Multifaceted actor
VIJAY GEORGE
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Two of Murali's films were screened at the IFFK.
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SENSITIVE PORTRAYAL: Murali as Kari Gurukkal in `Pulijanmam.'
He is regarded as someone who never minces words while voicing his opinions. Murali, who won the National award for the best actor for his sensitive portrayal of Appa Mesthiri in `Neythukaran,' played the protagonist in two of the films that were screened in the competition section of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) - M.P. Sukumaran Nair's `Drishtantham' and Priyanandanan's `Pulijanmam.' `Drishtantham' has him playing the role of Vasunni, an ailing `theeyattu' artist, who is trapped between tradition and the diktats of the new world. In `Pulijanmam' he comes in as Prakashan, an idealist whose plight shows similarity to the conditions of Kari Gurukkal, a subaltern who lived in the past.
Murali, who is now Chairman of the Kerala Sangeet Nataka Akademi, explains that his characters are part of his pursuit to explore new levels and phases of acting.
Reflection of change
"Society, which finds it difficult to cope with changes brought in by changing perceptions, is being reflected in the films."
Murali, who likes to get into the skin of the characters he plays, says it was tough getting out of the characters of Kari Gurukkal and Vasunni. He feels it could be because he, like the characters in the film, is interested in the social, political and historic aspects of society.
Priyanandanan, who has directed Murali in films like `Neythukaran' and `Pulijanmam' says, "Murali's theatrical background has been the key to the success of the characters. He gets deep into his roles and is inquisitive about the character's nature. This gets translated on screen. "
According to Murali, he tries to keep a balance between commercial and serious films. He squeezes in time for theatre activities and has written an award-winning book `Abhinethavum Asan Kavithayum,' and reads on subjects "which ranges from psychology to neurology." The actor is currently busy enacting his play `Lanka Lakshmi' on stage.
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