In search of a goal
K.K. GOPALAKRISHNAN
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Sathyan Anthikad's first film with Dileep in the lead bears the imprint of the director's brand of realism and humour.
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CALLING THE SHOTS: Sathyan Anthikad, centre, with Dileep and Mukesh on the sets of his latest film.
Each time Sathyan Anthikad ventures to make a film, the news is greeted with elation and curiosity. For he is one of the few filmmakers who has never disappointed the critics or the box office.
"The present film also will not be different from my style of filmmaking," says the soft-spoken filmmaker on the sets of the film, the shooting of which is going on at the remote but scenic Pothundy dam, near Wadakkumcherry in Palakkad district.
In keeping with his style of working, this film too has not been given a name. Anthikad introduces a new heroine in the film. Moreover, this is the director's first film with Dileep in the lead. He had worked with Dileep in `Thoovalkkottaram,' where the actor had enacted the role of the hero's younger brother. Mukesh too has an important role in the film. The others in the cast include Innocent, Murali, KPAC Lalitha, Nedumudi Venu, Vijayaraghavan, Parvathy and Seetha, among others.
Laidback attitude
The film takes a tongue-in-cheek look at the lackadaisical attitude of Malayali youngsters who hanker for a white collar job and aimlessly waste time on endless debates and discussions on every topic under the sun. The film shows how situations and people finally bring about a change in his outlook. "Vinod, played by Dileep, belongs to a class of youngsters who can be found all over Kerala. They want everything easy but will not make the effort to achieve their goals. They would rather criticise and condemn instead of lifting a finger or applying their minds to find a solution," explains Sathyan.
In desperation, Vinod's father, a former postmaster, enacted by Babu Namboodiri, sends him to live with Vinod's sister who is happily married to Shaji Raghavan. Mukesh appears in the key role of Shaji.
Parvathy, who plays Mukesh's younger sister, sends the cast and crew into peals of laughter as she acts with ιlan the role of a star struck youngster whose only aim is to make it as a television anchor. The scene showing her practising Malayalam before a mirror, with a put-on English accent, was greeted with gales of laughter.
Bolt from the blue
Vinod comes as a bolt from the blue into Shaji's peaceful household. He lands Shaji into all kinds of embarrassing situations. Throwing light on his character Dileep says, "We can find many such Vinods today. A chap who wonders why he fails to achieve his goals. He criticises everything around him but finds no fault in him.
"I am immensely happy about acting in an Anthikad film. He has been one of my favourite directors right from my college days," he adds.
Finally it is an encounter with the heroine, a local policeman's daughter, that brings about a miraculous change in Vinod. Murali acts as the policeman. "This is a portrayal of the life and thoughts of down-to-earth people around us; it has been narrated without any exaggeration or black humour," remarks Mukesh.
Produced by M.M. Hamza under the banner of `Kalasangham,' cinematography is by S. Kumar. Three captivating songs have been composed by Ilayaraja for the lyrics of Vayalar Sarathchandra Varma. The shooting that began on January 5 will be over in a single schedule of 40 days and the film is likely to be released on April 7.
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