The Hindu : Kerala News : Riding a success ‘Cycle’

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Riding a success ‘Cycle’

“As a director, ‘Cycle’ is the film that has given me most gratification.”

Johny Antony

The success of ‘Cycle’ has given Johny Antony the confidence to attempt new things, he tells P.K. Ajith Kumar.

It has tuned out to be a surprisingly smooth ride for `Cycle’ in cinemas across Kerala. Odds were stacked heavily against the film, directed by Johny Antony, one of the promising directors in the younger generation of Malayalam cinema.

‘Cycle’ had no stars (the two main roles were played by newcomer Vinu Mohan and singer Vineeth Sreenivasan) and it was released at a time when the State was getting ready for public examinations. But the film has beaten those odds and is cycling its way fast to the 50th day. The film’s success is also good news for Malayalam cinema, which needs small, enjoyable films like this to do well.

“The school and college examinations were something I was worried about,” admits Johny, who was in Kozhikode recently. “And my film was aimed primarily at the youth. I am glad that it is doing well, despite the adverse conditions.”

“As a director ‘Cycle’ is the film that has given me most gratification, though ‘CID Moosa’, my debut film, is also very close to my heart,” says Johny. “Though ‘Cycle’ has no stars, its budget wasn’t low, as I was determined that there shouldn’t be any compromises in the making of the film. I liked the theme of the film when it was narrated to me by the script-writer James Albert. That was why I decided to produce the film along with a few friends of mine.”

Cinema was there always on Johny’s mind, as a young boy growing up at Mammood, near Changanasserry. “But I didn’t want to be a director, I rather wanted to be the next Jayan of Malayalam cinema,” he chuckles.

It was a friend of his Joekuttan, a film producer, who had asked him to study cinema seriously and that he had the potential to be a director. “But for his persuasion, I wouldn’t have gone to Chennai to try my luck in cinema,” recalls Johny.

After slogging for many years as an assistant director with Thulasidas, Nisar, Thaha, Sasi Sankar and Jose Thomas, he got his first break when actor Dileep became impressed with his work and enthusiasm. “I couldn’t have hoped for a better beginning than ‘CID’ Moosa,” says Johny.

He then went on to direct ‘Kochi Rajavu’ and ‘Thuruppu Gulan’ and ‘Inspector Garud’. His next film is with Mammootty, ‘Pattanathil Bhootham’. “I had also Raghuvaran, who died a few days ago,”” he says. “”The film will have a lot of graphics. Children are going to love the film.”

He has also high expectations about a film he plans to make with 14 new faces. “The idea is to select one actor from each of the 14 districts,” he explains. “The success of ‘Cycle’ has given me the confidence to attempt new things. Though most of my films have done well at the box office, no film has won me the compliments from the industry like ‘Cycle’ did. I was overjoyed when I received a text message on my cell phone from director Priyadarshan, saying that he had liked the film.”

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