Cinema VinesIn his latest Malayalam feature, Thudakkam, director Jude Anthany Joseph has earned praise for the performances of his lead actors, but a four‑legged character has become the talk of the town. The film’s lovable Labrador, who accompanies Vismaya Mohanlal’s character Meenu, is named Messi – a name that immediately evokes the legendary Argentine footballer.
When asked about the choice, Jude clarified that the dog’s name was not a creative decision made on set. “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,” he told Onmanorama. The director explained that the animal simply responded to the name Messi, leading the crew to adopt it for the screen.
Jude also addressed concerns that the use of the football icon’s name, along with a Liverpool logo appearing in the film, might offend viewers. He emphasized that the choices were part of the characters’ identities and were never meant to insult anyone. “The villain is a Liverpool fan. But everyone has their own preferences, even if they are a villain. If a villain in a film happens to be a fan of Sachin Tendulkar, would you start hating Sachin? There is no point in saying, ‘His fan is a villain.’” he said.
Working with the Labrador presented its own set of challenges. The crew often had to wait from morning until noon to capture a suitable reaction, and some scenes had to be abandoned and rescheduled. “I already knew these things could happen. A lot of unexpected things can happen during a shoot, and we just have to accept them and move on,” Jude remarked. He added that many of the dog’s on‑screen moments were not as meticulously choreographed as audiences might think. “You might have noticed in the song sequence where Maya picks up the ball and the dog follows her. The dog never reacts exactly according to our instructions. Whatever you see in the film has very little to do with what we had planned for him. It was almost like divine intervention that made everything come together.”
Jude concluded that naming the dog Messi was a tribute to the football legend, reflecting the owner’s admiration for the player. “Dog lovers are deeply attached to their pets. Isn’t it wonderful to name a dog you love after someone you admire? The person who named this dog Messi must be a fan of the footballer. In a way, naming his dog Messi was also an expression of his admiration and love for the real Messi,” he said.
