Some would call Mamas’ sequel to Mannar Mathai Speaking ambitious, for taking up a popular film and attempting to recreate the experience demands confidence. More so from a young director just onto his third film. Mamas debuted as script writer and director with the Dileep-Innocent-starrer Paappi Appacha (2010), which set cash registers ringing at the box office. The next was Cinema Company in 2012.
Mamas is excited as Mannar Mathai Speaking 2 reaches the marquee today. The film resurrects one of Malayalam cinemas much-loved, and remembered, comic trio – Mannar Mathai, Gopalakrishnan and Balakrishnan or MA-GO-BA, as the film’s trailer announces, after 19 years. Mamas reveals that others had attempted to make the sequel, none of which materialised.
“This project was initially shelved when Innocent chettan was diagnosed with cancer; the initial discussions of the film had just taken place. However after he recovered, the project was taken up again.” The producers had acquired the rights of Mannar Mathai Speaking and were keen to start work on the project. “At the time I had not started working on the script. I spent some time thinking about the plot and once I got the thread, I was ready to start.”
Before work began, Mamas sought the blessings of the former director-duo Siddique-Lal, the people behind Ramji Rao Speaking and Mannar Mathai Speaking . “It was only right since the original is theirs. I met them and narrated the story to them and they liked it.”
Getting the actors to reprise their roles was easy. Mukesh and Saikumar were keen on this instalment of Mannar Mathai’s story. “Unless the characters from the original were in this sequel, it would not make sense,” Mamas says.
In this edition Urvashi Theatres has become Urvashi Tours and Travels and is run by Mannar Mathai who secretly nurses a desire for theatre. Mathai wants to stage a play to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Urvashi Theatres, which Gopalakrishnan and Balakrishnan are not in favour of.
Like in the last film, and in Ramji Rao Speaking before that, the action gains momentum after the heroine, Aparna Gopinath, makes an appearance. Vijayaraghavan as Ramji Rao, Janardanan as Garvasees Asan and Biju Menon as Mahendra Varma will be seen in the film.
“There are some new characters. Shammi Thilakan essays the role of a driver, while Kalabhavan Shajon appears as a cop and Niyas Bakker as the cook,” Mamas reveals.
The inputs came from all quarters, especially the lead actors. The actors took ownership of the characters and added their inputs, which Mamas maintains, enhanced the film. Mamas rubbishes rumours that some of the actors were, initially, hesitant to take on the project.
“The film is close to their hearts. It was a turning point in their careers and I realised how deeply they had invested in the film. The lead characters have aged, as it has been 19 years, and the years show. But the chemistry between the actors, after all these years, is still intact.”
Almost all the actors from the last film, with exceptions of the late Cochin Haneefa and Machan Varghese, feature in the film which was shot in Ezhapunna near Cherthala.
He admits that, like all sequels, he was working within a frame that was already set and one which, seemingly, didn’t give scope for creativity. The characters, the major and minor ones, were ready and their popularity established.
“For one, it is not easy because these are familiar characters and one has to work around that. I would not have taken up the project if I was not able to add something of my own into the film. I started writing only when those elements came to me,” he says. The film, he assures, keeps the pattern of the franchise – comedy giving way to action.
This film is produced by Siby Thottupuram and Joby Mundamattom. Cinematography is by Vishnu Narayan, the lyrics by Nikesh Chembilod and the background score by Rahul Raj.
