Mohanlal remembers late wordsmith MT Vasudevan Nair and the unforgettable moments they shared: ‘He came all the way just to watch my plays’

Express Exclusive | ‘We can compete with Hollywood,’ says Mohanlal; recalls creating one of the first pan-Indian films

The widespread desire to see Mohanlal as Bhima goes beyond his stardom and it stems from the deep belief that only he can do justice to such a monumental, layered and complex character. Mohanlal’s previous collaborations with MT stand as a testament to his ability to bring intricate characters to life with unmatched precision and notable examples include Sadayam (1992), Amrutham Gamaya (1987), Thazhvaram (1990), Panchagni (1986) and Uyarangalil (1984), among others.

“I had the honour and blessing of working on 10-12 films with him, all of which were remarkable. Most recently, I did Olavum Theeravum with Priyadarshan (a featurette in the anthology streaming series Manorathangal, based on MT’s various short stories). His scripts are incredibly strong and packed with values and emotions. He knew how to create magic with short sentences, something only MT sir could achieve. I’m nobody to comment on his literary genius — after all, he’s a Jnanpith awardee. But I was fortunate to work with him on many films and we shared beautiful moments. There was a time when he came all the way to watch my plays, which speaks to the bond we shared,” Mohanlal shared during an exclusive chat with SCREEN.

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The Malayalam superstar also highlighted that the timeless brilliance of MT’s scripts owes much to the legendary directors who brought them to life. “His films, like Thazhvaram, remain iconic because they were directed by greats like Bharathan and IV Sasi, and, more recently, Priyadarshan. It was Priyan’s dream to direct a script by MT Vasudevan Nair,” he mentions.

Reflecting on adapting MT’s 1957 short story Olavum Theeravum, Mohanlal emphasised its significance for both him and Priyadarshan. He also recalled the 1970 adaptation of the story, directed by PN Menon, with Madhu, Ushanandini, Jose Prakash and Philomina in the lead roles. In the latest version, their roles were reprised by Mohanlal, Durga Krishna, Hareesh Peradi and Surabhi Lakshmi, respectively. “Olavum Theeravum (1970) is one of the best Malayalam films and it marked a significant shift in the industry, moving it from studios to outdoors. It’s a small piece of short story that could be a five-minute movie, but we created a 45-minute featurette, while the 1970 film ran over two hours. MT sir’s passing is a profound loss for our literature. He was a great soul who created magic with his pen and I will always treasure the unforgettable moments we shared.”