India's Oscar Hopeful: The Film that Triumphed Over 2018's Deluge

Having already achieved the status of the highest-grossing Malayalam film ever made, Jude Anthany Joseph's "2018: Everyone is a Hero" is now set to make waves on the international stage. The film has been chosen as India's official entry for the 2024 Oscars, marking the fourth time a Malayalam movie has received this prestigious honor.  Set against the devastating backdrop of the 2018 Kerala floods, the movie pays tribute to the resilience and unity of the people who faced this calamity head-on. It stands out as a survival film, empathetically portraying the trauma and challenges faced by the affected people who fight it out with courage and unity. Director Jude Anthany Joseph emphasizes the importance of emotional resonance in storytelling. He believes that the film's true essence lies in its ability to evoke genuine emotions and deeply connect with the audience. One of the film's strengths lies in its minimal use of visual effects (VFX) and instead focusing on the creation of sets and props, including those needed for the flood scenes. Majority of the flood scenes were filmed on sets specially constructed on a sprawling 22-acre location near Kottayam. A two-acre reservoir was also meticulously crafted on-site, serving as the backdrop for shooting the underwater sequences. The selection for the Oscars adds to the film’s recognition, following actor Tovino Thomas's recent honor as Best Asian Actor at the Septimius Awards 2023 for his remarkable performance in the movie. The dedicated ensemble cast skillfully conveyed the emotions of millions of Malayalis, adding to the film’s impactful narrative. As "2018: Everyone is a Hero" heads to the Oscars, it carries with it the hopes and pride of an entire nation and an industry that continues to gain recognition on the global stage.

Noushad’s Act of Kindness Sends Out a Positive Message to Society

As floods continued to create havoc in Kerala, innumerable acts of kindness came to the fore which touched people’s hearts and instilled a sense of unity. One such generous act was carried out by Noushad, a local trader whose humble act is winning hearts on social media. He donated all the new clothes that he had stocked for the occasion of Eid to flood-hit victims. A Generous Heart Noushad, who sells garments at Mattancheri in Ernakulam district came to know about a group of volunteers led by actor Rajesh Shama. The volunteers were accumulating relief material to be sent to the Malabar region which bore the brunt of incessant rains, landslides and floods. Noushad promptly invited the volunteers to his shop and donated all new clothes, especially for women and children that he had stocked in his shop for the festival season. Social Media The kind act of Noushad melted Rajesh’s heart and he posted a video on Facebook narrating the incident. In the clip which went viral, Noushad could be heard saying, “We don’t carry anything along while we depart from this world, my profit is in helping the needy. Tomorrow is Bakrid, this is how I celebrate it.” He donated five sacks of garments for the flood relief drive. Noushad was applauded by ministers, celebrities and the general public for his selfless act. Noushad’s  act of humanity is like a ray of sunlight in the dark and gloomy flood-hit Kerala Image Source: www.maybemaynot.com