Prithviraj has a rough journey in 'Driving Licence'

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Prithviraj has a rough journey in Driving Licence

Southern superstar Prithviraj talks about how his latest movie 'Driving Licence' made him rethink his relationship with his fans

By Dhanusha Gokulan 


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Published: Thu 26 Dec 2019, 10:20 AM

Last updated: Fri 27 Dec 2019, 1:32 PM

They say you should never meet your onscreen heroes in person, and Mollywood's most recent offering Driving Licence makes an honest attempt to make that adage ring right.  

In this case, a mega movie star needs a driving licence, and the inspector in-charge of it is his biggest fan. However, a misunderstanding caused by a third-party leads to a blazing showdown between the two. Starring Malayalam's highest grosser Prithviraj Sukumaran, and the very versatile Suraj Venjaramoodu in lead roles, Driving Licence is due for release across all theatres in the UAE on Christmas Day (December 25). In an exciting plot written by Sachy, and directed by Lal Jr, you catch glimpses of the present-day realities of media sensitisation, hero-worship and celebrity rivalry.

City Times caught up with Prithviraj for a candid chat ahead of the upcoming release. When quizzed about how the movie helped him re-examine his relationship with his fans, actor-director Prithviraj momentarily stumbled in an otherwise very smooth interview.

Taking a brief moment to re-examine his response, the actor said, the experience did make him reconsider the way he views his relationship with his fans. "The relationship between a fan and an idol is a lot more complex than it seems on the surface. It is something all celebrities and actors go through. For a fan, the relationship with his idol is very personal. However, for the idol, he takes at least 1,000 selfies a day. In a way, it is like two sides of the same coin," the actor said.

He added, "In a way, Driving Licence did make me think about my relationship with my fans - a lot of people who love me and follow me. Sometimes, I wonder when someone calls to ask me about a new motorbike that he might want to buy, and I might not be able to reply. But what I said matters to the fan." 
Prithviraj revealed that  he has a sense of responsibility towards his fans, who are passionate about him and his craft. "If I turn up tomorrow and do something that shatters their love for me, I am indirectly hurting them. So, as an actor, you have to be aware of that and also successfully make a partition between who you are onscreen and offscreen," he said.
Without doubt, 2019 has been a spectacular year for Malayalam cinema. From Kumblangi Nights to Lucifer, audiences were treated to a rich choice of stories of the common man. Ending the year on a high note, Driving Licence has garnered rave reviews from critics in Kerala, calling it 'one of the cleverest pieces of writing to emerge from Malayalam cinema'. Excerpts from the interview:

Driving Licence is your second production venture. You have mentioned that this is one of the most entertaining mainstream scripts you have heard in recent times. How would you define the movie?
Driving Licence (DL) is pretty much about the name of the film itself. The two main protagonists are Hareendran (Prithviraj), who happens to be a superstar and Kuruvilla (Suraj Venjaramoodu), a motor vehicle inspector (MVI) who is his biggest fan. When we reach a point in the story, it shows that the superstar is famous for his love of cars and his interest in driving them. Now, Hareendran has somehow gone ahead and misplaced his DL, and he needs to procure a new one. Unfortunately, he cannot obtain it under normal circumstances, and a movie producer uses his clout to fast-track the process. An officer at the Licensing office tips off the media and the resultant conversation between Kuruvilla and Hareendran becomes a PR disaster. Kuruvilla now asks Hareendran to make an appointment and obtain his driving licence like any other person. What happens when these two characters meet, and what transpires between them, is what the movie is all about.  

How was it acting with Suraj Venjaramoodu?
This is not my first time acting with Suraj. He is a friend and a co-actor and is equally excited about the movie. He (Suraj) has been delivering great performances one after the other, and this particular film brings out a mainstream character in him, steering away from a comedy role. In that way, his presence does necessarily make it a very human movie.  

Playing a superstar must have been relatively easy for you?  
On the surface, it might seem very easy. You can set up the camera and start rolling (laughs). However, it has its own set of challenges. Interestingly, the role of Hareendran was not written for me. It was written for Mammootty sir. I am not privy to what happened and why he decided not to do the movie. The writer Shajy is a close friend, and when I listened to the script, I said yes immediately. It is an entertaining movie. I can see why it seems like it was written keeping me in mind, because coincidentally, Mammookka also shares my love for cars.

Considering your excellent show at the box office, what does it take to excite Prithviraj today?
Honestly, there is no foolproof method to attain success. The trick is to keep it simple and be sure that it is going to work. What works is to say yes to movies that appeal to the artist in you, and also a story that appeals to the moviegoer in you.

You are taking a sabbatical for the next three months. What are you planning on doing?
The most extended break I've had in my career is a two-month one. So this three-month break is good. I am working on my next movie Aadujeevitham. There's a portion in the film that requires a bit of a physical transformation. It is a survival drama written and directed by Blessy, and it is based on the novel of the same name by Benyamin. The movie is about a man who gets stuck in a desert for three years in the early '90s. It does require me to undergo a physical transformation by losing weight to look the part. It is a big project, and it is also AR Rahman's return to Malayalam cinema.

How far are you with the movie Emburaan - the second installation of Lucifer?
The movie's writer Murali (Gopy) and I meet regularly. A lot of our processes as a writer-director duo means doing nothing. We meet, we talk, we discuss a few things, and say bye to each other (laughs). Though it seems like nothing is happening with the movie, when Murali puts pen to paper, the process is much faster. Even with Lucifer, we took a year-and-a-half to form what is to be written.

What is your message to UAE fans?
Driving Licence is an entertainer. DL is very new, and something like this has never been made before. It is an exciting take on the fan-idol relationship. I would encourage the whole family to go and watch it.


dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com


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