When a mismatched pair is thrown onto the screen, there’s bound to have some fun and fireworks. And this time around it hits the wildest, wackiest point rolling out a full-on festival entertainer. “2 Countries’ will be a crisp comedy-drama replete with all ingredients to make it a delightful watch,” says Shafi about his Christmas release starring Dileep and Mamtha Mohandas in the lead.
As its tagline puts it, 2 Countries is the ‘story of two country fellas’ played by the lead stars. “Ullas Kumar, the one from India, is a small-scale fraudster who dreams of making it big one day. Laya, Mamtha’s character is a Malayali girl born and brought up in Canada. The film captures the fun when this incompatible couple from two different parts of the globe come together,” says the director. The film also boasts of an impressive cast that includes Aju Varghes, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Mukesh, Jagadeesh, Makarand Deshpande, Vijyaraghavan, Isha Talwar and Srinda.
Shafi says the USP of his film will be the little surprises tucked into the narrative to keep the audience hooked. “Basically it has everything people expect out of a Shafi-Dileep entertainer. This film will bring back Dileep in his most popular avatar as the cool-and-funny fella. I hope that just like my previous films 2 Countries will help the audience unwind and laugh their hearts out.” He adds Laya, the heroine of the film, is on an equal footing with the hero, the very reason he cast Mamtha. “I wanted a performer rather than a star for the role. Only a brilliant actress could pull of Laya and Mamtha handled it beautifully,” he says.
Though 2 Countries is high on humour, it also has an interesting storyline, says Shafi. “It’s not just a long string of comic situations, but comes with an intriguing plot as well. Just like ‘Kalyanaraman’, there is a story and the hero is much more than a mere comedian,” he says.
2 Countries has Rafi as its scenarist while Gopi Sunder scores the music. “Santana Krishnan, a new DOP makes his debut through the film. He is just 21 years old and is the son of cinematographer Ravi K Chandan,” says Shafi. The film, produced by Ranjith under the banner of Rejaputhra Visual Media, will hit the screens next week.
Basically it has everything people expect out of a Shafi-Dileep entertainer. This film will bring back Dileep in his most popular avatar as the cool-and-funny fella