Mahesh Narayanan, the director, screenwriter, editor and cinematographer who predominantly works in the Malayalam film industry, will be making his Hindi directorial debut with a film titled Phantom Hospital, which is touted to be inspired by an unusual scandal in the healthcare sector.
According to the makers, the genre-bending film will be based on an unprecedented investigation into the Indian healthcare system by award-winning investigative journalist and author Josy Joseph.
Speaking to Silverscreen India, Mahesh Narayanan, who last directed the Fahadh Faasil-starrer Malik, said, “Phantom Hospital is inspired by true incidents in the healthcare sector of India and is based on research done by Josy Joseph’s company. As of now, we have only made an announcement about the project. More details about the cast and crew will be officially announced in the coming days.”
He also noted that Joseph’s meticulous research has added great layers to the story. The story and screenplay of Phantom Hospital are written by Akash Mohimen and Mahesh Narayanan.
Priti Shahani, who has previously produced films like Talvar, Raazi and Badhaai Ho, will be producing Phantom Hospital under her new production banner called Tusk Tale Films, in association Joseph’s Confluence Media.
“After the producers pitched this story idea to me, I was very keen to work on it,” said Mahesh Narayanan. “Besides, I am a fan of Priti’s body of work. We have been waiting to collaborate for some time and finally, Phantom Hospital is happening now.”
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Shahani said in a statement that her new production house believes in harnessing the power of great stories, especially those rooted in reality and rigorous investigation. “Phantom Hospital results from one such creative partnership between Tusk Tale Films and Josy Joseph’s company Confluence Media,” she added.
Speaking about the scandal the film is based on, Shahani called it “one of the most shocking scandals in our country,” and said, “All of us have been victims of it unknowingly, and through this film, we hope to wake up the audience to a new reality.”
Meanwhile, Mahesh Narayanan will be donning the hats of screenwriter and cinematographer for the upcoming Malayalam survival thriller Malayankunju, starring Fahadh Faasil in the lead.