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Caught between two worlds: Sreenivasan has scripted the story of a man trying to find his place in a world that is changing too fast for his liking.

The camera is focussed on Balan and Sreedevi sitting at the doorstep of their modest house. It is an emotional scene that is being canned on the location of debutant director M.Mohanan’s ‘Katha Parayumbol.’ The location is Kudayathoor near Thodupuzha.

“The story, set in a village called Melukavu, zooms into the life of a barber called Balan (Sreenivasan). He has an uphill task after a better equipped salon opens in the vicinity. Balan finds it difficult to provide for his wife, Sreedevi (Meena), and their three kids.

“The children are on the verge of being dismissed from their school for not remitting the school fees. But things start happening when superstar Ashok Raj comes to the village for the shoot of a film there.

“News spread that Ashok Raj is an old friend of Balan and soon the poor barber is propelled into the limelight. He refuses to meet the superstar, but it is the only chance for his family to break vicious circle of poverty. But what is not revealed is the kind of relationship the two shared. Or did they have one?” director Mohanan asks tantalisingly as he throws some light on the storyline.

Obviously Mohanan prefers to reserve the suspense for the big screen.

Mammootty plays the role of the superstar Ashok Raj. “Mammootty will be there for 10 days of the shoot,” says Sreenivasan, who has written the script and is also one of the producers of the film along with actor Mukesh.

“My role as a producer is mainly limited to arranging funds when we run short of money,” he says with a laugh as gets ready for the post-lunch session.

Cinematographer P.Sukumar goes for a crane shot to get a wide frame as Sreenivasan comes in, slowly riding a bicycle. Meena feels that her role in the film will be quite different from the ones she is usually seen doing. “I play a mother who has a tough time making ends meet,” Some of the other characters in the film are played by Mukesh, who runs a tuition centre, Salim Kumar, a poet, Innocent, a moneylender and Augustine, a politician.

‘Katha Parayumbol’ is produced under the banner of Lumiere Film Company and will reach theatres in December. Lyrics by Gireesh Puthanchery and Anil Panachooran have been set to tune by M.Jayachandran. Still photographer is M.K.Mohanan.

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