Genres and generations may come and go, but Sathyan Anthikkad is not one to shed the tag that defines him. He insists on being called the man of the family audience. Satyan’s films are about relationships that mould you. There is a father, a mother and roots that ground the hero.
And his next, Dulquer Salmaan-starrer Jomonte Suvisheshangal, is no different. As the ace director prepares for the release of his next, he talks to City Express about the challenges of staying relevant in the era of social media and how Dulquer Salmaan continues to amaze him.
The trailer of Jomonte
Q)Suvisheshangal is out and the first look gives us an impression of another family subject. Tell us more about the movie?
It is definitely a family entertainer. The whole concept revolves around a father and son. Mukesh plays Vincent, father to Joemon played by Dulquer. They share an amazing bond and it is through their viewpoint that the movie progresses. Mukesh has played Vincent so well and the movie reflects their chemistry, too. Anupama Parameswaran and Iswarya Rajesh plays the two lead ladies.
Q)You seem to be very vocal about Dulquer’s acting skills.
Yes, his commitment towards cinema is unparalleled. He is a very professional artist and well-prepared on set. That is one quality he shares with his dad. Mammootty, too, is very committed to films. After working with Dulquer, I rang up Mammootty and told him that Dulquer was born to be an actor. He has that gene in him. Also, he is not someone who uses his father’s label.
Q)You were trolled for your comments on Dulquer.
I don’t even look or listen to such social media rubbish. If I want to say anything, I do it on my Facebook account. I don’t think such insensitive comments need to be even looked at. It is always better to ignore criticism that doesn’t help you in your growth.
Q) Are you making a gradual shift towards younger actors. You have worked with Fahadh Fazil in Oru Indian Pranayakadha (2013). Now its Dulquer Salmaan. Is it a concious effort?
Not at all, I don’t put any sort of concious effort. I don’t pick a subject or cast people to prove anything. I have a style of movie making and if there is a subject or a story that appeals to me, I make it a movie. But, when I plan any movie, I feel like a debutant. I am tense about its outcome, but there is no concious effort as such to prove a point.
Q) How tough is it staying relevant in these competitive times?
I believe that amongst all these so-called new-gen waves,I still have a space. That may be because I do everything possible to stay updated. Then, positioning myself as a viewer does help. I go back to Anthikkad after every movie and live like a normal man. That helps me view things in a new perspective. And, I am aware of the changing times too. The industry as such has changed. Sreenivasan is my friend and colleague, but I know I have to compete with his son Vineeth Sreenivasan now.