‘MV Kairali-The Enduring Mystery’: After ‘2018’, Jude Anthany Joseph to adapt the 1979 MV Kairali tragedy

Jude Anthany Joseph has taken up his next directorial after his highly lauded film 2018, and this too is based on a true story. MV Kairali-The Enduring Mystery will tell the true story of the till-date unexplained 1979 disappearance of the Germany-bound MV Kairali cargo ship.

The film will be based on a book written by Lt Col Thomas Joseph, the son of Captain Mariadas Joseph, who helmed the fateful ship. Titled The Master Mariner, the book will be released in Kochi on August 25, available in both Malayalam and English.

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The MV Kairali ship, which carried 51 souls and 20,000 tonnes of iron ore, set sail from Goa’s Margao on June 30, 1979. Headed to Rostock, Germany, with an arrival date of July 8, the last communications with the ship were recorded on July 3, never to be heard of again. While excess cargo, bad weather, and multiple other factors were assumed to be the probable cause of the ship’s disappearance, investigations never led to a solid conclusion.

Out of the 51 on board, 23 of them called Kerala their home. Hence, the tragedy hit close to the southern state. Jude said the movie will be a tribute to those who were aboard the MV Kairali.

“If it had not disappeared, MV Kairali and its possible achievements would have been a crowning glory in the long maritime history of Kerala and a matter of immense pride for each of us. However, in a matter of a few days, everything changed; fifty-one lives disappeared, and numerous families were thrust into permanent turmoil. Many people have spent their entire lives in the hope that their loved ones will one day return, " the filmmaker said in a statement.

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He further added, "No government and no system can compensate for their losses. By adapting the story of MV Kairali into a film, I hope that my humble efforts will provide some relief to those families, offering reassurance that not everyone has forgotten their people. The movie will also be our tribute to those aboard MV Kairali. I hope that the movie will provide at least a cinematic closure to the never-ending search.”

Lt Col Joseph said he was just a teenager when the tragedy occurred. "A 15-year-old child's experience with the missing ship Kairali was not only traumatic, but it also resulted in the irreversible loss of his father and mentor.”

In addition to directing, Jude will also pen the screenplay for the film alongside American writer James Wright, and Josy Joseph, a writer-journalist. Josy is also the founder of Confluence Media, and will mark its first feature film production with MV Kairali-The Enduring Mystery.

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