A visit on the sets of Karimaadikuttan at Kovalam

Vast stretches of paddy fields, idyllic backwaters, lush green coconut trees provides an apt location for film shooting.

And many are the films that have been shot against this backdrop of Kovalam. And now Vinayan, the maker of films like Akashaganga, Vaasanthiyum Lekshmiyum Pinne Njaanum and Dadasahib has been busy shooting for his latest venture Karimaadikuttan.

We never try to look into the minds and sorrows of the mentally retarded people around us. They too long for love. And love, when given to them could take them to heights. That’s what I am trying to tell in this film - Vinayan

Vinayan has been on the sets since early morning. Reaching there, we could see floating on the backwaters, a decorated platform made across three boats, with artists in various dance costumes. Cinematographer Azhagappan with his associate was sitting on top of the crane, while Vinayan was giving necessary directions over the mike to those on the boat. A song - sequence was being shot.

And when everything was ready, Vinayan took the shot after the necessary rehearsals with the help of the dance - director. On the platform made across the boats, amidst the dancers were Kalabhavan Mani and Nandini, the lead pair. With them were actresses Priyanka and Meena Ganesh. The song was being played. The line Naalu kaalulloru, sung by Mani himself, echoed over the waters and Mani and Nandini, with accompaniment from others, started dancing to the tune. Between shots, Vinayan spoke about his plans to get the film released on time and his attempts to wind up shooting that day itself. He also spoke about his next venture, the Tamil remake of Vaasanthiyum, Lekshmiyum Pinne Njaanum, with Mani in the lead.

When the floating platform was brought ashore for a short break, Mani remained on board chatting to those around and cracking jokes. He took the mike and did a bit of mimicry. In the meantime, Vinayan with Azhagappan and others got on to the platform and it drifted away, and they returned only after about half hour after the director okayed yet another shot.

Then the scene shifted to another place nearby. Bordering on vast stretches of paddy fields was a road on which Mani was to dance with others to the accompaniment of the same song. Before the shooting began here Vinayan did brief us about the film in a brief interview:

Could you tell us something about this film?
This film is about a youth who is known as Karimaadikuttan in his village. Though he is a 30 - year old man, he has the intelligence of a ten - year old. Everyone has sort of affection for him and he too is always ready to do anything for anybody in the village. The remuneration that he gets for any job somehow is never above five rupees. But he works really hard when he is terribly hungry just for the sake of this meagre amount. And he has no complaint against anybody. People even ridicule him. But he thinks only of the positive aspect of things and has no grudge against anybody. Of course, we never try to look into the mind and sorrows of the mentally retarded people around us. ‘They are mentally retarded, what problems are they going to have?’ - that’s our usual attitude. But they too long for love. And love, when given to them could take them to heights. That’s what I am trying to tell in this film.

What are your hopes regarding the box - office response of this film?
This film, I am sure, is going to be a greater hit than Vaasanthiyum, Lekshmiyum, Pinne Njaanum. That film was sort of a documentary on a blind man. But this goes much further and delves deep into the life of the protagonist. The range itself is different. And, of course, the treatment too is different.
It seems you have given much importance to songs here.

I have done my best to give life to the character of a mentally retarded guy. I have observed the mannerisms of mentally retarded people and have performed accordingly - Kalabhavan Mani

That’s right. Songs have much importance here. It has all the ingredients of a commercial film. In fact, it is a pucca commercial film.

As it was time for shooting, Vinayan got busy again Kalabhavan Mani, now with costumes changed, joined him and the shooting started. In between shots, Mani startled his co - artists by pricking them with coconut leaves and imitating their dance - steps. When he was not needed for a shot, Mani spoke about his character in the film.

How do you assess your role in the film?
This, as you know, is a character who is 30 - year old mentally retarded, behaving like a ten - year old. Though the name of my character is Kuttan, people call the character Karimaadikuttan as he is dark. Of course, the character should not be neglected by saying that it is a mentally retarded character. At heart, the character loves everyone and is a lovable character. I have done my best to give life to this particular character. I have observed the mannerisms of mentally retarded people and have performed accordingly. Of course, I have done such roles earlier too, but this one is different. I have tried out certain things which nobody else has ever tried.

Such as.
I guess, that should not be revealed at this stage. You’d better wait and see for yourself when the film gets released.

How would you assess this character on terms of the scope of acting?
I have given up making assessments. I know it is not good to assess one’s own character. It is for people to see and assess my character. All that I can say is that I have done what all I could do to act out my part. I am 100 per cent satisfied with the role. And I am almost sure that this film will do very well at the box - office.

He concludes as he has to get back to work.
Karimaadikuttan also has Bharathy, Janardhanan, Saikumar, Ganesh, Athira, Rajan P Dev, Shivaji, Augustine, Ponnamma Babu, Priyanka and Meena Ganesh in the cast. The story is by Vinayan and J Pallasserry while J Pallasserry is doing the script. Songs penned by Yusuf Ali Kechery are set to tune by Mohan Sithara. Azhagappan does the cinematography while B Murali does the editing part. Bawa is the art director while PV Shankar does the make - up and Manoj does the costume designing. The film is produced by Samson J Paanaadan under the banner of Surabhi Cinema, which is also releasing the film.

Unni R Nair