Writer-director Mithun Balaji makes his debut with Stephen, the psychological thriller that is releasing on Netflix tomorrow. The film stars Gomathi Shankar, Smruthi Venkat, and Michael Thangadurai. The story involves "a murder, hidden motives, and unresolved trauma," according to the official description from Netflix. Its journey started as a short film with a 40-minute runtime, but the makers turned into a feature-length film after their extensive research, including real-life cases, and writing process. Mithun's father financially assisted him in making the film his way, allowing him to steer it as its screenwriter, producer and director.
Talking about the film, Mithun shared, "Stephen grew far beyond what we first imagined. A small short film slowly became a story that demanded more thought, more research, and more courage. We chose a name that feels familiar across cultures because the film speaks to universal emotions. My father stepped in and funded this film from his savings so we could chase this dream which meant I had to step into every role the film demanded - directing, writing, producing, and editing. For our entire team to see it premiere on Netflix on December 5 feels like the moment this entire journey was meant for."
In addition, Gomathi Shankar stated, "Being part of Stephen right from the writing table gave me a deeper connection to the character than I’ve ever had before. The world we were creating was fragile, unsettling, and emotional, and stepping into it as an actor was both demanding and rewarding. We didn’t have extravagant resources, so every scene relied on sincerity and collaboration. Knowing that this film, which began so modestly, is now arriving on Netflix for audiences everywhere feels truly fulfilling."
