Director Harikumar through his movies have always put relations under scanner. Whether it’s his much-acclaimed ‘Sukrutham’, a film that used death was a metaphor which altered the lives of many, or the more recent ‘Paranju Theeratha Visheshangal’ about wavering familial ties, his each film has narrated the stories of disheveled individuals. The director says his next movie, ‘Kaattum Mazhayum’ will also deal with conflicting minds, and the only difference will be the introduction of more characters, unlike the previous ones
The national award winning director who is all geared to begin the shooting soon speaks more about the film. “’Kaattum Mazhayum’, as the title implies is about the whirlwind of relations, against the backdrop of present day social setup. A newspaper piece that I chanced to flip through prompted me to think about its cinematic possibilities.”
The director who is a little apprehensive to narrate the storyline, prefers to keep it under wraps. He says, “It is a socially relevant film, mentioning many contemporary issues like religion, organ donation and corroding bonds.”
Unni Mukundan, Lal and Meera Nandan don the major characters who belong to diverse communities.
“Violence in the name of religion, and the need to stay secular in turbulent times are the main ideas that would be discussed,” he says.
He assures that though the subject appears a wee bit didactic, the story will be narrated with a tinge of humour. “Santhosh Echikkanam has written the screenplay of the film, that has every ingredient to appeal to the interests of the viewers. The treatment will be fresh,” he adds.
The film will have two songs, to be penned by Rafeeq Ahmad and the music will be by M Jayachandran. The main shooting lo-cations are Ottapalam and Thalassery. Sudeep Karat and Arun M C will produce the film.
Meanwhile, the director is elated over the recent news that ‘Sukrutham’ is to be remade into Hindi, with Aamir Khan reprising the role of Mammootty in the original.
“Though I will not be directing the movie, I am literally thrilled by the idea. It is heard that Aamir happened to see the movie, and the story impressed him. It is indeed appreciable from his part to like the depth of a regional film that tells the story of a protagonist who is a failed man in life,” says Harikumar.
Harikumar made his debut in 1981 with ‘Ambalpoovu,’ with the late actor Sukumaran in the lead. His latest film was ‘Sadgamaya’, a psychological thriller released three years back.
The director, whose last project was a documentary on veteran music director V Dakshinamoorthy says, “I do not believe in rat race, and would like to take movies only when I have some-thing to tell.”