The title reminds you of RKN’s rural idyll, but Malgudi Days is set in the easy hubbub of a hilltop public school. A film by director trio Visakh, Vivek and Vinod, it follows three characters - two pranksters and a mystery man. “Malgudi Days has every ingredient to keep the audience glued. It will be more like an edge-of-the-seat entertainer, something both kids and families can relish,” says Vinod who co-directs the film with his brothers.
Set in the breezy high-ranges of Idukki, the film follows two fourth graders and a stranger who steps into their life. “Atheena, who is caught in a difficult personal situation, takes admission in Malgudi Public School. There she meets Milan, the school’s biggest prankster, and soon they become close friends. The storyline takes a twist when they meet Zephan, a total stranger with whom they form a bond of love and innocence,” he explains. While Baby Janaki and Master Vishal play the roles of Atheena and Milan, Anoop Menon appears as Zephan.
A blend of fun, drama and suspense in equal measures, Vinod says the film is loosely inspired by a news story, a real-life incident that caught the eye of his brother Vivek. “It happened in Nagaland in 2002 and the entire film is built on that. We started working on the script from 2008. It’s basically a film for kids and their parents, it deals with a subject they can instantly connect to,” he says.
Vinod says Zephan is a character leagues apart from Anoop Menon’s usual screen persona. “Zephan has a hint of mystery and it is not something you normally expect,” he says. While Bhama plays Zephan’s wife Janet, Priyanka Nair appears in another key role as Atheena’s mother Swathy. Saiju Kurup, Nobi, Irshad, T P Madhavan, Sathyadev and Sravan are also part of the cast.
Perhaps the first Malayalam film to be directed by three brothers, he says the making of Malgudi Days was an exciting affair. “Having three people invloved means you go through three different stages of bettering the script. While working on it we used to discuss and debate until we reached the best possible option. Moreover, it’s our father who has penned the lyrics of the song Neelmizhi, which is already trending,” he adds. The film produced by V Company will hit the marquee on January 8.