Movies that explored the myriad shades and tones of love, the eternal feeling, has always lit up the screens, not to mention our hearts. Proving that love stories are never an overkill, cinematographer-turned-director Alagappan is out with Pattam Pole, a romantic outing that narrates the tale of a couple, whose friendship matures into love over time.
Pattam Pole, starring Dulquar Salman and Malavika Mohan, is a complete entertainer, according to the director. “The movie is an out-and-out love story happening in Kuttanad. The lead characters are friends who fall in love with each other. Both hail from Kuttanad and live a life that befits a new-gen couple. The movie traces the trajectory of their affair and its consequences,” says Alagappan. He adds that youngsters will connect with the characters. “The hero, a Tamil Brahmin, and his girl are people who you find amongst you. They are your typical ‘people next door’. In that way, the movie is definitely new-gen,” says Alagappan.
However, the ‘family connect’ is not lost here. “There is no story without a family. Here too, the family is involved,” he says. The movie, shot at Kuttanad, Ooty and Kumbakonam, will hit the screens on October 11.
Like any other love story, Pattam Pole relies so much on music. The director says that ‘nostalgic’ music sets the tone in the movie. “Pattam Pole is a musical movie and M Jayachandran has composed some excellent scores. There is a full-length Tamil song and I think this is for the first time that an entire Tamil song is being used in a Malayalam movie. In fact, the progress of the movie depends so much on the songs,” says Alagappan.
The director is full of compliments for Dulqar. “He is very talented and a natural actor. As an actor, he was so concerned about each and every aspect of the movie,” says the director.
Malavika Mohan, daughter of cinematographer K U Mohanan, makes her debut through Pattam Pole. Anoop Menon will be playing a humorous role and Archana Kavi, Lalu Alex, Seetha and Lena essay other roles in the movie.
The director will also crank the camera for the movie which is being produced by Karunakaran of Carlton Films. As for handling the dual departments of camera and direction, Alagappan says he was always with the camera. “Though I was the director, the camera is something like a habit. Cinematography is my passion and is something that needs so much maturity and passion. And as for direction, it was definitely not easy but enjoyable with so much committed technicians and actors,” says Alagappan.
Alagappan says he has more projects in the pipeline. “After Pattam Pole, I am planning another love story. The script is written by two IAS officers and is almost ready. Talks are on and nothing has been finalised yet,” says the director who adds that he plans to explore other genres as well.