Manikandan Pattambi has been straddling the world of cinema and television for many years now. Although stand-out roles have been rare in his filmography, the actor has endeared himself as Sathyaseelan in a weekly sitcom, Marimayam , on Mazhavil Manorama. He is now looking forward to his lead role in Rameshan Oru Peralla , scripted and directed by debutant Sujith Vigneshwar, which is set for release later this month.
“Rameshan is too sincere, benevolent and honest to be true. Those qualities in his character turns out to be his nemesis too,” says Manikandan. After a stint abroad, Rameshan starts his job as an online taxi driver on August 15. On that day, a group of young men books his taxi and the journey turns his life upside down.
“He is hearing-challenged after he suffered a fall while working abroad. Although he uses a hearing aid, sounds of certain frequency disturb him and that is the root cause for what happens later in his life,” says Manikandan.
The actor explains that the film is a take on the Indian judicial system where dependence on circumstantial evidence can put an innocent behind bars. “Also, Rameshan faces several hurdles when he decides to start his own venture after returning to Kerala. His story resonates with a recent incident in our State when an NRI businessman had to take his own life under such circumstances. His family also goes through hell,” Manikandan explains.
The actor adds that he has modelled Rameshan on an individual he met on the sets of a television serial. “There was something different about his behaviour, body language and smile. I thought it would be perfect for Rameshan. It’s easy if there is a reference point,” he says.
- Sujith Vigneshwar is keeping his fingers crossed as his début film gets ready for the screen. “I have been waiting for this day. It is not easy for a newcomer to get the whole thing going, that too if you are an NRI,” says Sujith, a resident of Canada for a decade now. An alumnus of School of Drama, Thrissur, Sujith says although he tried his hand at acting after the course, his interest was in the filmmaking process. After working in many Malayalam television channels, he moved to Canada where he now works with a media house. He was ready with a film project in 2016 but that had to be dropped. “I believed that if your work is good, you can market it. When it comes to film distribution, the equation is different. The star cast, background of the director, experience...everything comes into the picture. However, the time is now ripe to make films that are closer to real life and Rameshan... is one such story,” he points out.
Sujith Vigneshwar
- Sujith points out that most of the actors and technicians in the film are from theatre. The cast has Rajesh Sharma, Shylaja P Ambu, Divyadarshan, Krishnakumar, Krishnan Balakrishnan, and EA Rajendran, among others. Actor Mukesh has debuted as a singer in the movie.
- The film had its premiere at India Film Festival of Alberta in Canada where Sujith won the award for the best début director.
Looking back at his film career that started with playing the lead in Mankolangal (2000), which he scripted as well, Manikandan says he has learnt to take failure in his stride.
“Films such as Pattalam, Meesa Madhavan, Achanurangatha Veedu, Friday, and Ee Adutha Kaalathu did me a lot of good. But movies such as Uthara, Sim, Vallatha Pahayan and Odum Raja Aadum Rani in which I played the lead didn’t do well. I had scripted Odum Raja... as well. I used to feel disappointed but not any more,” he says.
The actor adds that there is no point in getting worked up about how the star cast decides the fate of a film. “That is the business side of cinema and we can’t do anything about it. However, if there is a good product and it can be distributed properly, it will succeed irrespective of whether big stars are there in it or not. Like what happened in the case of Sudani From Nigeria ,” he says.
He admits that television has kept his career afloat. “Especially Marimayam . It has been on air for over seven years now. None of us has got bored of doing it as we get to play different characters in each episode. The name Sathyaseelan is a tad boring though!” he laughs. He had won the State television award for the best comedian for the serial.
Last seen as a policeman in Njaan Marykutty , Manikandan points out that he gives his best irrespective of the length of the role. “I approach each character seriously. May be, that’s why I am still around and can make a living out of acting,” he says. He will next be seen in Friday Films’ Janamaithri.
