Battle of the box office
VIJAY GEORGE
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Malayalam film industry is all set for the festival season with a wide range of movies to woo the audience.
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Everyone wants their film to run as lots of money is at stake. Mammootty
Festival Bonanza: Prithviraj and Kavya Madhavan in 'Classmates'
A dozen big projects with a combined budget of Rs. 20 crores has been lined up for the festival season. From comedies and thrillers to action, romance and politics, there is something to cater to a wide range of viewers.
Among the films that will hit theatres within a fortnight are: Joemon's `Bhargavacharitham Moonnam Kandam' with Mammootty and Sreenivasan; Janardhanan's `Mahasamudram' with Mohanlal; Shaji Kailas' `The Don' with Dileep; K. Madhu's `Pathaka' with Suresh Gopi; V.K. Prakash's `Moonnamathoraal' with Jayaram and Lal Jose's `Classmates.' A few films like Jayasurya's `Speed,' which has Dileep as the hero, may also join the fray.
Reign of the stars
Almost every film for the festive season features the big stars of Malayalam cinema as the rest bide their time for the best moment to grab the attention of the audience. Many actors also plan their films for the festive season with a great deal of care.
Close on the heels of the success of Major Ravi's `Keerti Chakra' comes another Mohanlal starrer, `Mahasamudram.' According to the director, it was delayed on account of technical problems.
"Although there have been films on the fisherfolk, the stories unfolded on the shore. In `Mahasamudram,' quite a lot of events unfold at sea," says Janardhanan. Mohanlal plays Ishaq, a fisherman who tries to fight the odds with a smile.
On the other hand, `Bhargavacharitham Moonnam Khandam,' according to Mammootty, proves that even tense moments can evoke laughter, if told effectively.
"The story revolves around a curious encounter between a notorious criminal Current Bharghavan and a psychiatrist Dr. Santaram. Their lives take a different turn after the meeting," says Mammootty.
Padmapriya and Nikita are the leading ladies.
On looking different
Meanwhile, Dileep plays a tough character in `The Don.' It narrates the story of Unnikrishnan alias Salam who has to battle the demons in his past to survive. Dileep is pinning high hopes on `The Don.'
"I'm enjoying every moment of it as it's a different experience," says Dileep who is working with Shaji Kailas for the first time.
Also trying his hand at something different is Suresh Gopi in `Pathaka.' He exchanges his khaki gear for the white attire of a politician.
After Suresh Gopi's sensational comeback with `Bharatchandran IPS,' he has been on a signing spree. Says Robin Tirumala, scenarist of Pathaka,' "It is an action oriented political thriller."
Moving away from the rough and tumble of politics is Lal Jose's `Classmates,' which the director describes as "a celebration of memories."
It features many of the young stars in Malayalam cinema and some new ones as well. Prithviraj, Narain, Jayasoorya, Indrajith and Kavya Madhavan are in the lead. The film probes the mystery behind the death of one of the students, when a group of friends get together after ten years. "It is for those who have been students," says the director.
Mammootty and Sreenivasan in 'Bhargavacharitham Moonnam Kandam'
`Moonnamathoraal,' a film shot on a high definition camera and to be digitally projected in the theatres, has been ready for release for quite some time. It is likely to be released during Onam.
Similarly, `Speed,' a Dileep starrer directed by Jayasoorya, son of the late S.L. Puram Sadanandan, may also finally reach the theatre this season.
Mohanlal and Laila in 'Mahasamudram'
As the "initials" or the collections received in the initial days of the release of a film decide a film's fate at the box office these days, directors are all out to woo the audience.
The general perception is that the heroes reserve their best projects during such festive seasons when long queues are sure to be there in front of the cinemas.
Suresh Gopi and Renuka Menon in 'Pathaka'
But Mammotty disagrees.
"It's not possible to plan things precisely though everyone wants their film to run as lots of money is at stake," he says.
Agrees Suresh Gopi as he cites the examples of his films, that were released during the monsoon but still turned out to be hits.
Dileep and Gopika in 'The Don'.
Lal Jose too supports this theory and believes that it's the story and the style of narration that decide the fate of a film.
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