Jude Anthany Joseph’s latest film ‘Thudakkam’ has been receiving praise for the performances of its lead actors, but one of its most memorable characters has four legs. A Labrador named Messi plays Meenu’s pet dog, portrayed by Vismaya Mohanlal.
The name may immediately remind viewers of football legend Lionel Messi, but Jude says the choice was not made by the filmmakers. Messi is actually the dog’s real name.
“There is a misconception about the dog’s name. We didn’t name him Messi. His name was Harry as per the script, but he never responded when we called him that. He would, however, look at us whenever we called him Messi. So, we decided to go with Messi,” Jude explained.
The director recalled someone telling him they felt sad about a dog being named after a world-class footballer. Jude, however, sees the name differently, saying naming a beloved pet after someone admired can itself be an expression of affection. He believes the person who named the dog Messi was likely a fan of the football star.
Jude was also aware that the use of the name Messi, along with the Liverpool logo seen in the film, could lead to questions from viewers. He explained that these details were part of the characters’ identities and were never intended to offend anyone. He pointed out that even a villain can have personal preferences, just as anyone else can.
Jude said he personally liked the name Messi and decided to retain it because it was the dog’s actual name. He also explained that working with an animal is very different from directing actors, as a dog cannot be given detailed instructions or asked to perform a scene in a particular way. For more entertainment stories and the latest updates from Kerala, India and the UAE, stay tuned to Gold 101.3FM, UAE’s No. 1 radio station, as stories from the Malayalam film industry continue to draw attention among audiences at home and abroad.
Working with the Labrador often meant waiting for hours to capture the right reaction. On some days, the team had to wait from morning until noon, while certain scenes had to be abandoned and rescheduled when the dog refused to cooperate.
Interestingly, many of Messi’s moments in the film did not happen exactly as planned. Jude recalled a song sequence where Maya picks up a ball and the dog follows her. The Labrador did not respond according to the team’s instructions, and much of what audiences see was the result of the dog’s spontaneous reactions. Jude described the way everything came together as almost “divine intervention”.
There was also a humorous detail about Messi’s family. The dog’s father reportedly looks almost identical to him, with the same size and markings, and would sometimes step in for Messi during filming. Jude jokingly teased the dog for sending his father to work in his place.
Another amusing incident took place during a scene in which Maya was asked to remain still while Messi walked in front of her. Maya completed her part in one take, but the dog refused to cooperate, leaving Jude frustrated. After he shouted at the dog, Maya reportedly calmed him down, reminding him that the animal could not understand what was happening.
Jude also praised newcomers Vismaya Mohanlal and Aashish for their performances in ‘Thudakkam’. He highlighted Bobby Kurian’s dedication as well, particularly during the film’s demanding martial arts sequences.
With Messi becoming an unexpected highlight of the film, Jude’s revelations offer an entertaining glimpse into the challenges, humour and spontaneous moments that went into making ‘Thudakkam’.
