‘Hello: Naan Pei Pesuraen:’ a Tamil comedy

Ghost stories set in old mansions and dilapidated buildings have been done to death.

In this age of technology, first-time filmmaker S. Bhaskar plots his story around a ghost that lurks inside a mobile phone.

Answer that phone, and you’ll hear: “Hello, naan pei pesuraen” (“Hello, this is a ghost speaking”).

Bhaskar’s feature film has grown from an acclaimed short film based on the same premise.

The cast of Hello Naan Pei Pesuraen includes VTV Ganesh, Vaibhav, Aishwarya Rajesh, Oviya and Karunakaran.

Ganesh plays a dance teacher managing a school for Saavu Koothu, a dance performed for funerals. Aishwarya Rajesh plays his sister, Kavita, who works as a teleshopping executive.

“When Kavita falls in love with a young man [played by Vaibhav] her brother puts a condition that only if her lover learns to do a Saavu Koothu will he allow their union,” says Bhaskar.

“So Kavitha teaches her lover this style of dance. There was great scope for comedy in this story,” adds Bhaskar, who is grateful to producer-director Sundar C for giving him the much-needed break after a 14-year struggle to gain a foothold the industry.

“Viewers will not stop laughing even after they leave the hall,” he promises.

Siddharth Vipin has scored the music. N.Bhanumurugan is the cinematographer.

Hello Naan Pei Pesuraen releases in India on April 1.