My Entire Idea Of Cinema Changed After Joining Raj B Shetty: JP Thuminad

The director of Su from So, who is joined by the star cast—Shaneel Gowtham, Prakash Thuminad, and Mime Prasad—as they share how the horror comedy took shape, their experience working on the film, and producer Raj's role as a mentor through every step

- A SHARADHAA

ULOCHANA from Someshwara (Su from So) begins with a whisper from the past, a familiar name from the coastal lanes, and a tale that straddles the worlds of the living and the dead. But for debutant director JP, Su from So is not merely a horror comedy, but a celebration of people, places, and timeless tales that drift through the village winds.

Backed by Raj B Shetty under Lighter Buddha Films, Su from So is a rooted, dramatic, and wildly comical Kannada film that carries within it a rare creative pulse. Featuring a cast filled with theatre veterans, including JP Thuminad, the director, Shaneel Gowtham, Prakash Thuminad, Mime Ramdas, Deepak Rai Panaje and Sandhya Arakere, the film blends folk wisdom, satire, and sentiment with a generous dose of absurdity.

"Being a theatre artist in Tulu theatre and cinema, I used to just coast along while watching and acting in films. But after joining Raj B Shetty during Ondu Motteya Kathe, my entire idea of cinema changed," says director JP. "With Raj, it is never about imitating. It is about watching people, observing life, and letting stories find you."

Most of the film's cast and spirit come from the coastal region as two active theatre teams serve as the base. "We were into theatre, and when I made my first short film in Tulu, I had a small team and was not fully prepared," recalls JP Thuminad, who is looking forward to the film's release on July 25. He adds, "But I realised that filmmaking is about actually doing things. With Raj, I also came to understand that it is never about the language, but always about what unfolds on the screen."