Parakkum Thalika

Life on a bus

It was just after lunch-break. The lead actors Dileep and Harisri Ashokan were not yet back from lunch. But here, on the grounds in front of the famous Anchumana temple near Edappally, Ernakulam, director Thaha had already started work on Parakkum Thalika, his latest film, which he is doing after a gap of time.

The scene that was being shot involved Oduvil Unnikrishnan and some actors dressed up as cops. Oduvil gets down from a car, then calls the cops in the jeep to his side and says something to them, pointing towards the camera. As the shot was okayed, Dileep and Harisri Ashokan are ready with their costumes. Just then, somebody in the unit was heard shouting, “Bus varatte” (Let the bus come.) An old bus parked on one side of the ground is brought to the middle of the ground. As the shooting continued, it became quite evident that the bus was central to the subject of the film. The scenes that followed had Dileep, Harisri Ashokan, Oduvil and the cops, the continuation of the earlier scene. Shooting continued even after sunset and tea break. The heroine Nitya Das, who had been resting, joined the team So did Cochin Haneefa. Then again people began getting busy for the last leg of the day’s shooting. During tea-break, director Thaha briefed us about the film.

Could you tell us something about the film?
It is about Unnikrishnan, a youth who wanders through the city of Ernakulam on a bus. There is a story behind this. Earlier, when his father was killed after being hit by a vehicle, he sues the owner of the vehicle for compensation. The owner of the vehicle comes forward with a suggestion and offers him a bus. The prospect of his becoming a bus-owner makes Unnikrishnan accept the bus. He then sells his house and property in order to run the bus. Though at first he runs it for commercial purposes like marriages and as a school bus, later it falls out of use. And being homeless, Unnikrishnan makes the bus his home. Along with him is Sundaran, as the cleaner of the bus and his constant companion. The bus is seen parked in different parts of Ernakulam. Since the documents and papers of the bus are not correct, Unnikrishnan and Sundaran are constantly haunted by a police inspector known popularly as ‘Veerappan’ Kurup and his cops. So, they keep on changing their place of parking and thus their address too keeps on changing. The film is centred around this bus and these characters. Certain other characters too come and join them and the story progresses thus.

Is this a comedy?
That cannot be said right now. I may sometimes use comedy in the course of narration. That’s all.

So, is it some sort of a family entertainer?
Sure, it is. It is a film fit for the family audience.

Could you tell us something about your new heroine?
I have introduced not one, but two new faces - Nitya Das and Keerti Chatterjee. I wanted unfamiliar faces as well as a heroine with no image at all. (Then with a smile, he adds) .. and one more thing, there is an element of surprise for the audience as regards the cast, especially the heroine.

Really! What is it?
It’s a suspense. You’ll have to wait till the film gets released. It is something new that I have tried. Nitya Das is a second year pre-degree student of the MES Women’s College, Kozhikode, her hometown. It was by sheer coincidence that she got this role. Lots of faces were being tried out for this role. Finally it was Nitya’s face, which appeared in the Grihalakshmi photogenic competition that appealed to all. (Nitya had got the second prize in the competition). Dileep rang up Nitya’s father and talked to him. After some screen-tests, she was signed.

How do you feel, working for the first time, with so established actors?
To some extent, I am, of course, thrilled and happy working in the film. But my co-stars, who are well-established, don’t behave with me as if I am a newcomer or as if I am much junior to them. They are all very friendly and co-operative. I enjoy working with them.

Have you ever acted before?
Yes, once. I had acted in a serial Kunjammaavan. But not in a significant role. So that can hardly be called acting. (he laughs)

Parakkum Thalika, produced under the banner of Kalasangham by MM Hamsa, has Dileep and Harisri Ashokan donning the roles of Unnikrishnan and Sundaran respectively. Besides Cochin Haneefa, Oduvil Unnikrishnan, Nitya Das, Keerthi Chatterjee, others in the cast include Babu Nampoothiri, Salim Kumar, Kunjan, Kalabhavan Haneef, Sabitha Anand and Praseeda. Noted Tamil director P Vasu appears in the film as Shanmughan, a minister from Pondicherry. VR Gopalakrishnan has written the screenplay and dialogues for the story by Govind Padman and Mahesh Mitra. Gireesh Puthencherry’s lyrics have been set to tune by Ouseppachchan and sung by Yesudas, MG Sreekumar and Chitra. Salu George cranks the camera while Renjan Abraham does the editing and Gangan Thalavil, the art direction.

Unni R Nair