Advocate, political analyst, film critic and commentator, Louis Pothan is a maverick in the true sense of the word. But the hero of A K Sajan’s ‘Puthiya Niyamam’ is no larger-than-life messiah, but an ordinary middle-class husband. “It’s a family thriller, but nothing too violent or aggressive. The USP of the film is its soft mood and tone,” says the director.
Most of the action in ‘Puthiya Niyamam’ unravels in the two-bed flat of Louis and Vasuki, the lead couple. “Louis, a hardcore communist, believes in middle class values and spends a good share of his time with books. Vasuki, his Brahmin wife, can’t stay away from temples. A trained Kathakali artist, she is the kind of woman whose world revolves around her husband and daughter. She is more of a homemaker who doesn’t fit the definition of a feminist,” he explains.
Though the film is not a heavy-duty comedy, there is a continuous undercurrent of humour.
“It’s not a laugh riot, but contains genuine, subtle humour. And another highlight of the film is its relatable subject. The characters and situations are torn out of middle-class life and they will easily strike a chord with the audience.”
Louis Pothan has his own laws when it comes to certain subjects. “He might justify the long queues in front of bevcos and dissuade his clients from getting divorced. He has this unique, quirky perspective and that’s what the title ‘Puthiya Niyamam’ hints at,” he says. He adds it’s a screenplay completely woven around the lead characters, “they claim 99 percent of reel time. Apart from them there are few important characters as it’s a film totally built on the two,” he says.
Nayantara sports a stunning look for the film and the director ensures she has a solid role as well. “She is not there to play the second fiddle. Just as husband and wife are two equally important elements in a family, she plays a character on par with the hero.” And even before the film has hit the theatres, two top Bollywood actresses have expressed their interest in the script.
“Both Vidya Balan and Kangana Ranaut liked the screenplay. We have arranged for them to watch the film in Mumbai and probably one of them will star in the Hindi remake of the film,” says Sajan. ‘Puthiya Niyamam’, produced by P Venugopal and Geo Abraham under the banner of VG Films, will hit the marquee shortly.