I hope Su From So inspires every small filmmaker to dream big: JP Thuminad

J P Thuminad was sent from his tiny hamlet of Thuminad to Mangaluru to pursue his education at his grandparents’ home. “My grandfather would turn on the radio only for the evening news, and soon after, the host would announce a story-writing contest. They would narrate a story, leave it unfinished, and invite listeners to complete it. Each week, you could keep adding your own plot—and I found that deeply fascinating. My love for writing stemmed from there, and I’ve penned several tales since then. Su From So was one of them,” he tells us. Fresh from joining the `100 crore club with this film, JP sits down for a chat with Bangalore Times.

‘I DREW INSPIRATION FOR SU FROM SO FROM THE VIVID CHARACTERS I GREW UP WITH’
“Our village sits on the border of Karnataka and Kerala, and growing up, we had a bhajana mandali close to home, where we staged plays during annual festivals. Prakash Thuminad and other theatre artistes were my inspirations, and my biggest dream was to be on the bhajana mandali stage,” he says. I’ve met so many fascinating people in my childhood and Ravi anna is one such character in the film, based on a man I knew from home. He would help anyone at any time and was the go-to person for many. The swamiji was inspired by someone I met during my trips to Sabarimala,” he says.

‘I’VE BEEN NARRATING STORIES TO THOSE WHO’D LISTEN FOR A LONG TIME’
“Financially, things were tough, and I began working to support my family rather early in life. I took up odd jobs as a painter and, even then, I would narrate stories to those around me. Directing plays in Mangaluru soon became an outlet to bring to life all the tales I carried in my mind. I met Raj B Shetty through a common friend and landed a small stint in Ondu Motteya Kathe. I began doing plays, small roles in films, and directing dramas—but it was Swathi Muttina Male Haniye and Sapta Saagaradache Ello that brought me notice as an actor. As a director, it was Raj who felt I could take the next step,” shares JP.
‘WOMEN AND THE WAY THEY FACE LIFE WILL ALWAYS FIND A PLACE IN MY STORIES’
“Bhanu’s role in Su From So and the abuse she faces from her uncle was something that unconsciously crept into my story. But I didn’t set out with the thought of giving a message to the public. It’s just that growing up surrounded by sisters, cousins, and many women in the family, I would often overhear their discussions. They assumed I was too young to understand, but I did. Even without knowing the term ‘feminism,’ I would side with them, feeling their pain. Women and the way they face life will always find a place in my stories—they always have,” he adds.

‘FOR THE INDUSTRY, SU FROM SO MAY BE A SMALL FILM, BUT IT’S NOT SO FOR ME’
“My friends’ group has made many films, and this one was shot with a budget of five crores over 52 days, with a large ensemble cast. To me, that’s a big film. Frankly, I was worried about how we’d even recover the cost. After so many screenings, I had stopped laughing at the funny bits myself, but at the preview, the team forgot themselves and began hooting and clapping. It was the same at the paid premieres. At Narthaki, though, I was nervous because everyone was so quiet. And then suddenly, a laugh marathon began. Since then, the film has gone housefull, and I’m grateful it’s now called an industry hit. What makes me happiest is that my aged parents came to the theatre. My mother kept ruffling my hair, saying, ‘Enna baale’ (my child). Now, I’ll finally be able to build the home they always wanted,” he adds.

"Get the latest updates on Times of India, including reviews of the movie Coolie and War 2."


Select The Times of India as your preferred source on Google Search.