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The king of action movies

SARASWATHY NAGARAJAN

Shaji Kailas, often credited with having created the larger-than-life hero in Malayalam cinema, teams up with Suresh Gopi for `Time.'

NEW AVATAR: Suresh Gopi plays Dr. Appan Menon, IPS, a criminologist, in Shaji Kailas' new film `Time.'

Shaji Kailas' heroes are usually larger than life. Their superhuman antics, fiery dialogues and macho attitudes have many detractors but Shaji's heroes have always set the cash registers ringing clear and loud. Films such as `Commissioner,' `Thalasthanam,' `Eklavyan', `King,' `Aram Thampuran' and `Narasimham' spoke the language of commerce. Shaji Kailas was credited with or accused of, depending on one's choice of films, creating the new superhero.

Along with Suresh Gopi and Ranji Panicker, Shaji wrote a new script for Malayalam cinema. And soon the angry young man who clashed with those in high places for the sake of idealism and principles spawned many clones.

Topical themes

"My films do not exist in a vacuum. I react to the apathy and the corruption that we see around us. The films are based on themes that are timely and topical and strongly react to issues that hog the headlines in the media. I wonder what would have happened if we had had strong leaders or bureaucrats who were not afraid to call a spade a spade. Out of that desire was born `Commissioner' and `King,'" explains Shaji who is busy with his latest venture, `Time.'

`Time' has Suresh Gopi playing a police officer with a troubled past. Padmapriya and Vimala Raman play the lead female roles in the film. Again a thriller and a police officer?

But Shaji avers that the character played by Suresh Gopi would be very different from his usual police roles.

"I have made Suresh change his style of dialogue delivery and his body language for the film, scripted by Rajesh Jairam, a newcomer. The title hints at the troubled times we are all living in," says Shaji whose Mohanlal starrer `Baba Kalayni' is still running in theatres.

Although Shaji has had his share of hits and misses, the director's preference for working with superstars is well known.

Large canvas

"That is because my films have a large canvas and deal with heavy themes that have many sub plots and threads woven in. It requires maturity and experience and a powerful actor to handle those kind of roles. `The Don,' my film with Dilip, was a flop because the viewers were not ready to accept him in that role. So, I feel that the young stars in the industry must shape up their act before tackling such characters," feels Shaji.

What about his famous partnership with scenarist-turned-director Ranji Panicker?

Says Shaji: "We are still good friends and whenever I have a problem with a script, I seek his help and advice. But now he is an independent director. It is true that all the films we worked together were super hits. I am a scenarist's director. So, when I have an idea, I sit with my scriptwriter and explain what I have in mind. Only after many such sittings do the script take shape." Shaji adds that even today, he prefers to have extensive discussions with his scriptwriter before the scenarist begins his work.

Strongly refuting the allegations that his films often reduce women characters to mere ciphers and are sometimes misogynistic, he says, "My answer to all this is Susan Mary Thomas, Padmapriya's character in `Time.' A social activist, Susan heads an organisation called `Disha' that believes in Gandhian ideals.

"My films click because viewers can identify with the characters who are often drawn from real life. So people who follow the news know immediately what we are trying to depict. I believe that films must react to current issues and warn people against certain wrong trends. The IV Sasi-T. Damodaran team used to make such topical films."

An admirer of Kurosawa and James Cameroon, Shaji says his aim is to always present a familiar story from a new perspective. "I want to push the envelope to see how I can make it my film."

But the director whose films are packed with thrill-a-minute scenes says that his dream is to make an "offbeat film." "I cannot say when but I will certainly make one," says Shaji.

Till then, Shaji will continue to live his childhood ambition of inhabiting the world of infallible superheroes who used to dominate the thrillers and suspense stories that his father, Shivakumaran Nair, used to narrate to him.

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