What is College Kumaran all about?
As everyone knows the film is a Mohanlal-starrer. And hence the question on everyone’s lips would be, “What is this title College Kumaran all about?” and “Who is this College Kumaran?” The answer to these and other such questions is exactly what forms the plot of the film. The character played by Mohanlal, named Kumaran, is the heart and soul of the campus. No, I wouldn’t like to divulge what he is doing in the campus. He is definitely not a student and he is neither a teacher. But he is someone who is sought after equally by students and teachers as well as by the other staff and by everyone related to the college. The film has all the elements that are seen in Campus capers-like humour, action, songs, romance et al. The ambience of a college campus is there all through the film. At the same time we are addressing some very serious issues too in the film. For example we discuss the existing education system, focussing on its plus-es and minus-es and also discuss about the commercialisation of education, which is a burning issue. Anyhow the focus mainly is on a person who has a strong bond of attachment to the campus and hence sticks on there at all costs.

It is a campus film, but the main names in the cast are all senior actors like Balachandra Menon, Siddique, Saikumar, Nedumudi Venu, Janardhanan, Vijayaraghavan etc. A college film should naturally have youngsters in prominent roles. How come it is different here?
That is the difference. But this doesn’t mean that it is a college where senior guys study. It is a very youthful college campus with young, very young students. We have lots of youngsters too in the cast, some of them popular actors and some debutantes. College Kumaran is going to be a campus film with a difference.

You spoke about the hero being someone who has a strong bond of attachment with the campus. We have seen Mohanlal playing such a character years back in Sarvakalasala. Is it on the same lines?
No, not at all. College Kumaran is entirely different. The character played by him is going to be entirely different compared to Sarvakalasala.

Vimala is the heroine in this film. How would you rate her as an actor? And why did you choose her for the role?
Vimala is playing the role of an English lecturer named Madhavi. Vimala, as you know very well, is very active in Malayalam cinema, doing all kinds of roles. The main thing is that she has a presence that makes her fit in as the suitable heroine to superstars. Moreover most of our actors are focussing on Tamil and other languages and in this situation, we do have to go in for someone like Vimala, who is a non-Malayali. She has done a brilliant job. A hard-working actor who strives to improve with every scene she does, that’s what Vimala is.

For a campus caper, music and romance are important.

There’s not much music or romance.
The songs are very different and I am sure the film as well as its music and songs would turn out to be appealing.

What are your expectations about the response the film would elicit?
I am sure it would appeal to everyone. The film has all those ingredients that would be liked by every section of the audience. And for die-hard fans of Mohanlal, the film is going to be a real treat.