Mammootty – Mahesh Narayanan political thriller will
be funded by Lyca Productions . The film will have Mohanlal in an extended
cameo and screen time of 20 minutes. The shooting portions of the film has
around 30-40 days in Sri lanka and this film being a political thriller, is the
film anything to do with Sri Lankan politics ? What adds to this theory is that
the film has an equally long schedule in London. We all know that London is
also a hub for overseas Tamils of Sri Lankan origin. Similarly New Delhi is
another major locale. The fact that Lyca’s owner Subhaskaran is a Sri Lankan
Tamil adds to the likely angle of the thriller.
Yet another aspect is that Mammootty Kampany and son
Dulquer’s Wayfarer films are coming together with Lyca. A photo of Mammooty with
Mohanlal and Producer Antony of Aashirvad Cinemas together led to a speculation
that Mammootty is playing a cameo in underproduction film and sequel to Empuran
directed by Prithviraj.
About the Mahesh Narayanan film, we learn that
de-aging technology is to be used for younger days of Mammotty. In the
anthology based on MT stories, Mammootty portions were shot in Sri Lanka. If
Mahesh Narayanan is the director can it be with without Fahadh Faasil?
Shooting has started in Nagercoil for Mammootty film
directed by Jithin K jose began without
Mammootty. Vinayakan is playing a guy who is targeted by by a bad cop played by
Mammootty in the film. Dulquer is the Producer.
A short nostalgic trip . A news item that Madhu has
turned 91 , prompted me to pen a few thoughts about him. Though I had
interviewed Madhu several times in Trivandrum for Screen, it was my chat with
him in Palmgrove Hotel Chennai that lingers in me. Madhu had a soft corner for
me as he has seen me when I used to accompany my grandfather Ayyappan Pillai (
ex Trivandrum Corporation Comissioner) to Sri Moolam Club known as SMC. While
my grandfather sat inside and played cards , I sat in the lounge and read the
magazines. Madhu was also a card player.
After the card game, I would help my grandfather board
the car and go to our house. Sometimes, our car would not be available and
anybody from the card game set gave a lift. Many times Madhu has given us a
lift. I learnt from my grandfather that Chemeen’s Bombay show and publicity was
all coordinated by S S Pillai then Editor of Screen weekly in Bombay. Pillai is
none other than my grandfather’s younger brother. A side track- my aunt Udaya
Tara Nayar later became Editor and later yours truly headed the South Bureau of
the magazine.
Many times on my visit to Trivandrum ( I was by then
based in Chennai for Screen ), I used to see him and talk to him at SMC. My
cousin was a member of SMC. Cinema Express , Tamil fortnightly from Indian
Express ( Madurai ) group was part of our group. The Editor Ramamurthy and I
shared a good friendship.. I suggested Madhu name to Cinema Express Awards Life
Time Achievement award. I went to Trivandrum and invited him. I asked him which
hotel he wanted to stay. He said that Palmgrove and quipped if it still exists.
He came one day earlier. He told me that he had not
informed anybody about his visit to Chennai and said that he would feel bored
if there was nobody to talk. As I had a few invites to give, I told him that he
could start the `session’ and I would join later.
When I arrived, Madhu was in full form. I joined him.
I had told him that a car was at his disposal as soon as he arrived. I asked
him if he went anywhere. He said no and said that he spoke to some and they
were all not very active. He asked me what was the rent of the cottage that he was staying and I said
that it was Rs 5000 per day.
This sparked a nostalgic trip in him. He said that for
Chemeen , he was paid Rs 2000 and adde that Sathyan got paid Rs 12,000. “ I had
most of the scenes than Sathyan “ he added. Do you know that the film totally
cost Kanmani Babu Rs 8 lakhs ? he asked.
He wanted to go to actress Srividya’s house and said
that he was having dinner with her. I gave the exact route to her house then
located in Alwarpet.
After the function , he was leaving next day early
morning for Trivandrum. I bid him goodbye at the hotel and told him that office
car and driver was parked in the hotel. Next day, the car driver came with a
big smile – “ What a gentlemen ! He carried his own suitcase and tipped me a Rs
100 . He pushed it in my shirt pocket. No VIP has even bothered to even goodbye
leave alone give a tip”.
May you live for many more years – Madhu Saar.
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