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Coming clean
Director Sathyan Anthikad's Ennum Eppozhum is a family-oriented, humour-laced movie with two star talents, Deepa Gauri writes
- PUBLISHED: Thu 9 Apr 2015, 9:53 PM UPDATED: Fri 2 Aug 2024, 12:13 PM
After Ennum Eppozhum opened, director Sathyan Anthikad got two distress calls. One was from lyricist Rafeeq Ahmed and another was from a Rajeev.
Director Sathyan Anthikad on the sets of Ennum Eppozhum
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Both had the same complaint to make. Their names happened to be that of the antagonists in the movie and it was agonising. “It comes from people reading more into cinema,” smiles Sathyan.
But that also reminded him, once again, the greater social purpose in making cinema, of not giving into artistic whims but instead focusing on what he does best – making 'clean family' entertainers.
If ever any filmmaker has been accused of being 'too clean,' well, here is Sathyan Anthikad for you. In fact, the only criticism you might read of about Ennum Eppozhum is that it is a vintage Sathyan movie, squeaky clean.
And to them Sathyan has an honest reply: “I have a commitment to my audience, who come to watch my movies with a certain amount of trust in my films. I won't make them squirm in their seats in discomfort watching it with family.”
Sathyan does not see that as a limitation but as a conviction he must abide by. “Tomorrow, if I choose, I have the freedom to make a movie on the so-called 'new generation' mould with explicit talk and scenes. But will I do it? I will not. Because, that will mean compromising on the trust that people have placed in me.”
Manju Warrier and Mohanlal star in Ennum Eppozhum - Supplied Photos
Ennum Eppozhum, thus, is another film for the family from a filmmaker who undoubtedly has gauged the pulse of the 'family audience' with effortless ease. But for his newest movie, Sathyan faced a new challenge – and that was to deliver to an unprecedented level of expectation from the audience.
He had a casting coup with the pairing of Mohanlal and Manju Warrier, who was doing her second film after an impressive comeback. Both actors have defined their own idioms in acting and when it comes to power-packed scenes , the duo's energy is unbeatable as they proved in Kanmadam and Aaaram Thampuran.
Sathyan says he cut himself off from falling prey to delivering on audience expectations and focused instead on his story. “Both of them are natural instinctive actors and we created situations that bring out their innate ability to impress, influence and inspire viewers.”
Mohanlal plays Vineeth Pillai, a senior reporter, struggling to find his footing in a fast-changing women's magazine; Manju plays Deepa, an advocate, who is divorced and a single mother; someone who does not hesitate to protest against governmental ineptitude. As one-liners go, the film is all about Vineeth trying to bag an interview from her.
“In all my movies with Mohanlal, he has played a character thrust into a difficult situation and how he overcomes it with his innate charm and innocence,” says Sathyan. Lal also chipped in with his interpretations including the constant tugging at his trousers that has also been a humour prop.
Sathyan drew on several journalists he knows personally in shaping the character of Vineeth. “Most often, they are forced to do stories out of editorial pressure and that is their helplessness.”
As for Manju, Sathyan leveraged her strengths – as an actress and a dancer – and offered her a bold character that represents the fighting spirit of women today. “Adv. Deepa is not one who wallows in self-pity; she is someone who fights the challenges in life.”
Sathyan categorically denies that the character or dialogues by Manju are barbs at actor Dileep, from whom she is now divorced in real life. “On the contrary, we took extra care to ensure that Manju's role will not remind audiences of her personal life. But then, people tend to overlook the fact that it is cinema.”
Ennum Eppozhum also marks the coming together of Sathyan with script-writer Ranjan Pramod. The two had delivered the superhits Manassinakkare and Achuvinte Amma. “Ranjan is incredibly talented but in our industry, if you fail, people just ignore you. After Photographer and Rose Guitarinal (films directed by Ranjan), he was keeping a low profile. I met him at a wedding and asked if he could write a film for me. Although he had decided to write only for his films, he happily agreed.”
Thus was born one of Malayalam cinema's superhits of this season. So why should an expatriate Malayali watch this movie? “The mindset and values of a Malayali, even if he lives in Kerala or in the Gulf, are the same. Ennum Eppozhum is a film you will relate to because it is about your ethos.”
So for all of you game for a 'clean movie,' one that brings a slice of life with humour and sincerity, and has endearing performances by two actors whom you just can't help loving, Ennum Eppozhum is playing at theatres in the UAE.