Author and television producer Ananthapadmanabhan has always brought the magic of cinema to the small screen with the help of some innovative programmes. He took viewers behind the scenes of filmmaking in a popular show ‘Cinema Karyangal’ on Amrita TV, which was hosted by none other than Lal Jose. Now, a creative producerin Asianet, he produces ‘Katha Parayumbol’ for Asianet Plus, which, as the title goes, tells you stories about the movies that became milestones in Malayalam cinema. Hosted by scenarist and writer John Paul, who has himself created some unforgettable gems in Malayalam cinema and continues to be an integral part of the movie industry, the show turns the camera on the making of cinema and the people associated with it. Ananthapadmanabhan is also the producer of a cookery contest on Asianet Plus, ‘Ningalkum Aakaam Super Chef’. Here he talks about his shows…
‘Katha Parayumbol’ and the story behind it
It was my idea to begin a show like this. The channel honchos liked the idea and I managed to convince John Paul to host. He has an intimate association with the Malayalam film industry and is a walking encyclopaedia of trivia, facts and information about Malayalam cinema. He is an innate storyteller and it is wonderful to listen to him talk about the film and its making. His phenomenal memory and ability to narrate the gist of the matter help us to keep the viewer entertained and informed. It is a kind of infotainment and a chronicling of contemporary history of Malayalam cinema.
The host
John Paul is certainly the star of the show. His unique style of presentation of anecdotes and facts about each film takes you through the creative process of a film and the people involved in its making. It is not just a dry chronicling of dates, names of people and facts.
For instance while talking about Ninamaninja Kaalppaadukal , he recounted how its director N.N. Pisharody, who had won the president’s award for his work, passed away without any fan fare. Madhu sir was perhaps one of the few stars who came to pay tribute to his memory.
He touches upon the ups and downs of movies and people and the transient nature of fame and success. In another episode, he recounted how Summer in Bethlehem was planned as a Tamil movie with Manju Warrier and Prabhu and the circumstances that made it a Malayalam film instead.
So who selects the movies?
We do it together. Asianet has a rich library of films and some of it has not been aired for a long time. So we try to choose films that stand out for one reason or the other. Beena Ranjini does the research for the movies and, occasionally, we prepare a script and send it to John sir. However, he rarely uses it for the show. He might have read it but the way he narrates is completely his own.
He does not tell viewers the story of the film. Instead, he talks about interesting anecdotes during the shooting of the film, about the stars, the technicians… He talks about the genesis of a movie, how M.T. Vasudevan Nair and I.V. Sasi became a hit pair…The show, which began as a daily, has completed more than 60 episodes. Now, it has become a weekly. Each episode focusses on one film.
Which were your favourite episodes?
There are several. For instance, there was one on Priya , directed by Madhu sir. Not many are even now aware of such a film and its importance. We were able to show snippets of the film. Another one that I enjoyed was on Nirmalyam . We were able to include footage of a previous interview of MT talking about the film. John Paul also talked about how my father [the late Padmarajan] was the person responsible for a one-line story of My Dear Kuttichathan . Now, cinematographers, directors and composers also participate in the show.
Is it difficult to shift gears to a cookery show?
Not at all. In fact, it is quite a popular show. Three contestants are selected and they are asked to prepare a dish based on an ingredient, theme or a single dish itself. Their culinary skills are judged by a chef.
(‘Katha Parayumbol’ airs at 8.20 a.m. and 12 midnight on Saturdays; ‘Ningalkkum Aakam Super Chef’ on Saturdays at 1 p.m. on Asianet Plus)
