The white and blue NASA sweatshirt is a dead giveaway that Arun Chandu, the director of ‘Gaganachari,’ is a space enthusiast. As he settles down for a chat, his exhilaration is palpable, a reflection of the film’s phenomenal success at the box office. “Anyone who knows me, knows I am a space buff and a Carl Sagan fan. There is a Njaan Gandharvan poster with Carl Sagan’s face instead of Nitish Bharadwaj’s,” he says with a hearty laugh.
‘Gaganachari,’ a sci-fi mockumentary set in a post-apocalyptic future, is drawing crowds into theatres, transcending age groups. It has become the latest and an unexpected entrant into the club of Malayalam films that have struck gold in 2024.
Set in the 2040s, ‘Gaganachari’ presents a world besieged by aliens, threatened by climate change, and polarized by extreme political ideologies. Using the found footage technique, the film caps a narrative on three men – Ganesh Kumar, Aju Varghese, and Gokul Suresh – whose lives are thrown into disarray by the arrival of an alien named Aliyama, played by Anarkali Marakkar. The name ‘Aliyama’ derives from ‘alien,’ fittingly tying in with her character in the storyline.
The humor in the movie softens the edge of its socio-political commentary. Treading a fine line, Arun successfully embeds Malayalam pop culture references throughout the film. A fan of mockumentaries, particularly the horror-comedy series ‘What We Do In The Shadows,’ Arun explains, “After watching it, I wanted to make something political, that would tell hard-hitting truths through the mockumentary lens. It would deliver it in a lighter tone,” he says. The truths are presented unobtrusively, leaving no chance for offense.
Ganesh Kumar shines as the middle-aged alien ‘hunter’ Victor Vasudevan, delivering impeccable comic timing. Kumar, who also featured in Arun’s second directorial venture ‘Saajan Bakery,’ was the obvious choice for the role. “I wrote Victor with Ganesh sir in mind. His thekkan Keralam [south Kerala] swag is top-notch, and he absolutely enjoyed being part of the film, perhaps because he understood its potential,” Arun notes.
Gokul Suresh’s collaboration with Arun dates back to ‘Sayanna Varthakal’ (2018), Arun’s debut film. Their shared passion for climate issues and UFO conspiracy theories enriched their creative partnership. “Gokul is vocal about climate issues…we align ideologically on many fronts,” remarks Arun.
Interestingly, ‘Gaganachari’ diverges from typical post-apocalyptic films that portray deserted, barren lands, à la ‘Mad Max.’ Instead, it showcases a world ravaged by water. Arun, whose home in the flood-prone area of Aranmula inspired this choice, expresses, “Rain and what comes with it is not romantic for me. My home gets submerged whenever it rains heavily, and it’s a nightmare. So, water had to be a significant element in this post-apocalyptic world.”
The journey to create ‘Gaganachari’ was a series of ‘daily tests,’ from convincing producers to assuring the cast of the film’s value, even if they were unsure of its final form. “They trusted the technician in me,” says Arun. The overwhelming response the film garnered at various film festivals, and particularly at the Kerala Pop Con held at PVR Cinemas in Lulu Mall, Kochi, buoyed their confidence.
Written and filmed during the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns in 2020-21, the film waited three years for a theatrical release, which Arun considers a blessing in disguise.
. “Usually, a three-year delay would make the topics discussed outdated. Fortunately for us, it is set in the future. Releasing in 2025 would have made it the present, as we reference 2025 in the film!”
The extra time allowed the film to benefit from evolving technology, including advancements in AI and CGI. Despite a modest budget, the visual effects are striking. “We aimed for minimalism, reminiscent of the sci-fi action film ‘District 9,'” Arun elaborates.
During its festival run, ‘Gaganachari’ earned accolades at roughly 25 out of the 60 festivals it entered, standing out in both sci-fi-centric and South Asian representation festivals like the LA Sci-Fi Film Festival and Nico Media Film Festival (NIFA). The standing ovation at the Pramana Asian Film Festival (2023) in Calabria, Italy, particularly resonated with Arun. “I learned that cinema transcends language. The audience might not have understood the pop culture references, but they grasped the geo-politics and climate change themes,” he recalls.
The film’s conceptual journey evolved significantly. Originally envisioned as a darker, intense narrative akin to ‘A Quiet Place,’ it transformed following feedback from Aju Varghese. “Ajuettan suggested humor instead. After reading the script, he asked, ‘What is wrong with you? We are already living under apocalyptic conditions because of the pandemic, and you want to scare us more?’” This feedback led to a lighter script that Arun developed with friend and U.S.-based scriptwriter Rahul Menon. Writer Siva Sai also contributed significantly to shaping the final narrative.
Arun, a self-taught filmmaker, sometimes wishes he had apprenticed under other directors. “I am a product of the digital filmmaking era. I wanted to figure it out on my own. Perhaps the traditional route would have made things easier,” he muses, though he doubts he would have had the courage to make ‘Gaganachari’ had he followed convention.
The film’s success has taken the team by surprise, particularly the diverse audience demographic. “All our promotional material targeted 18-25-year-olds, but it is drawing kids and parents alike. It appeals across age groups,” observes Arun.
Arun attributes this change to the diverse content consumed on OTT platforms during and post-pandemic. Echoing actor Fahadh Faasil’s sentiments, Arun appreciates the openness of the Malayali audience. “It’s like what Fahadh said—we can release any film here as people are broad-minded.”
Future plans involve expanding the ‘Gaganachari’ universe. Next up is ‘Maniyan Chittappan,’ starring Suresh Gopi, which was referenced in ‘Gaganachari.’ “It has so much potential…it can be developed like the Marvel universe,” Arun concludes.
‘Gaganachari’ continues to captivate audiences in theatres, proving that innovative storytelling and bold themes can find a home in Malayalam cinema.
