Rags-to-riches story
VIJAY GEORGE
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`Red Salute' has Kalabhavan Mani playing a coolie who makes it big as a liquor baron.
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SONS OF TOIL: Kalabhavan Mani is Chala Vasu, a coolie who becomes a liquor contractor.
Many of us take coolies for granted. Not many would spare a moment to think about the lives they lead. Director Vinod Vijayan's `Red Salute,' however, zooms into a life of a coolie. It traces the rise of Chala Vasu, played by Kalabhavan Mani, from a coolie to one of the biggest names in the `abkari' (liquor trade) business.
"The film is a family drama set against the backdrop of action and politics," says the director, as he gets ready for the day's shoot at a modest house at Eroor near Kochi.
Vinod, who was the director of `Kottation,' is also directing a Telugu film. Mani's dark blue shirt gives an inkling of the leftist union he belongs to in the film. Pinned on the shirt is a golden badge with `Chala Vasu 109' printed on it.
"I can identify with the lives they lead as I have worked as one prior to making it as an actor," says Mani.
According to scenarist, Sajeevan, the story has an underlying theme of broken promises and disillusion.
"Vasu's father was a loyal comrade who was close to a number of renowned Left leaders. Although Vasu was a name to reckon with in his work place, he decides to enter the liquor trade and make it big. However, he soon realises money isn't everything and longs for the uncomplicated life he led as a coolie," says Sajeevan who was also the script writer of `Pouran' and `Rashtram.'
The heroine
Sreedevika, who hails from Palakkad, is the movie's heroine. A familiar face in Tamil and Kannada films, she has acted with Prithviraj in `Avan Chandiyude Makan.' In `Red Salute,' she plays Annie Joesph, a bold, educated, businesswoman.
According to Milan Jaleel, the film's producer, the movie is a `budget film.' Rajeev Ravi wields the camera for `Red Salute,' being produced under the banner of Galaxy films. The cast includes Devan, Vijayaraghavan, Cochin Haneefa, Captain Raju, Janardhanan, KPAC Lalitha and Maya Viswanath. Alex Paul has composed music for the film, art direction is by Saloo K. George and stills are by Ajit V. Sankar. The film will hit theatres on August 4.
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