'I've compromised on all my films'-Kamal

Kamal, one of the best directors in Kerala, is ready with his latest film, Karatha Pakshikal, starring Mammootty, Meena and Padmapriya.

The ace director has made 34 films in the last 20 years, one of the most notable ones being Perumazhakalam. Some of his films like Niram and Swapnakoodu have broken box office records in Kerala.

But Kamal says his best yet is Karutha Pakshikal, as he has done the minimum compromise in it.

He chats with Shobha Warrier about his film that releases on November 17.

You make films like Perumazhakalam and Megha Malhar as well as commercially successful ones like Swapnakoodu and Niram. What is your idea of a good film?

Films are for enjoyment. They should be enjoyable to the targeted audience.

What exactly do you mean by enjoyment? Happiness?

Not exactly. How do you feel when you read a good book, look at a good painting, listen to good music? There are people who enjoy fast music, others who enjoy ghazals, and still more who love classical music. I want my audience to have the same feeling when they watch my films.

I don't like to make realistic films because those are more like documentaries. I like to look at people and situations with a detached mind. I also like to fictionalise things. As a professional, I would like to have a target audience too.

I make a living out of making films but I did not drift into this profession to make money. I am a filmmaker because I love making films.

Even when I make a commercial film like Swapnakoodu (Meera Jasmine, Bhavana, Prithviraj), I try to see whether there are any ingredients in the film that I can enjoy.

Can you detach yourself from your own films and watch them?

No, that is not possible.

When did your passion for filmmaking start?

When I was in college, I became a serious film-watcher. I grew up in the late 1970s when the film society movement -- started by people like (director) Adoor Gopalakrishnan -- was very strong. Even the literary movement was very strong in those days. The political atmosphere was very volatile with the Emergency, the Naxal movement, etc. Naturally, the youth of Kerala had strong views on many issues. So, I grew up in an atmosphere when art forms had the best of times.

Did you have to struggle to be a filmmaker?

Fortunately, no. My uncle, an advocate, and a man passionate about films, decided to make a film. He chose a short story that I wrote in my college magazine, and both of us wrote the script. So, at the age of 20, I became a scriptwriter. It was an offbeat film with death as one of the characters.

As luck would have it, I got a chance to assist great filmmakers like P N Menon and K S Sethumadhavan. I became an independent filmmaker in 1986 with Mizhineer Pookal, starring Mohanlal, Urvashi and Nedumudi Venu. But it was my second film, Unnikale Oru Katha Parayam, again with Mohanlal, that got me attention.

You said as a professional filmmaker, you have to make commercially successful films. Does that put pressure on you as a filmmaker?

It is a question of my survival too. I make films like Niram and Swapnakoodu with youngsters in mind, and both films were very successful. But the truth is, commercial success of such films makes me guilty and I feel this is not my kind of cinema.

And you felt guilty because you had to compromise to make such films?

Exactly. That is the bitter truth. Films like Niram and Swapnakoodu were liked by youngsters and the producers made a lot of money. But I was dissatisfied. Usually, I go to my next film carrying the guilt of making a commercially successful film. After Niram, I wanted to make a film that will satisfy me. That's why I did Madhuranombara Kattu. It was a serious film.

So far, which is the film that you have made without any compromise?

To tell you the truth, none. I've compromised on all my films. But I have made Karutha Pakshikal with very little compromise.

What about Perumazhakalam?

I have made compromises for the theatre release of Perumazhakalam by adding unnecessary songs.

Those songs neither add any value to the film nor made it a box office success. It was a mistake on my part. I was misled; not by others but my own preconceived notions.

I removed them when I sent the film to film festivals and award committees. I know the songs affected the strength and flow of the film. Unfortunately, the common audience likes songs and comedy. As a filmmaker, I am forced to compromise to please the audience. I think such tastes are born out of habit. Our audience is used to such films and a few films of Adoor or Aravindan won't change that habit. But I am sure if we go on feeding them good films, they will slowly change.

I tried to eliminate those mistakes in Karutha Pakshikal. There is a song in it but it is integrated into the film.

Why did you decide to cast Mammootty? Was it aimed at commercial success?

Mammootty has been a part of the film from the day we discussed the idea. Mammootty has acted in my films earlier too. In this film, I have not used Mammootty as a star. Has he not acted in Adoor Gopalakrishnan's films? Similarly, he is Murugan in my film.

When Mammootty has been acting in commercial films, how did you think of him as a poor Tamilian who makes a living out of ironing clothes?

That is the specialty of the film. While we were talking, Mammootty showed eagerness to portray a role that he had not done before, and he seemed to like this character.

It is a common sight to see people like Murugan in the urban centres in Kerala. They are there in all localities and all of them are Tamilians. Unfortunately, they live a life of isolation in Kerala.

I wanted to highlight the injustices done by the Kerala society to this community. So, in the film, Murugan's blind daughter does not get eyes after Meena dies because her husband thinks it demeaning to donate his wife's eyes to a very poor Tamil girl. This is how the hypocritical Kerala society behaves now.

When did you start noticing this hypocritical nature of Kerala society?

I have been watching the degradation for quite sometime. As all of us are making films for this hypocritical society, we try not to show the bitter truth. We hide such realities because we know people will not like to see those things.

I myself did such a thing in Megha Malhar. A couple, who were in love when they were young, meet after they get old. Then, they realise that they still yearn for each other. But as I was scared of this hypocritical society, I made them part ways though I knew they really wanted to be together in their old age.

Just imagine a few decades ago, we have made the most offbeat and radical films here. Now, Kerala society has become more intolerant, self-centred than any other society in India. I am sure we will not be able to make a film like Nirmalyam (by M T Vasudevan Nair, which won the best film award at the National level) where the occult spits on a deity. Today, if we do something like that, the theatre showing the film will be burnt.

Is it not the duty of writers and filmmakers to mirror the ugly side of society?

Yes. But as far as filmmakers are concerned, nobody wants to take the risk and antagonise the audience. This happens not only in films but also in literature.

Let me ask you about the most talked about film of your career at the national level, Perumazhakalam. What attracted you to the news report?

When scriptwriter T A Razak told me about this news report, I felt it was a situation that anyone in Kerala could relate to because many families in Kerala are connected to what was happening in the Gulf. Then, I thought we could tell this story from two angles -- from the angle of the two men in the Gulf and from the point of view of the two women who were left alone in Kerala. I decided to tell the story of the two women.

Why did you choose rain as a symbol to highlight the pathos in the lives of these women?

Kerala is one society that loves rain because it is part of our lives. Our love, sorrow, happiness, separation, birth and death are connected to rain. Rain can make us happy when we are sad. Rain can alleviate our pain. Rain can influence our lives in many ways. That is why I decided to link the lives and the sorrows of these women to rain.

At the Goa film festival last year, the film was much appreciated but I am not sure whether the Kerala audience accepted the film the way I wanted them to. It disappointed me.

Mammootty's new avtar

The year 2006 has not been a very good year for Mammootty. Most of his films were poor commercial films in which he tried in vain to look young.

His last good role was all the way back in 2004, with Kazhcha.

Perhaps the failure of this year's films prompted Mammootty to go to serious filmmakers like Kamal (of Perumazhakalam fame). The duo (seen in the picture) will now work together in Karutha Pakshikal, which is scheduled to release this year.

In Karutha Pakshikal, Mammootty sheds his star image and plays a poor Tamilian, who makes a living in a city in Kerala by ironing clothes.

Kamal claims the film is one of his best works so far.

The USP of Karutha Pakshikal, according to Kamal, is the deglamorised role Mammootty played.

Murugan comes to a city in Kerala from a small village in Tamil Nadu to make a living by ironing the clothes of the rich. He has no identity in Kerala -- no ration card or voter ID card. Nobody acknowledges his existence in the city but he is essential to all who live there.

His wife, played by Padmapriya, dies during her third childbirth leaving him to take care of his three small children -- Mayil, Azhagappan and the blind Malli. After the death of his wife, Murugan brings them to Kerala.

Padmapriya made her debut in Malayalam as Mammootty's wife in Blessey's Kazhcha. This is their fourth film together.

Murugan has a special love for Malli (debutante Malavika Nair) because she is blind and also as she could not enjoy her mother's love. Her world is the one explained to her by her father. She sees how he sees the world.

Every night, Murugan tells her of the stars in the sky. She knows about flowers, colours, people, God -- all through the eyes of her father.

Murugan has only one desire in his life -- to bring light to his daughter.

Then comes to the locality a lady, who is in the secondary stage of cancer. Her marital life also had not been smooth as she never had a good relationship with her husband. So, it was a kind of escapism for this lady.

Murugan collects clothes from her house for ironing, and she forms a bond with his blind daughter. Later, she tells Murugan that when she dies, she wants to donate her eyes to the girl.

This puts him in a dilemma. Though he prays for her long life, he wants his daughter to gain sight.

The lady is cured but the good man that Murugan is, he does not get unhappy though his dream for his daughter gets shattered.

But the film ends even more tragically. Though the lady dies in the end, her husband refuses to part with her eyes.

"I want to highlight the injustices that are being heaped by the Kerala society on these poor labourers," Kamal explained.

Mohanlal is the most popular Malayalee ever

According to a poll taken by CNN-IBN, the leading English News channel in the country.
Mohanlal polled 30% of the total votes piping arch-rival Mammooty who had 22% of the votes.

The other contenders from various walks of life were the communist stalwart E.M.S Namboodiripad(17%), sprint queen P.T Usha(13%), former President K.R Narayanan(11%),and Delhi Metro Chief E. Sreedharan( 7% ).

Once again Mohanlal has proved that worldwide , he is not only the best known Keralite but also a living legend. When contacted and asked to comment on the CNN- IBN results, Mohanlal said:" I believe in unconditional love of the people and Iam getting this love back. On second thoughts i would have voted for K.R Narayanan."

Yes Your Honour -review

Try out Yes Your Honour,
one of the better comedies of the year. Sreenivasan-Innocent combo brings to the screen a refreshing new chemistry that works. What makes the film a laugh riot is veteran writer T.Damodaran’s script which has been told in a humourous manner by director V.M.Vinu. Adding pep is the lead characters as lawyers who are always going for each other in a typical Tom & Jerry style of upmanship.

Ravishankar ( Sreenivasan) is a law graduate practicing as junior to a leading lawyer Venugopal (Innocent) for the last 12 years. Venugopal treats him like menial servant in his house, who looks after his pet dogs and has never entrusted him with a court case. Venugopal is a ruthless and unscrupulous lawyer whose main job is protecting an ex-minister John Varghese (Sai Kumar) involved in a sex scandal and Mustafa (Ramu) his partner in business and crime.

Ravishankar is an honest and upright man whose wife Maya (Padmapriya) fights for women cause. One day Ravi is humiliated by Venugopal to such an extent that he beats him up and leaves him. Due to the support of Judge Mukundan (Thilakan), Ravi gets a new lease of life as a public prosecutor. The first case that Ravi handles is the mysterious murder of DFO Sarah Shetty and he has to cross swords with Venugopal who is trying to protect John Varghese by manufacturing evidences! All this leads to a big twist in the climax.

The director and his writer have taken a dig at the state of our judiciary which is seeped in corruption. The climax is the highlight of the film and the message that “Justice will prevail” has been effectively told. However, there was no need for the two songs tuned by Deepak Dev as it mars the tempo. And what was the need for the long drawn out fight scene and all the blood and gore?

Still, at the end of Yes Your Honour you come away smiling only because of Sreenivasan. He chews up the screen and steals the show as advocate Ravishankar. Be it his harangue in the beginning of the film from a scene where he serves lunch to Innocent and his tongue-in-cheek dialogue, Sreeni is simply smashing. Watch out for Innocent, as the mean lawyer and he has great comedy timing. Jagathy as a man who deals in hired witnesses reworks his tried-and-tested comic antics one more time. Padmapriya is proving to be a fine actress with each film. There is a large bunch of talented artists like Thilakan, Sai Kumar, Babu Namboothiri, Riyaz Khan and Poornima who are good in cameos.

The second half drags a bit but nevertheless go have your share of fun with Yes Your Honour.

Busy bee! Mammootty

Mammootty in a recent interview said: “I have never planned my career. You can’t plan anything in cinema, as it’s not a 9 to 5 job.”

But the Malayalam film industry says that he is a meticulous planner, who slogs 24*7 working out his strategy.

Let’s take a look at the next six months in Mammootty’s release calendar.

• On October 21, he had his Ramzan release Pothenvava,
  
• 27 days after that, on November 17 he has the off-beat Kamal directed Karutha Pakshikal.
• 38 days later for Christmas he has Blessy’s Palunku.
  
• In January 2007, he has Ranjit’s experimental film Kaiyoppu
  
• In February he has Shafi’s mass comedy Mayaavi.
• And Mamootty’s big summer release in March is likely to be Amal Neeraj’s Big B-The bodyguard!
• So in a span of six months he will have six releases!
  
• Added to all these commitments, he has confirmed to act in Hariharan’s Thalakkal Chandu
  
• films with Shyam Prasad, Major Ravi, Fazil and KK Rajeev, which will start rolling according to his convenience.

Phew! It clearly means that Mammootty will be planning his career and strategy with utmost care and working round the clock. He will also become the only superstar in the world with a release every month!!

`Chakkaramuthu` turns `Chakkarapottan`!

After the lukewarm response to Dileep’s Chakkaramuthu, the producers Seven Arts and director Lohithadas have gone for a total revamp of the film.

Now the film will be known as Chakkarapottan and the climax has also been changed! In the new climax, Dileep does not die and Kavya is not shown in a mental asylum! Instead they hold hands and walk into the sunset very happily.

All new posters of the film have the new title and it is being promoted as a comedy entertainer. The trade is shocked that a film has changed its name 10 days after its release and a new happy climax added.

But the bad news is that this name change and the new climax have not helped the film in anyway at the box-office.

Suresh Gopi in Vinayan`s `Black Cat`!

Suresh Gopi and director Vinayan are coming together in Black Cat an action entertainer. Please note that Suresh Gopi is not playing the role of a `black cat` in charge of VIP security!

His name in the film is Black as he wears only black sleeveless vests and shots and is sort of a hired goonda in the film. He is also a glutton in the film who hogs like a pig.

It is an all out action film in which Meena is Gopi’s heroine. The others in the cast include Nedumudi Venu, Ashish Vidyarthi, Mukesh Rishi, Captain Raju, Harisri Asokan and Karthika.

Black Cat is produced by Rajeevan and is written and directed by Vinayan. Says Vinayan: “It is going to be a racy entertainer with all commercial ingredients”.

Interview with Nayantara

Nayantara is a very busy young actress these days. Her friends, relatives and fans have been calling her up on her phone to congratulate her on being chosen as Rajinikanth's heroine in the new film 'Chandramukhi'. "When my dad and mom read about it in a leading magazine, they were shocked!" she said.

She wasn't talking about the 'Chandramukhi' deal. She was referring to her decision to stay single for the rest of her life.

Why such a tough decision?

People live and people die. I wanted to be different from the rest of the crowd. You don't die of you don't get married, right?

Any big inspiration behind the decision?

I know what you are hinting at. No, there is no love failure. I want my dream-husband to be a man who loves only me. I don't want a man who pretends to love me.

But not all men are like that! I know. But, it is difficult to find a man like that. Atleast 99% of men are the ones who pretend. Most of the families who claim that they are happy and well-contented are just faking it.

Okay, let's talk about your career. How did you get into Tamil films?

The director was looking for a new actress for 'Aiyya'. The director saw my picture in magazines. He liked me.

But you need to be very glamorous in Tamil. Is that okay with you?

I play the role of a village girl in the film. Fortunately, the role doesn't require too much of glamour. Those are the kinds of roles I'm looking for.

How about acting with Rajini? Is that sheer luck too?

I still haven't recovered from the shock. For a new and upcoming actress like me, there can't be a bigger stroke of luck! I had only seen Rajini in films until now.

How did you end up in the film?

'Chandramukhi' has two heroes, Rajini and Prabhu. They were looking for a heroine for Rajini. They saw my pictures in Tamil movie magazines. The still photographer and Rajini liked the pictures. They met with my Chennai manager named Ajith and spoke to him. I still cant believe that I have got selected for the role. Wow!

Will you be concentrating more on Tamil films in future?

I'm simply looking for good roles. I don't mind which language they come from.

Any romances when you were studying?

I was studying in Gujarat's Jamnagar. I didn't even now what love was. I was in my Class VI. My classmate, a Punjabi boy, gave me a love letter. Since then I have got many love letters, but all the affections were one sided. I don't make a fuss about them.

Have you received any such proposals after entering films?

No. They don't know how I will react.

Kavya Madhavan and Padma Priya - The competition hots up

With several actresses from Malluwood in Tamil now, the battle for supremacy here has narrowed down between

Kavya Madhavan and Padma Priya.

Both have couple of their movies getting released this month.

Asin, Bhavana, Nayantra, Gopika, Navya Nair busy in Tamil film industry, Kavya Madhavan enjoyed a good run in Malayalam, being part of several successful ventures.

Now her numero uno position is under threat from Padma Priya. Kavya Madhavan has Chakkaramuthu and Vaasthavam getting released this month, while Padmapriya would have Karutha Pakshigal with Mammootty and Yes Your Honour with Srinivasan getting ready for release.

The coming days will decide the real winner.

Inspector Garud to sequel C.I.D Moosa

Inspector Garud is likely to follow CID Moosa. Actor Dileep, who appeared as CID Moosa, is to appear now as Inspector Garud. The movie is expected to start its shooting by next month.

The film is directed by Johny Antony under the production of Milan Jaleel. The movie is sure to be a comedy-based subject about a police officer who has got little ability of his own.

The director has planned to attract the young audience and treat them with his movie. The cast of the movie includes the crew which has worked in the movie Kochi Rajavu.

Again, Kavya Madhavan is to pair against Dileep in this movie. Sibi K. Thomas - Uday Krishna have created their script for this movie.

Lucky pair- Dileep and Kavya Madhavan

Dileep and Kavya Madhavan have done nearly 14 movies together many are blockbusters. As a pair they made their first appearance in Chandranudhikkunna Dhikkil in the direction of Lal Jose.

Their blockbuster list includes Meesa Madhavan, Runway and Kochi Rajavu. At present, the pair is doing a movie Inspector Guard in the direction of Johny Antony.

A chat with Meera Jasmin

Taking time off from the shooting of her Telugu film 'Gudumba Shanker' with Pawan Kalyan in Hyderabad, Meera Jasmin, this year's recipient of the national award for best actress her performance in the film 'Padam Onnu Oru Vilapam', talks to Chennaionline about her films and experiences.

The talented actress is very focused about her goal, her head screwed firmly on her shoulders.

When did you first hear about the award?
I was in Chennai that day (August 13) when around midnight my manager Giri rang up to tell me that I had won the award. I thought it was a false alarm, and wasn't ready to beleive it. Then early morning, at 5.30 a.m., a reporter from a Malayalam daily called up from Kerala and told me the news. Then people started calling me and congratulating me. But I waited for the final announcement. By 11 a.m. the news got confirmed. I prepared to leave for Kerala, and when I reached the airport, the whole press was there to give me a warm welcome. I was really touched. It's an unforgettable experience for me!

Had you thought of anyone as a competitor for the award?
I'd heard that Aishwarya Rai was in the reckoning and I thought I'll surely lose out to her.

Did you make any special preparation for the role?
Nothing much. I liked the story, and I loved the character of Shaina. I was able to relate to her problems. I converted all my emotions to give shape to that character. With director T V Chandran guiding me, I got involved in my role. I'm thankful to Chandran for his encouragement and guidance, and the credit for the award goes to him too.

Any role models?
Quite a few like Sarita, Revati, Suhasini, K P A C Lalita, Shobhana...and many, many more. I've seen their films, and I too want to be like them.

You've acted in all the four southern languages..how was the experience?
I was very comfortable acting in all these languages. But the really challenging roles came from Malayalam. I want to do stronger roles in Tamil and Telugu too. Not just the singing-dancing types. I don't mind waiting for the right roles...

Any dream role?
Nothing in particular. For me, whatever role I get is the dream role of the moment.

Who among your heroes do you have a good comfort level?
For me, it doesn't matter much who my co-star is. It's the role that counts. But everyone says my screen chemistry is good with Madhavan. Working with Pawan Kalyan has also been an enjoyable experience.

Any directors you'd like to work with?
I've worked with some very good directors in Malayalam. I'd always wanted to work with Mani Ratnam, and was thrilled when I got the chance. I would like to work with him again. I would also like to work with some of the Bengali directors like Gautam Ghose....

How do you generally approach a role?
I've a lot of memories, both sweet and sad. When I perform a role, I bring them back whenever I need them. I relate the emotions of the character I play to my emotions and experiences. I love to recollect these things. It all helps me enhance my performance.

What are the films you're doing now?
It's my last day of the shoot for this Telugu film. I'm going to dub for it myself. There's a film in Malayalam to be directed by Kamal, 'Perumazha Kadathu'. It has Dilip and Prithwiraj, but it's a heroine-oriented subject. And there's 'Chembattu' to be directed by my guru, Lohit Das, where I have an exciting role.

The person you'd like to dedicate the award to?
To my guru Lohit Das. I'll always be grateful to him. He discovered me and moulded me. I was raw, without any artistic background when I entered the field. I didn't even know if I could act or dance. But he had confidence in me. I also thank God for it was due to His blessings that I won the national award!