Art director reveals disturbing experience during 'Pranchiyettan & the Saint' shoot

Art director Manu Jagadh recently shared a troubling account of his experience while working on the set of Mammootty's film 'Pranchiyettan and the Saint', directed by Ranjith. He recounted an incident that occurred during the shoot in Thrissur, where he was provided accommodation in a building that was embroiled in a police case. According to Manu, this incident was just the beginning of a series of unpleasant experiences throughout the making of the film.

Manu Jagath’s account

As an art director, Manu arrived in Thrissur late at night from Chennai. Following instructions from the production controller, he headed to the designated accommodation with the assistant production manager. Upon arriving at the location, he noticed some disturbing signs: dried palm trees with police tape around them and a general atmosphere of neglect. There was no light in the building and the entire area appeared abandoned.

After a short wait, an elderly man arrived with a set of keys. Manu, suspicious of the situation, asked if anyone was staying at the hotel, to which the man responded that the property was under a police case. Despite this, they proceeded to the first floor, where they encountered an unbearable stench. The room was in disarray, with pigeons flying out through the open window and a rolled-up carpet on the floor. The noise from nearby construction added to the discomfort. The assistant production manager, clearly uneasy, apologized, explaining that he was just following orders from his superiors.

Manu expressed his dismay, stating that despite his respect for the director and his love for the film, the treatment he received as a chief technician was unacceptable. He questioned how the production controller could have approved such a location, especially one under police investigation. Manu also hinted that his experience throughout the film's production was even worse than this initial incident.

He called for significant changes in the industry, emphasizing the need for competent organizations and leadership to ensure worker safety. Manu concluded by noting that the hotel in question, which was closed in 2010, remains shut to this day.