When you see Jayaram with his prankster smile, you instantly know what’s in store. The title of Shajoon Kariyal’s latest flick has a historic ring, but it has no connection with the erstwhile Diwan of Travancore. “In the film, CP is an acronym for Chettimattathu Philip, the principal of a high-tech private college. This institute offers all kinds of degrees from all kinds of universities. If you pay half a crore, you can walk out with a foreign university doctorate,” says S Suresh Babu, scenarist of Sir CP.
Along with Jayaram, who plays the title role, yesteryear actors Seema and Rohini step into two important roles as sisters Mary and Kochu Mary. “The film is basically their story, the tales of their struggle and survival,” he adds. They enter Kuttanad as refugees, still reeling under the trauma of a landslide that claimed the lives of their dear ones. “The two teenage girls start afresh, but like all single women they have to brave many odds. They raise their nephew Philip as their own son, and now they are the most affluent business family in Alappuzha,” he explains.
According to the scenarist, Sir CP is more of a family drama than an outright comedy. “The film has a strong undercurrent of humour along with all other ingredients that make it an out-and-out entertainer,” he says. Honey Rose, who is paired opposite Jayaram in the film, plays Alice, the college PRO. CP is smitten not by her beauty, but by her English. “Though he is the principal, CP hasn’t cleared his SSLC exams yet and keeps trying secretly. Alice is a well-educated girl and he is easily drawn to people who speak fluent English. So, theirs is an unusual love story,” he adds.
CP is surrounded by a handful of sidekicks — all of them old students of his college. They are goons by profession, but always at the beck and call of CP Sir. He is a vain businessman, who tries every trick in the book to stay in news. “He brings out music albums and though they are done by professionals, he claims all the credit. The covers will have just one name — Chettimattathu Philip,” he says.
Vijayaraghavan, who appears in another key role, plays Pisharadi, CP’s school teacher. “They share a special bond,” he adds. Hareesh Peradi, Sudheer Karamana, Biju, Bheeman Raghu and Mukesh Nair are also part of the cast. The film, produced by M K Nassar and Stanly Consara S under the banner of Goodline Productions, is expected to hit the screens shortly.