of a 'typical' hero.
His film 'Pravinkoodu Shappu' is set to stream on SonyLIV after its theatrical run, while his next big release, 'Maranamass', is gearing up for a theatrical release.
The multi-talented actor recently spoke to Onmanorama about his film selection, storytelling preferences, and future plans.

Your recent films, like 'Pravinkoodu Shappu', have been widely appreciated for their unconventional storytelling and have resonated well with audiences. As an actor, was it a conscious decision to seek out such distinct scripts that stand out in both form and content?
I was excited when I heard the script of 'Pravinkoodu Shappu' because it was not in a conventional format. Even director Sreeraj Sreenivasan's short film 'Thumba' had a very different script, so I believed this film would be experimental. That excitement was there from the start.

We knew that this movie was not going to follow a typical template because all the characters had a certain quirkiness. There is humour in absurdity, and that element in Sreeraj’s script excited all of us. We wanted to be part of this experiment. Only when experiments happen does the industry diversify.

Maybe today or tomorrow, the audience will recognise it as that, or maybe it will take time. But for experimental films, there is always that risk. Only when we step outside our comfort zone do movies like 'Pravinkoodu Shappu' get made. The credit goes to Sreeraj, who had that conviction. He is someone with a clear vision.

Your recent films, especially 'Pravinkoodu Shappu' and 'Ponman', stood out for their realism and defiance of hero stereotypes. What is your take on that shift?
Yes, that shift is definitely something we are seeing more now. Earlier, you mostly saw hero-driven or muscular-hero cinema. But now we are returning to a phase where the story becomes the hero, or the director’s vision leads the way.

That is why more experimental films are being made in Malayalam. That becomes the identity of these movies, instead of limiting films to spectacle-driven content. You can see that shift in films like 'Pravinkoodu Shappu'. Director Sreeraj was very firm about not following a cliche structure.

Even in the movies I have chosen, this point is clear, they go against the grain. 'Ponman' is the first movie I did in a hero-like template, but even then, the audience could relate to it because of my earlier films. So when we choose stories based on the story and the director, different kinds of films get made.

Speaking of 'Maranamass', the trailer is quite intriguing, especially your look in the film, including the standout hairdo. What can audiences expect from the movie?
'Maranamass' is directed by Sivaprasad, who assisted in 'Minnal Murali' and also served as its casting director. He has a vision of his own, and that is very evident in 'Maranamass'.

The film is wild and a bit exaggerated; it is about the adventure of a group of people. A wild ride. It will definitely be an exciting watch for kids. There is a hero with coloured hair, a loud heroine, a breakup, a dog named Pakru, so many visual elements that will excite audiences.
It is a pop-culture-driven movie that is meant for fun. It is better not to approach this film from a logical or deep perspective. Today, we watch a lot of short content and reels, so this movie can connect with viewers on that level.

The trailer hints at a dark comedy vibe with a serial killer backdrop. Is that a genre you particularly enjoy? What kind of roles or genres are you looking forward to exploring next?
No, I do not have a specific preference for genres. All I want is for the film to be commercially viable, it should have theatre pull. In today's world, conventional stories may not work in theatres anymore. Audiences need an entertainer or a genre-bending experience to come to theatres.

If the subject is not strong, people will simply watch films on OTT platforms. But the irony is that if a film fails in theatres, even OTT platforms do not want it. So it does not work anywhere. We have to create different kinds of cinema.
That is my only priority, to do films that reach people. There is no point in making a film that no one watches.

Your characters feel very relatable. In real life, are you like the roles you play?
Yes, definitely. There is a lot of similarity between me and the characters I play. In 'Ponman', for instance, while I am not referring to the background of my character Ajesh, our attitudes are very similar.
Most of the roles I am offered are based on my mannerisms and physicality. I was never offered a larger-than-life role. I usually get roles I can relate to. Ninety-nine per cent of the roles I am offered are like that.

But films like 'Pravinkoodu Shappu' allowed me to break that mould. These characters were not written with me in mind, and that made it exciting to play them. I had to step out of my comfort zone. It is important to avoid being typecast and to break away from the usual boy-next-door image.

Two other big films, Mammootty's 'Bazooka' and Naslen's 'Alappuzha Gymkhana' are releasing alongside 'Maranamass'. Are you expecting healthy competition at the box office
Of course. Naslen has a massive fan base and the film is directed by Khalid Rahman. They have worked hard on the movie, including boxing and physical transformation, which is the film’s USP.

And 'Bazooka', what more does it need than being a Mammootty film? It needs no other build-up. But this is vacation time, so all the films have space to perform well. If the movies are good, they will all do well. I do not feel there is any need for competition.

You are not just an actor but a director as well. With all the acting assignments recently, do you feel additional pressure or exhaustion?
Yes, it is difficult to manage both. Even though there are no active directorial projects right now, there are a lot of challenges, logistical planning, talking to actors, and so on. For now, I am focusing only on acting. But behind the scenes, a hectic directorial process is underway too.

At the same time, I have a family life to manage. I have a two-year-old daughter and I want to spend time with her. So yes, it is difficult to manage everything. Everything collides.
It is exhausting, but I have no regrets because things are going smoothly. As an actor, everything is going well. As a director, there are a few hurdles, but that is okay.
Right now, I am on a break from acting. I have not acted in any new projects in the last few months, and I will not be acting for a few more months. It is just that all the films I acted in previously are releasing one after the other.

Can we expect a 'Minnal Murali 2' from you anytime soon?
No, my next directorial venture will not be 'Minnal Murali 2'. It will be a completely different film. There was a huge-scale movie that was in the works, but it did not happen for various reasons. So now I am working on a different script.

It is also a big-budget film with huge aspirations. But things do not always go as planned, so I am giving the project the time it needs. Since this will be my next film after 'Minnal Murali', there will definitely be expectations. Hopefully, it will be good.

Do you find time to watch films during your packed schedule?
Yes, I watch a lot of films. I try to stay consistent. If I do not get to watch movies, it affects me deeply. It frustrates me and impacts my mental health. I will not compromise on watching films.
If any job interferes with that, I will say no to it. Watching movies is that important to me.