Actress Anupama said:
“‘John Doe’ is a very important film with a deep psychological storyline. When you walk into the theatre to watch this film, you will be one person. But when you walk out after watching it, I can confidently say that you will be a different person. The film will leave such a profound impact on your mind.”
Actor Badava Gopi said:
“Rather than talking about my voice in this film, I would say that Arjun Das himself is the voice of this film. His deep voice is truly distinctive. Even when we go for voice-over assignments, people tell us that our voices should sound like Arjun Das. That is the kind of impact his voice has created among audiences. He is genuinely a talented artiste, and I am happy to have worked alongside him in this film.
This is a psychological thriller. Every human being has an internal psychological struggle. As Kamal sir once said, human nature is a combination of God and the beast within. The film explores this aspect of human nature in a different way.
Director Madhumita has been a close family friend of mine for a long time. After my mother passed away in 2018, I was going through a very difficult phase emotionally. During that period, Madhumita contacted me and invited me to Kerala to act in her film. She was the person who helped me return to normal life during that difficult time. I sincerely thank her for that.
Madhumita is an excellent director. Her creativity and ability to bring out the best performances from actors are truly remarkable. I have performed in several comedy sequences in this film. Arjun Das’s performance, his emotional scenes and many other aspects have come together beautifully.
Archana plays my wife in this film, and Zara has also delivered a wonderful performance. It makes me happy to see her growth. Madhumita is a Tamil woman who is gaining national recognition, and that is something the entire Tamil film industry should be proud of.
Initially, I did not know the meaning of the title ‘John Doe’. Later, I learned that when an unidentified male patient is admitted to a hospital, the name John Doe is used to refer to him. Similarly, an unidentified female patient is referred to as Jane Doe. I thank Madhumita and the entire team for giving me the opportunity to be part of a film with such a unique title and storyline.”
Actress Archana said:
“My character in this film is very important, and it required a powerful performance. Within the very first minute of watching the film, audiences will feel the impact of my character. I have delivered a performance with considerable emotional depth.
Through Madhumita, I learned that even a small character can be transformed into one that leaves a strong impact on audiences. I sincerely thank her for trusting me and offering me this opportunity.
‘John Doe’ has been made possible through the collective efforts of all the actors and technicians who worked on the film. My best wishes to everyone involved. Congratulations to Arka Mediaworks and the producers as well. I warmly welcome you to Tamil cinema and wish you many more achievements in the Tamil film industry.”
Cinematographer Preetha Jayaraman said:
“Working on ‘John Doe’ gave us an entirely new experience from a cinematography perspective, particularly because of the underwater sequences. Since an important portion of the film takes place underwater, we had to undertake extensive planning in advance.
During the pre-production stage itself, we worked on shot divisions, pre-visualisation and several other aspects. We also carried out actual underwater filming. For this, we brought in trained scuba divers. The actors were also given the necessary training and made familiar with the underwater environment.
Although it was a challenging process, we successfully completed everything as planned.”
Editor Vijay Venkatramanan said:
“Editing is, in a way, rewriting a story. Once the director’s written story reaches the editing table, we can improve it further through the arrangement of scenes, their sequence and several other aspects.
It has been more than 20 years since I started working with director Madhumita. We share a wonderful understanding, so I can often anticipate what she is filming and why she is shooting a particular scene.
While she is still shooting, I begin the editing process and send her the edited portions. This allows her to see how the film is shaping up even while production is underway. That is the level of coordination and understanding we share.”
Costume Designers Priya Karan and Priya Hari said:
“In ‘John Doe’, we have used costume colours and designs to enhance the mystery surrounding the story and conceal certain aspects from the audience. At the same time, we have tried to reflect the psychological state of each character through their costumes.
We believe that the best costume design is when the costumes do not stand out separately but blend naturally with the characters. Rather than designing costumes to make individual artistes look distinctive in every scene, we have focused on ensuring that the costumes suit the story’s setting and the characters.
We hope our efforts in ‘John Doe’ have worked effectively.”
Sound Designer Athul Krishna said:
“First of all, I would like to thank everyone who gave me this wonderful opportunity to work on the film.
Sync Sound is a recording technique that can be implemented effectively when there is a good director, talented actors and a capable technical team. It involves recording the actors’ dialogues and the natural sounds of the surroundings directly during filming.
This method allows actors to concentrate completely on their dialogues and the emotions of their characters. When a film is shot using Sync Sound, the shooting environment needs to remain quiet and controlled. This helps not only the actors but also the director, cinematographer and other technicians focus better on their respective responsibilities.
The film ‘Mayakkam Enna’ was also made using Sync Sound. I believe that this technique helps audiences connect more closely with the characters on screen.
If more directors come forward to make films using Sync Sound, it will certainly benefit the filmmaking process as well as dubbing artistes.”
Production Designer Ashwini Kale said:
“We faced several challenges while selecting locations for ‘John Doe’. In particular, we shot for approximately 38 days in the hilly regions of Kuttikkanam and Peermade.
In the film, one house was situated on one hill, another house on a different hill, and the police station on yet another hill. Reaching these locations and making the necessary arrangements for filming there was extremely challenging.
In addition, continuous rainfall created considerable difficulties during the shoot. However, the production team provided us with all the facilities we needed and extended tremendous support.
In particular, Rajeev sir, who was in charge of line production in Kerala, was extremely supportive. He helped us identify some excellent locations that perfectly suited the film.
When audiences see these locations on screen, I believe they will understand the hard work that went into bringing them to life.”
Producer Prasad said:
“Madhumita brought us a wonderful storyline. Among all the directors I have worked with so far, Madhumita is one of the most dedicated and hardworking. She has delivered an excellent film.
Just two days ago, I watched the film along with our team. I am extremely proud that this is the first Tamil film from our production house. I hope this will not just remain our first film but will also mark the beginning of many more Tamil film productions.
I would like to thank Arjun Das for being part of this project. I cannot imagine anyone other than him playing the character of Chandru. He is an exceptional actor, and he is now also proving himself to be a talented rap artiste.
I thank all the actors and technicians who worked on this film. I believe director Madhumita will speak about them in detail. My heartfelt thanks to every individual who contributed to this project.
I would also like to thank our partners, Netflix (OTT partner), Zee Tamil (satellite partner), Divo and our music partners. Special thanks to AGS Entertainment, Archana, Aishwarya and the entire AGS team.
Initially, we were confused about whether to produce this film in Telugu or Tamil. Since our strength lies in the Telugu film industry, we first considered making it in Telugu. However, we realised that the local cultural background and authenticity essential to this story could be brought out more effectively if it were made in Tamil.
At the same time, we had concerns about the film’s distribution. Now that AGS has joined hands with us, I believe that responsibility is in safe hands. I am delighted to be associated with such a prestigious organisation.
‘John Doe’ is an excellent film. I request everyone to visit theatres on November 13, watch the film and extend their support.”
Child Artiste Nirav said:
“Working on the sets of ‘John Doe’ was a very happy experience for me. Director Madhumita gave me tremendous support. She patiently explained how I should perform and made me feel comfortable and free while acting.
Because of that, I was able to work happily without any hesitation during the shoot.
It was a wonderful experience working alongside talented artistes such as Arjun Das, Zara and Sanjana Natarajan. Initially, I felt a little shy and hesitant when I met them. But everyone made me feel comfortable and treated me warmly.
Working on this film is an unforgettable experience for me.”
Actress Zara said:
“During a film shoot, after every scene is completed, actors receive appreciation and feedback from the director and technicians. If a scene has not come out well, the director explains how it can be improved. When a scene turns out particularly well, the cinematographer and director appreciate each other.
Similarly, costume design and art direction work together to complement the colours, backgrounds and emotions of the film.
However, beyond all these aspects, the most important recognition a film should receive comes from its audience.
In particular, it is you, the audience, who can give our director Madhumita the recognition she deserves. Therefore, I request everyone to visit theatres on November 13 and watch ‘John Doe’.
We have all worked extremely hard to create this film. I genuinely believe that it will offer a wonderful theatrical experience that is worth your time and money.”
Actress Srushti said:
“Hello, everyone. I know only a little Tamil, so I am quite nervous about speaking here. In fact, the first Tamil words I learned were ‘Tamil Theriyadhu’ (I don’t know Tamil).
But I am extremely happy to share this wonderful moment with all of you.
I have a special connection with Tamil Nadu. The first time I travelled far away from home was to Chennai. It was also the first time I travelled by flight from Delhi to another city. The first time I saw the sea was in Chennai as well.
Now, my first film has also turned out to be a Tamil film. I don’t think this is merely a coincidence. Perhaps there is some connection from a previous birth!
I thank the producers for trusting me and giving me this opportunity.
Madhumita is a wonderful director. The character of Darshana that she has created will remain an important part of my personal journey as well. I sincerely thank her for offering me this role.
My co-stars Arjun Das, Sanjana, Zara, Nirav and Anupama ma’am never made me feel like a newcomer. They made me feel comfortable both in front of and behind the camera.
I would also like to thank cinematographer Preetha ma’am for helping me understand the nuances of lighting and lenses.
My love and gratitude to every artiste and technician who worked on ‘John Doe’. Your love and support mean a lot to me.
We have all put in tremendous effort to make this film. I request everyone to visit theatres on November 13, watch the film and support us.”
Actress Sanjana Natarajan said:
“If I start talking about ‘John Doe’, this entire event might end with me thanking everyone! So, let us save all those acknowledgements for the film’s success meet.
Working with all the actors and technicians in this film has been a wonderful experience. I am happy to have been associated with such an amazing team, not just as an actress but also as a person.
This is my second film with Arjun Das. I am particularly happy and proud that both of us play police officers in this film.
Arjun is a very sweet and friendly person. He is always cheerful and keeps the atmosphere lively on the sets. Sometimes, even performing serious scenes with him can be challenging because he is so much fun to be around! It was a wonderful experience working with him again, and I look forward to sharing screen space with him in another film.
I worked continuously for approximately 35 days on this project. Among all the teams I have worked with so far, this is one of the most organised, punctual and efficient teams. Every day, I looked forward to going to the sets.
It was particularly nice to see so many women as part of the crew. All of us would often tease Arjun sir on the sets, and he would give it right back to us. He knows exactly when and how to tease someone! There are many such fun-filled memories from this shoot.
I thank the producers, distributors and the entire team for all the love and support they have given me.
‘John Doe’ is a beautiful psychological thriller with a strong emotional and sentimental core. Although I haven’t watched the entire film yet, I have seen a few scenes. Many people who have watched the film have told me that it has turned out really well.
I request everyone to visit theatres on November 13 and watch the film.
It is a film that families can enjoy together, including children. We hope audiences will walk out of the theatre feeling that they have watched a wonderful film.
I request the media and audiences to extend their support to us. Only with your encouragement will we be able to work on more such good films.”
Actor Arjun Das said:
“First of all, I would like to thank all the members of the media who have attended this press meet.
When director Madhumita first narrated the story to me, she simply asked me to read the script. After reading it, I agreed to be part of the film.
Later, when I was told that Arka Mediaworks, the production house behind grand films such as ‘Baahubali’, would be producing this project, I was extremely happy. It is a matter of pride for me to work with Arka Mediaworks. I thank all the producers for believing in our film.
Nirav, who has acted in this film, has performed beautifully and naturally. I wish him many more acting opportunities in the future. My best wishes to Zara as well.
Srushti has worked extremely hard for this film. In particular, although she does not know Tamil, she continuously practised her dialogues whenever she got time during the shoot, especially because we were using Sync Sound. She delivered her lines brilliantly, often completing them in a single take.
Sanjana has also delivered an excellent performance.
Preetha ma’am is our cinematographer. Wherever we went, she would naturally get the filming process started without any fuss.
Production designer Ashwini ma’am and her team were constantly on their feet on the sets. They paid great attention to bringing every frame to life.
Our costume designers, Priya Hari and Priya Karan, share an amazing understanding. They seem to communicate with each other just through their expressions, and their coordination is truly remarkable.
My thanks also go to Anu ma’am, Athul Krishna, Rajesh, the assistant directors and the entire technical team.
Editor Vijay Venkatramanan does not speak much, but his work has shaped the film beautifully.
Archana ma’am plays my mother in this film. I have a special memory associated with her. My first award for ‘Kaithi’ was the Zee Award, and Archana ma’am was the host of that event. Ever since then, I have often received awards at functions hosted by her. So, I call her my lucky charm! She has also delivered a wonderful performance in this film.
‘John Doe’ is my second film with director Madhumita. Initially, I used to address her as ma’am, but after our long association, I now call her Madhumita as a friend.
She had earlier called me for an audition for another film. I attended the audition and sent it to her. When I received the news that I had been selected, I was extremely happy.
Now, she approached me once again for ‘John Doe’ and told me that I would be suitable for this character. Working with her has been a wonderful experience.
Madhumita is a highly dedicated director who thinks about the film wholeheartedly. She has not only worked as a woman director but has also led the entire team with great commitment. She has brought together an exceptionally talented technical crew to support her vision.
I would also like to thank music composer Mujeeb Majeed and all the singers who contributed to the film.
In particular, my sister Malavika has sung a song in this film. I had asked Madhumita to consider testing her voice for a song, as I wanted her to sing for our family. I was happy when she got selected after the audition.
My thanks to AGS Entertainment, which is presenting the film, Archana ma’am, Aishwarya ma’am and their entire team. I also thank Netflix, Zee Tamil, Divo and all our other partners.
‘John Doe’ is not just a psychological thriller; it also has strong emotional elements. It is a gripping thriller that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
I request everyone to visit theatres on November 13, watch the film and support us. I am confident that you will enjoy it.”
Director Madhumita said:
“First of all, I would like to thank Karthik Subbaraj, Vijay Antony, Lokesh Kanagaraj, Pa. Ranjith, Pushkar-Gayathri and everyone else who supported us by releasing the trailer of ‘John Doe’.
It is a matter of great pride for us that Arka Mediaworks, the production house behind ‘Baahubali’, has produced this film in Tamil.
Producers Shobu, Prasad and their entire team have extended tremendous support and encouragement at every stage of the project.
My assistant directors and all the technicians have worked tirelessly, day and night, to bring this film to life.
Whatever genre I work in, human emotions remain the central element of my films.
‘John Doe’ is a psychological thriller. The story takes place in a mountainous region called Kurinji Medu, located along the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border.
Arjun Das plays a Kerala police officer, while Sanjana plays a Tamil Nadu police officer.
If I have gained an elder sister through this film, it is Archana ma’am. She provided me with tremendous support on the sets.
There is also a special meaning behind the red teddy bear that was presented at this event.
Every individual has certain shortcomings, and we often ask ourselves, ‘Am I good enough?’
We gave the teddy bear to convey the message that we are enough just the way we are.
Whether it is being a good husband, wife, child, actor or technician, everyone has this question within them. The answer is that even with our imperfections, we are good enough and valuable in our own way.
The true recognition for a director comes from the audience.
The fact that organisations such as Netflix, Zee Tamil, Divo and AGS watched our film and chose to associate with us has given us tremendous confidence.
I request everyone to watch ‘John Doe’, which releases in theatres on November 13, and extend your support.
Thank you.”
About the Film
Produced by Shobu Yarlagadda and Prasad Devineni under the banner of Arka Mediaworks, the production house known for grand cinematic ventures such as ‘Baahubali’, ‘John Doe’ is directed by Madhumita.
Arjun Das plays the lead role in the film, which also features Sanjana Natarajan, Srushti, Zara Vineeth Santosh, Nirav and several others in important roles.
Director Madhumita and Nicholas Chevaillier have jointly written the story and screenplay.
The technical team includes:
- Cinematography: Preetha Jayaraman ISC
- Music: Mujeeb Majeed
- Additional Music: Artist 404
- Editing: Vijay Venkatramanan
- Production Design: Ashwini Kale
Arjun Das, who plays a police officer for the first time in his career, is one of the major highlights of the film.
With the backing of Arka Mediaworks, Arjun Das in a distinctive role and Madhumita’s direction, ‘John Doe’ has generated considerable expectations among audiences.
The psychological crime thriller is all set to hit theatres on November 13.
