KOCHI: In the Malayalam film industry, probably the most inspiring tale of rags-to-riches is of Kalabhavan Mani-a school dropout turned auto driver-cum-mimicry artist who enjoyed stardom in three south Indian languages. He rose from an almost impossible situation of a marginalised community to the fame and fortune that he enjoyed.
It was almost impossible to think for a man who belongs to the lowest strata of society to rise beyond the unseen divisions rooted in the Malayalam film industry and forge stardom exclusively for him in three languages through his natural style of acting.
Speaking to ‘Express,’ cine director Sundardass, who gave him the first break in more than two-decade-long career of Mani through his Movie, Sallapam, said “I was confronted with several uneasy questions from the industry during that time for promoting him as an actor”.
Interestingly, some of the actors who approached me seeking role in my next movies, had asked me if Mani could be given a character role or role almost equivalent to hero, why they were not selected. Ultimately it is talent, hard-work, dedication that takes the career of an artist forward and it has nothing to do with his background,” he said.
Mani rose to the most sought after character artist or comedian in the Malayalam film industry in the end of 90s from a humble background. He was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Even a lot of actors can brag about that they had started from scratch and managed to make it big in the industry, his story was different. He had no wealthy parents to brag about. He was born as the eldest son of daily-wage earners the late Kunnisherry Raman and Ammini in 1971 and he became a school dropout due to poverty. His only major achievement during his school time was the certificate he was awarded for bagging first prize in the monoact competition in the state school youth festival held at Kollam in 1987. Later when he knocked the doors of various mimicry troupes, the only background he had to boast about was his natural talent as an actor. But later he reached the position which few can think of, by his hard work and consistent focus on his goals. However, he had also courted controversies and grabbed headlines for wrong reasons and his short-temper several times. Mani was arrested for assaulting a forest range officer and a beat forest officer on duty when they tried to stop him as part of a routine vehicle check up at Kannankuzhi near Athirappilli waterfalls in Thrissur in May 2013. Earlier, the police had also registered a case against the actor in December 2011 for arm-twisting a traffic police constable on duty in a public space. The actor was also facing a trial for allegedly attacking the security person of Dream World amusement park in February 2010.
He was also slapped a fine by the Customs for not declaring possession of a gold bracelet that he was wearing while returning from a foreign trip. Infuriated by the Customs interrogation, the actor had then left the bracelet with the officials, which had also grabbed headlines at that time.
However at the end of the day when Mani, an ardent Left sympathizer, leaves the stage, he proved with his life that it was only true persistence and passion for profession that pays off every time in every circumstance.
