Rohit, a vocalist with a famous band in Kerala, happens to befriend Asha, whose Facebook name goes by ‘Asha Black’, hailing from Malaysia. Friendship later turns into love and their relationship grows. A smitten Rohit can no longer concentrate on his job. Annoyed by his lack of focus, his friends ask him to go to Malaysia to meet his lady love. But, what happens once Rohit reaches the country?
‘Asha Black’, directed by debutant John Robinson, is a murder mystery riddled with romance and social message.
The movie has Tamil actor Sarath Kumar in the lead. Arjun Lal (‘Thanmatra’ fame) plays Rohit and debutante Ishita plays Asha.
Says John Robinson: “Asha Black falls under the genre of a romance thriller. There is a strong romantic plot in the movie. But, this movie, a murder mystery, is an out-and-out entertainer. Aptly, the tag line of the movie is how the ‘Unexpected changes our life’,” says the director.
‘Asha Black’ will also be feature Sarath Kumar, who will be seen after a brief hiatus. “He will play Anwar Ali, a tough cop with the Malaysian Police. He is the one who investigates the crime.
He added that the movie is a pointer to today’s circumstances where children seek comfort and love elsewhere when they fail to get it at home.
“Asha, the character played by Ishita, is someone who does not get affection at home. She seeks it elsewhere and the subsequent events make up the movie,” says John Robinson.
So, is ‘Asha Black’ a venture with a strong message? “I do believe in giving a social message through my craft. But, an entertainer should never have a preachy tone. That is why I decided to include the message in a fast-paced murder mystery,” says Robinson.
The movie will also feature Manoj K Jayan in a prominent role. He will play Senthil, a taxi driver in Malaysia, who meets Rohit. They go on to develop a strong bond.
The movie will also be a comeback vehicle of Arjun Lal, the actor who played Mohanlal’s son in ‘Thanmatra’ and won many accolades for the role. As for casting him in the movie, the director says he wanted someone fresh for the role. “Rohit is a young man who views life in all its positivity. My search for an actor who fits the bill went on until a crew member of ‘Thanmatra’ told me about Arjun who was ready for a comeback. I met him and was convinced about his talent,” says John Robinson who adds that Arjun has done a wonderful work for the movie.
The director adds that he wanted someone with stunning looks for the movie and that’s how he zeroed in on Ishita. “The lead lady should be good looking as Rohit falls for her seeing her pictures. Ishita’s auditions went well,” he says.
‘Asha Black’, a Malayalam and Tamil bilingual, is produced under the banner of Nimita Productions. Alby will capture the stunning visuals of Malaysia where a portion of the movie is shot. The music of ‘Asha Black’ is being done by Jecin George and will feature beautiful melody and rock music. The movie is being produced by Bindu John Varghese.
