A first-time director is preparing a new thriller titled RJ Madonna.
A novice filmmaker is completing the final adjustments on his first feature-length film, entitled RJ Madonna.
RJ Madonna
A novice filmmaker is completing the final adjustments on his first feature-length film, entitled RJ Madonna. Anand Krishna Raj, who has prior experience in short films and film distribution—having co-distributed the successful Karthi-Lokesh Kanagaraj film Kaithi in Kerala—has taken on the role of director. He characterizes the project as a blend of mystery drama and thriller.
The lead role in the film is portrayed by Amalendu K Raj, with Anil Anto (from Second Show) and Sher Shah Sheriff (from Nizhal) taking on supporting roles. Anand, who is also the writer, provides insight into the film's premise, describing it as a low-budget production that follows the protagonist's experiences over the course of a single day. “The story revolves around a young radio jockey and aspiring actress named Madonna, whose encounter with a familiar individual leads to a captivating scenario right from the start,” Anand explains. He has long awaited the opportunity to make his directorial debut after completing a filmmaking course eight years prior.
Given the film's narrative, which explores the delicate boundary between reality and fiction, and the lack of recognizable actors, Anand faced significant challenges in presenting the project to potential producers. “As I do not have a background in the film industry, establishing connections was quite challenging. Additionally, it was difficult to communicate the multiple layers of the story to many producers,” he notes.
The situation was further complicated by the pandemic. Consequently, Anand opted to take on the role of producer himself, under the banner of Hitchcock Entertainment. Cinematographer Akhil Xavier, who previously worked on the Karikku episode Rock Paper Scissors, makes his feature film debut with RJ Madonna, while Anand took on the editing responsibilities. The music was composed by Ramesh Krishnan, with lyrics by Hrishikesh Mundani. The filming of RJ Madonna primarily took place in Wagamon, with additional scenes shot in Ernakulam. Anand plans to determine the release strategy based on the audience's reaction to the upcoming promotional materials.
