Tiny Tom is feeling a bit nervous these days. “Now I know what Mammootty and Mohanlal must be going through every Friday morning! It is not easy being a hero,” says Tiny, whose first film as hero, Housefull , reaches cinemas today. After doing comic and character roles in 30-odd films, the actor admits that playing the main protagonist is a big leap. “Suddenly, your responsibility increases. When you are shouldering a film, it’s your name that pulls in distributors and satellite rights. You have to ensure that the film reaches the right theatres and you also have to play a role in promoting the film. Until now, when I was playing supporting roles, I didn’t have to concern myself with all this,” says Tiny with a smile.
He adds that he was a bit apprehensive about becoming a hero. “When this role was offered to me by debutant director Linson Antony, I asked Ranjith, whose Pranchiyettan & the Saint gave me the break in Mollywood, whether I should accept it. He encouraged me to take it up. And I am glad I did Housefull because it is a nice, little film that can be enjoyed by the whole family,” he says.
Housefull is about a policeman whose wife (played by Jyothirmayi) delivers quadruplets after undergoing infertility treatment. “Unlike most cops we see in films, my character is more real ; he struggles to live and bring up his children with his modest income. He simply cannot afford to be macho and take on the system,” says Tiny.
And it looks like there are more anxious Friday mornings in store for Tiny. Currently, he’s shooting for Pottas Bomb (directed by debutant Suresh Achu) and there is also award-winning director K.M. Madhusoodanan’s new film, Kannadi Talkies , in both of which he is the hero.
“It feels great when a director like Madhusoodanan thought of me for his film, just as it did when T.V. Chandran asked me to appear in his Bhoomiyude Avakashikal . The other day director Siddique had called me up to congratulate on my performance in Veendum Kannur , in which I played a politician,” says Tiny.
2012, he says, was a busy year. Apart from Veendum Kannur , he acted in 17 films. “It was really a good year too, as I could do different types of roles in films such as Thalsamayam Oru Penkutty , Spirit , Madirasi and Banking Hours 10 to 4 ,” he says.
Although Tiny made his acting debut back in 1995 with Balu Kiriyath’s Mimics Action 500 , the actor had to wait a long while to make his mark in Mollywood, with Beautiful , Pranchiyettan , Beautiful and Indian Rupee . “Even when I didn’t have too many films, I was particular that I should not be typecast a comedian, though my background is mimicry,” he says.
Tiny is happy that he continues to get exciting roles. “There are quite a few interesting films I have committed to do this year, such as Iyer in Pakistan with Fahadh Faasil,” says Tiny. Looks like 2013 is going to be a busy year too…
