Humour, his trademark
SARASWATHY NAGARAJAN
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Sreenivasan's versatility knows no bounds. Without much ado, the award-winning actor, director and scenarist has carved a niche in the film industry.
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The tension and thrill of a scenarist is what keeps me going.
Photo: S. Gopakumar
LAUGH LINES: Many of Sreenivasan's scripts and films combine wit and wisdom to tackle even the most sombre issue.
Neither success nor failure seems to affect Sreenivasan's droll sense of humour: a brand of humour that has made him a household name among viewers of Malayalam cinema. In fact, often, his rollicking comedies and sensitive screenplays make us forget the intense actor in Sreenivasan who has left his imprint on many offbeat films such as `Chidambaram' and `Oridathu.' `Yes Your Honour,' the latest in a long list of hits, brought the actor to Thiruvananthapuram for its 100th day celebrations.
"I don't go overboard when my films succeed. The aim of a commercial film is to reach out to the viewers and also make money for its investors. So when a film achieves its aim, it makes me happy. But the happiness does not quite match the intensity of pain and sorrow one experiences when a film flops, especially if it has been written by me," he admits.
String of hits
Despite having a string of hits to his name as a scenarist, including evergreen films like `Nadodikattu,' `Pattanapravesham,' `Thalayanna Manthram' and many of Priyadarshan's early films, Sreenivasan says he is never been able to shake off the deep pain he experiences when a film hits the dust.
"I analyse why a film failed. I wonder if it is because I failed to feel the pulse of the audience. I ask myself if it is time I stopped writing. With great difficulty, I shake off the despondency to begin anew."
However, the multifaceted, award-winning actor-director-scenarist adds that he enjoys the role of a scenarist the best. "The tension and thrill of a scenarist is what keeps me going," he adds.
In the midst of a screenplay of `Kathaparayumbol' for a new director, the actor is a little cagey about the storyline. "I am acting in it," he says. Finally, he relents.
"It is about a barber in a village and his struggle to survive when a new salon opens in the village. He is forced to modernise to attract customers," he narrates before clamming up.
Although reluctant to disclose more about his screenplay, he is all game when it comes to his new film with Lal Jose that will be shot in Dubai.
"The shoot will begin on February 15. I play Mukundan, a hard-core Communist who even suspends his father from the local committee. When he is forced to think of a job overseas to repay a debt, he says he would rather work in Cuba," says Sreenivasan with his characteristic guffaw.
Sreenivasan's heroine is a Chinese actor whom Mukundan befriends. "Contrary to Mukundan's nature, he is forced to stay away from the myriad issues that beset the Malayali labourers in the Gulf. When he meets this Chinese woman, he is drawn to her and wants to know more about China and its government," narrates Sreenivasan.
Where are the heroines who once reigned in Malayalam cinema?
"There are no superstars among heroines," he says.
In a more serious vein he explains, "Now, many of our films revolve around a star. The story is written for him, dates are fixed according to his convenience... so, naturally the others in the cast can only be supporting actors. Perhaps, that is why heroines have lagged behind... But many of my films have had strong female characters. `Vadakkunokki Yanthram,' Thalayana Manthram,' Chintavishtayaya Shyamala'... "
He says that there have been instances when he had been requested to write a screenplay in a particular way to suit a star. "I have never acquiesced to such requests. But that might be a reason for the sidelining of heroines," he says.
Vineeth's plans
Answering a query as to whether he would write a story for his son Vineeth, Sreenivasan says: "As of now, there is no plan. He is likely to act in Ranjith's film. But if there is a story that has a role for him then there is no reason why he should not act in that film."
But the affable actor has no patience for people who lament about cinema, offbeat or commercial, passing through a crisis.
"The crisis is due to a lack of talent. The film industry, which also includes me, has to introspect why certain films click and certain others don't. A few years ago, there were offbeat films that won awards and also succeeded at the box office. `Chidambaram' was one such film. Cinema should deal with contemporary topics too. The social, economic and political issues of the day must be tackled. Only then will it touch the minds of viewers. If such films are made, it will certainly succeed. At present, the tendency is to make films that try to please all and sundry," avers Sreenivsan whose favourite films in Malayalam are `Elipathayam' and `Nirmalyam.'
However, Sreenivasan makes it clear that he has no immediate plans to direct a film as it is too much of a responsibility. "Writing the story and screenplay is almost like making a film," he says.
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