Showrunner and director of two featurettes in Manorathangal, an anthology based mostly on 9 tales written by Jnanpith-awardee MT Vasudevan Nair, Priyadarshan’s join with the movie is clear in his dialog.
He turns emotional whereas speaking about his work within the anthology that drops on ZEE5 on August 15, wherein he has directed two segments, Olavum Theeravum and Shilalikhitham.
He says studying the screenplay of Olavum Theeravum (1970), written by MT, as a 15-year-old, impressed him to grow to be a director.
Mohanlal in a scene from ‘Olavum Theeravum’
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Priyadarshan says, “Initially, I made my title by helming full-length comedies, then a uncommon phenomenon in Malayalam cinema. However there have been different movies in me that I longed to make. I used to be jealous of filmmakers like IV Sasi, Sibi Malayil and Hariharan who had been directing films that at the moment are thought-about classics within the language.”
Priyadarshan yearned to helm a script by the veteran scenarist. “However I used to be a bit afraid of him. He not often smiles and has a critical expression,” he shares.
When he shared his disappointment with Mohanlal, the actor reached out to MT and requested him to think about writing a script for Priyadarshan.
Mamu Koya in a nonetheless from ‘Olavum Theeravum’, one of many movies within the anthology ‘Manorathangal’
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“MT agreed and we met a few occasions in Chennai. That was when my father fell ailing. He instructed me to instantly go to my father. I keep in mind his phrases: ‘Cinema will occur once more however mother and father can’t be changed. Please go to him’. I did go however the mission with MT sir didn’t take off.”
He had given up hope when out of the blue he obtained a name from Aswathy V Nair, MT’s daughter, a reputed dancer and choreographer. She instructed him about her concept of an anthology based mostly on tales written by her father. Priyadarsan instantly rushed to satisfy MT in Kozhikode. They needed him to be the showrunner in addition to direct a movie. He additionally obtained dibs to decide on the story he needed to direct.
Biju Menon performs the lead in Shilalikhitham
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“MT sir gave me Shilalikitham and I accepted it. I contemplate him to be my guru. It is sort of a Dronacharya-Ekalavya relationship. I’ve learn each story of his and his tales have been a lodestone for me.”
Priyadarshan first approached Mammootty to essay the lead position. However for some motive, the thespian declined. Then he forged Biju Menon, Shanti Krishna and Pleasure Mathew to play important characters in Shilalikitham. Biju Menon performs the protagonist Gopalankutty who persuades his mom to assist his concept of demolishing their ancestral house and promoting it.
Priyadarshan says he considers Shilalikitham his finest work after his nationwide award-winning function movie Kanchivaram.
As soon as the administrators completed their work, they screened it for MT who shared his opinion in regards to the featurette with the filmmakers. “I additionally screened Shilalikitham for him. We watched it along with Aswathy. After watching it, he took my hand, held it near his chest and instructed me ‘nannayittunudu’ (properly executed), it has moved me’. My eyes crammed. I couldn’t have requested for extra!”
Priyadarshan recounts how Aswathy had known as him the following day after the screening to inform him about all that MT had loved within the film, which the veteran had shared together with her. “She requested her father why he didn’t inform me all that straight. He stated that his gesture had conveyed all that he needed to say.”
He provides that even when he retired after a few movies, he would all the time cherish MT’s phrases and that second.
Priyadarshan obtained an opportunity to direct yet another story when the producers had been eager on a Mohanlal movie within the anthology. Aswathy V Nair, inventive director of the anthology and MT’s daughter, says they needed a director with whom Mohanlal can be snug with.
Elated, he requested MT to edit the script of Olavum Theeravum and instructed him why he was eager on directing it.
A nonetheless from ‘Olavum Theeravum’
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Olavum Theeravum, directed by the late PN Menon, is a traditional that tells the story of Baputty, a timber service provider. It was one of many early Malayalam films to be shot outdoor. With Madhu and Usha Nandini within the lead, it’s a story of one other period that portrays a slice of life in Malabar.
“MT sir requested me if the story would have any relevance within the trendy world,” shares Priyadarsan who assured him that it will be made as a interval movie. The director’s enthusiasm is clear when he talks about how MT edited the screenplay for a 50-minute featurette, making it the longest one within the anthology.
Thrilled on the concept of retelling the story, Priyadarshan instructed Mohanlal he needed him within the lead as Baputty. He additionally needed all the movie to be shot in black and white. “He instructed me he would definitely do it for me. I additionally reached out to Santosh Sivan and Sabu Cyril to come back on aboard as DOP and artwork director respectively. Fortunately for me, each of agreed. We had simply six days to shoot.”
His satisfaction is clear when he provides that they had been capable of shoot the story throughout the set time and but make it a grand visible spectacle. “There’s water, there’s fireplace and we recreated each little bit of that interval. After we had been capturing the film, it was the primary Malayalam movie to be shot in black and white within the period of color. By the point we had been prepared for the discharge, Bramayugam had been launched!”
Priyadarshan says he couldn’t have executed it with out his long-term associates resembling Mohanlal, Santosh and Sabu.
“Madhu sir instructed me he needed to see the movie. He was all reward for it however he puzzled why I needed to make it in black and white when color was already there even within the late sixties when the film was first made.”
He provides: “My work in Manorathangal is a sort of guru dakshina.”
Manorathangal premieres August 15 on ZEE5
