When I'm depressed or lonely, I visit the graveyard: Mysskin

Daring, defiant and absolutely unapologetic, director Mysskin is known to speak his mind. In an exclusive chat with Chennai Times, he opens up on his upcoming film Pisasu, his understanding of the supernatural and his future projects.
On Pisasu:
I've wanted to do a ghost film for a long time. So, after Onaaiyum Aatukkutiyum (OA), I thought this was the right time to make a film of this nature.Usually, a ghost story is a scary movie. I did not want to confine myself to just the scary part. The usual plot in a ghost story is that a girl is killed and she comes back to take revenge. I decided this was not the line I was going to take. I researched and dug deep and the result is what has evolved into Pisasu. This story is pure fiction. But because I weave my story so realistically, it can come across as being a real-life incident. Just 15 days of work is left in this film, which will be two hours long. I intend to release it by November.
Every director has a point to communicate through his film. What is it that you are looking to say through Pisasu?
I don't believe in didactics. Any story has a moral and this one too is no different. The moral is this. We do not know if ghosts exist or not. But in all our movies and literature, ghosts are portrayed as evil. I am contradicting that view. What if a girl dies and finds herself suspended in air. She cannot go to heaven and return to earth. Spare a thought for her sad plight. We humans consider ourselves to be good and altruistic and we project our wickedness onto ghosts. My ghost is beautiful and greater than any human being.
How did director Bala end up being a part of this project?
After OA, I was waiting for a producer. Nobody came forward. It was then that Bala watched OA. After watching it, he asked me what I intended to do next. I smiled and replied, 'I have no idea. But when I make a movie, you can produce it.' He immediately replied, 'OK, I will produce it. Start work tomorrow.'
On his cast and crew:
My protagonist is Naga and the heroine is Prayaga from Cochin. Both of them are newcomers. Also, Radha Ravi sir is playing an important role in the film. I am introducing a new music director called Aarol Corelli in this film. He is a violinist whose real name is Arul. He told me, 'There are several people with my name. Could you please change it? So, I said, 'Corelli was a great violinist. So, why don't you take Corelli's name and change your first name to Aarol.' He has done exceptional work. The film has one song. The number might not be romantic but my film has a beautiful love story.
Has he interacted with people who have had supernatural experiences for the film'
In fact, I've had a couple of supernatural experiences myself. Earlier, I would boast about these experiences, but now, I believe them to be a projection of my fears. The incident I am referring to happened when I was nine years old. My parents advised me against visiting graveyards. Being inquisitive, I decided to defy their instructions. I went to a graveyard with a friend at around 9.30 in the night. I felt someone following me and eventually hitting me. My parents brought me home in an unconscious state. I lay that way for three days. Poojas were performed and then things became alright. However, now, I believe it to be a projection of my fears. I doubt the authenticity of my experience.
Does he still visit graveyards after this experience'
Within four years of the incident happening, I got over my fear of graveyards and I've been visiting them after that. In fact, it is the only place I find to be peaceful. My school used to be in Gopalapuram and I used to come home through a graveyard. I used to sit there for four to five hours alone during my 12th standard. Even now, sometimes, when I feel very lonely or depressed, I go there.
But aren't graveyards a picture of depression themselves?
A graveyard to me is a place of freedom. It is so peaceful there and you shed your worries there. I was there in a graveyard for seven days while shooting a sequence in Onaaiyum Aatukuttiyum and there were moments I would pause to look at the graves. For instance, I saw a nine-month old baby's grave and it made me think about the ironies of life. It's a beautiful place.
Future plans:
I have three ideas in the pipeline. I want to do Anjaathey Part 2. I also want to do a small budget period film and a detective-based film. Anjaathey's second part might not actually be a sequel. I have a profound admiration for cops and believe that they are doing a great service to society. There is a wrong notion about them. I want to write a sincere cop story that will help change that notion.