Film maker Vinayan dares to be different. When directors tend to make movies with bankable stars, Vinayan enjoys working with new faces. In fact some of his films have been a launch pad for some and a shortcut to fame for others. A few of the actors who hit the limelight through Vinayan's flicks on the big screen include Indrajith and Jayasurya in ‘Oomappenninu Uriyadappayyan,' Guinness Pakru in ‘Athbhuta Dweepu,' Suresh Krishna in ‘Karumadikkuttan' and Manikuttan in ‘Boyfriend.'
Newcomers
The director's film ‘Yakshiyum Njaanum,' which hits theatres today, also stars new faces. The movie has late actor Rajan P. Dev's son, Jubil Raj, playing villain, music director Raveendran's son, Sajan Madhav, making his debut as music director and introduces Meghna Nair, Goutham and Ricky in lead roles. Actor Thilakan plays an astrologer in the movie. The new faces, says Vinayan, were selected after an audition and acting workshop.
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Says Vinayan who has written the story, screenplay and dialogues: “I like working with newcomers as it is a challenge to mould them into the characters in the script. There is a sense of satisfaction when they bring these characters to life. Besides Mollywood needs new faces.”
‘Yakshiyum Njaanum' has been shot on a red camera in and around Athirapalli, Ernakulam, Kulathupuzha and Kuttaalam among other places by debut cinematographer Nawaz.
Says Vinayan who has scripted and produced the movie himself: “It is a horror love story. The story revolves around Shyam (played by Goutham) who takes the wrong path to keep his family afloat. While in hiding from the cops, he meets Athira (Meghna). He falls for her. It is only later that he discovers she is a ‘yakshi' (demoness). What happens next forms the crux of the story.”
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One interesting thing to be noted about Vinayan's movies is that they seldom stick to a particular genre. If ‘Sipayi Lahala' was a laugh riot, ‘Kanyakumariyil Oru Kavitha' was a musical love story and ‘Dada Saheb,' a patriotic film. Says the director: “I do not enjoy being typecast. I like exploring various genres of films and enjoy surprising my audience with something new.” ‘Yakshiyum Njaanum,' produced by Rubin Gomez under the banner of R.G. Productions has music that has a Ravindran touch, says Vinayan.
Coming up next for the director is a retelling of ‘Ali Baba and the 40 thieves' on screen and a movie on “a freedom fighter.” “I'm also planning a remake of ‘Yakshiyum Njaanum' in Telugu.”