Three youngsters stay together in a rented house. They accommodate a fourth to help split the rent. This changes their lives forever. This then forms the crux of the crime thriller Nakhangal , a small film, with no big stars but a bunch of hopeful youngsters, will hit the theatres on January 18.
Directed by Suresh Krisshnan, Priyadarshan’s long-time associate director. He has five independent works to his credit of which Bharatheeyam (1997) and Achaneyanikkishtam (2001) films got noticed.
Nakhangal will introduce a clutch of new actors and technicians. “Rakendu, Madan Mohan, Arun, Santhosh and Megha, the debutant actors play significant roles in the film. Madan has already worked in Priyadarshan’s forthcoming Hindi film Rangrez, which is due for release this March. Megha, a Malayali model based in Mumbai has starred in numerous television commercials and has walked the ramp for leading designers. We have one song in the film and this is rendered by Kripa, who makes her film debut, along with M. S. Aiyappan Nair, who has worked with Priyan Sir in over 22 films as associate editor,” informs Suresh Krisshnan.
Produced by G .P.Vijayakumar under the banner of Seven Arts, Nakhangal is ‘presented’ by Priyadarshan. “In fact, Priyan sir has even shot the song sequence in the film. He has also helped us in the scripting. Most of the crew members are those who work with him in his Hindi films.”
Twist in the tale
Bejoys, long-time associate of Santhosh Sivan, cranks the camera. Lyrics are by Nadirsha and music by M. G. Sreekumar. M. R. Rajakrishnan, son of the late M.G. Radhakrishnan, has done the background score.
“The story is by Prem Nath. It narrates the life and incidents in the life of Giri, a driver in a courier company, Jackson, an accountant in a tea estate and Sherin, a nurse, who stay in a rented house. They get this house through another friend , Jeevan, who lies to the U.S.-based house owner that Jackson and Sherin are husband and wife, while Giri is Sherin’s brother. When the rent is hiked they ask Jeevan to bring in another person so that the rent amount can be divided amongst four. That’s how Manjila, a writer, enters.”
Nandu Pothuval plays Manjila. Poojappura Ravi, Augustine, Solomon, Vivek Gopan and Vaishali complete the cast.
“Working with Priyan sir has been a huge learning experience. I have had the privilege of working with brilliant technicians and sophisticated equipment. I have been fortunate to work with some of the big names in Bollywood and also with stunt masters who have worked in James Bond movies. The years I spent with him made me understand what cinema is all about. Nakhangal is all about putting these experiences together independently,” says Suresh Krisshnan.
