For fans of Mohanlal
P.K. AJITH KUMAR
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The Mohanlal starrer ‘Ali Bhai,’ directed by Shaji Kailas, has an interesting storyline, stars, action and music.
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Thespians at work: Mohanlal and Kannada actor Chitra Shenoy.
The scene is okayed in just one take. Not surprising, because it features two experienced actors – Mohanlal and Kannada actor Chitra Shenoy. The scene has Ali Bhai (Mohanlal) sneaking into his house through the back door to see his mother (Chitra).
After filming the scene, director Shaji Kailas moves on to the next scene, which is also be to shot at the same house, near the Tali temple in Kozhikode. The scene also has Innocent, who is playing Ali Bhai’s father.
The shooting of ‘Ali Bhai’ is in full swing in and around Kozhikode. The crew is in Kozhikode after completing the first schedule in Pollachi.
Says Shaji, “We were waiting for the monsoon to relent a bit, and fortunately, it did by the time we began shooting here.” He adds the film will be completed in time, despite the crew losing a few days on account of the cinema strike.
“The film is aimed at the masses. It will have everything fans of Mohanlal expect from him,” says Shaji.
The duo had last teamed up for ‘Baba Kalyani,’ but their memorable work together remains ‘Aaram Thampuran,’ which had fine performances by Mohanlal and Manju Warrier and excellent music by Raveendran.
‘“Aaaram Thampuran’ had the scope for that kind of music, but ‘Ali Bhai’ is an entirely different kind of film,” says Shaji.
T.A. Shahid, who has written the screenplay, explains, “This film is about labourers of Palayam market in Kozhikode. Ali Bhai, their undisputed leader, never shies away from a fight. This character is actually based on someone – Ali Bapu – whom I have watched in awe, while growing up in my hometown of Kondotty. Ali Bhai has to flee his home when he is wrongly accused of a crime. The film is also about how he influences so many lives.”
One of them is Ganga (Gopika), with whom Ali Bhai falls in love with. Navya Nair plays the other main female role. She is Chenthamara, the flower-seller who also fancies Ali Bhai.
Mohanlal says he liked the theme of ‘Ali Bhai’ when it was narrated to him by Shahid a year and a half ago. “It is a purely festival film, to be released during Onam. The film will have action, good music and everything a commercial movie should have. And I am glad that I am working with Shaji again,” he adds.
The conflict between Ali Bhai and his father is another thread of the film, according to Shahid.
Sharing screen space
Says Innocent, “This is the second time I am playing Mohanlal’s father; the first one was in ‘Mahasamudram.’ Of course, we have done many films before and it has always been a pleasure sharing the screen with him because he is one actor who is concerned about how his co-artistes perform in a scene. He expects the best from the other artistes too. So one has to be on one’s toes while working with him.”
Chitra nods in agreement. “I consider myself lucky that I could work with such a great actor. We, in the Kannada industry, often talk about Mohanlal’s talent,” says Chitra, who looks every inch the aristocratic Muslim woman she is portraying, in her brown sari and black full-sleeved blouse.
“No, I didn’t put henna on my hands for this role. I had done it a few days before the film’s shooting began. But then I found out that Muslim women here often do wear henna on their hands,” she says.
The film, produced by Antony Perumbavoor under the banner of Ashirvad films, also stars K.P.A.C. Lalitha, Cochin Haneefa, Siddique, Shammi Thilakan, Jagadeesh, Rajan P. Dev, Ganesh Kumar, T.G. Ravi, Sudheesh and Zeenath.
Lyrics by Girish Puthencherry have been set to tune by Alex Paul. S. Saravanan cranks the camera and the stills are by Shajil Obscura. The film will be released on August 15.
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