Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha: When Mammootty played a ‘complete loser’ and won a National award for it

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“Chandu is a complete loser in today’s terms,” Mammootty remarked in a conversation with actor-filmmaker Ramesh Pisharody. “But heroes aren’t just those who win — those who choose to let go also show great courage,” he explained. The actor further noted that, in modern parlance, one could even say MT “whitewashed” Chandu. Recalling how he was cast in the role — which earned him his first National Film Award for Best Actor — Mammootty credited the legendary writer, pointing out that no actor was ever cast in an MT script without his approval or consultation.

Opening up about the film’s world, Mammootty shared, “Interestingly, Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha includes nearly all the incidents from the original ballads, especially those related to Unniyarcha (Chandu’s love interest and Aromal’s sister; the character was played by Maadhavi). The film even retains the detail that Aromal Chekavar’s death was caused by the pointed end of a lamp, just as described in Vadakkan Pattukal.” However, he emphasised that MT’s brilliance lay in how he reimagined these events. “MT even incorporated almost all the technical terms in Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha said to have been used by the Chekavars.”

Watch Mammootty’s Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha trailer here:

During the chat, Mammootty also recalled an on-set injury that happened to him when a sword pierced his thigh. Since Kalaripayattu — the martial art in which Chekavars were fluent — was integral to the film, he had to learn it. However, due to time constraints and the fact that it takes many months to master Kalaripayattu, he and other actors only learnt the movements necessary for their scenes. In one sequence, where he had to jump and catch a sword mid-air, he missed the grab and the weapon struck his thigh, causing a wound and blood loss. Despite the injury, Mammootty said, filming continued and the scar remains on his body to this day.

He also revealed that the movie was primarily shot at Kollengode Palace and the Guruvayur Anakotta (elephant sanctuary). When Ramesh Pisharody pointed out that this meant they didn’t bring elephants to the location, but turned the place where the elephants were into their location, Mammootty laughed in agreement.

Mammootty and actor Maadhavi at an event celebrating 101 days of Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha in theatres. (Credit: Instagram/@actress.maadhavi)

When asked if he would approach the role of Chandu differently today, Mammootty said he might opt for a more restrained and nuanced performance. He also reflected on the film’s dialogues, noting that their lasting impact isn’t due to their “mass appeal” but because they resonate with real-life situations. Mammootty concluded the conversation by paying tribute to the many artistes and crew members who contributed to Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha but are no longer with us.

Also starring Suresh Gopi, Maadhavi, Balan K Nair, Captain Raju and Geetha, among others, Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha won four National Film Awards, including Best Actor, Best Screenplay (MT Vasudevan Nair), Best Production Design and Best Costume Design (both for P Krishnamoorthy). While K Ramachandra Babu served as the cinematographer, its editing was handled by MS Mani and the music was composed by Bombay Ravi.