Moving centre stage
VIJAY GEORGE
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Harisree Ashokan, who plays the protagonist in `Akasham,' says playing the lead entails more responsibility.
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Be it serious or comic roles, an actor should approach both with the same sincerity and dedication.Harisree Ashokan
SERIOUSLY SPEAKING: Harisree Ashokan
He is known for his distinct style of dialogue delivery, mannerisms and body language. Known to bring the house down with laughter, comedy comes naturally to Harisree Ashokan. Tired of the comedian tag, the actor is now playing the protagonist in Sundar Das' `Akasham,' which has been scripted by T.A. Razack. In the movie, Ashokan plays a mechanic whose life goes topsy-turvy owing to some untoward incidents.
Although this is not the first time he has donned the lead in a movie (he has played the lead in `Kusruthi' and as a bad guy in `Boyy Friend), it is this mimicry artist-turned-actor's knack for tickling the audience's funny bone that makes him popular. He speaks about his role in the `Akasham' in an interview.
Was it difficult to play a serious role and that too of the protagonist?
Be it a serious or comic role, an actor should approach both with the same sincerity and dedication. However playing the lead doe entail added responsibility. I was reluctant to take up the role at first but when T.A. Razack told me he had written the script with me in mind, I decided to take up the offer.
Your character in `Akasham'?
Manoharan, the character I play in `Akasham,' works as a mechanic in a car service station. He has few dreams in life, is not confident by nature and lives happily with his family. His life moves on well until tragedy strikes as he is falsely indicted in a case when the picture of the person accused in a militant attack bears an uncanny resemblance to him. The pressure becomes too much for him as the whole world starts suspecting him.
Was it difficult to face the camera without your trademark mannerisms and style?
It was difficult for the first three days. I usually make use of my hands for a comic effect and also bend a little while delivering the dialogues. After each shoot during this movie, we would watch the footage and check for required changes. I have also consciously stayed away from other films, to concentrate on the one at hand.
Are you happy with the way your career has shaped up?
I have always tried to maintain my career graph at a particular level.
I was first noted in `Godfather,' though I was there in only a couple of scenes. It was `Parvathy Parinayam,' in which I played an urchin who chants `Amma, Amma' in a peculiar tone, that gave me the first big break. My roles in films like `Aniyathipravu,' `Punjabi House,' `Runway,' `Meesa Madhavan' and so on have also been noted. In `Boyy Friennd' I was cast as the villain. Of course, I'll be doing more comic roles after completing this film, but I hope that I get at least a couple of roles like this in between.
Do you get bored with the same comedic scenes? According to me, there are two types of comedy in general, those which have life and the rest without it. While doing the former, I feel absolutely satisfied as an artist and the latter is forgotten after the completion of the scene itself. Being a professional, one needs to accept both kinds of films and roles.
Is it difficult to find takers for films without superstars?
There have been some recent films with even some of the serious projects, which were quite good and had superstars in it, finding a lukewarm response from the audience.
Our viewers often complain about the lack of good films, but such projects can happen only if they go to the theatres to encourage serious films. I believe `Akasham' will be received well owing to the novelty in the subject and the different treatment.
Your forthcoming projects?
There are a couple of projects in the pipeline with directors like M.A. Nishad, Fazil, Viji Thampy and Satheesh Manakkad.
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