25 years of the Comedy King

Whether I act as a policeman or a domestic servant, I have always tried to make one character different from the other so that the audience gets something out of each of them. I have tried to put in as much variety as possible. Take for instance the role of a policeman. I have played different sorts of policemen in different films- a policeman who loves music, one who speaks in a femininevoice, a drunkard policeman… and so on. And, looking back on my career, I am really contented.

What type of roles give you creative satisfaction?
Roles that have scope for humour as well as emotions give me satisfaction. Characters who see life itself as a comedy and at the same time have sorrows to bear, who wallow in their own sufferings and at the same time see other people’s sufferings – such semi-serious, character roles I’d always love to do. They have in them a mix of pathos and humour and an identity of their own.

Where, in your opinion, does comedy stand in today’s Malayalam Cinema?
Nobody seems to have a clear idea about humour or comedy. There are numerous instances of forced humour designed to evoke laughter. For example, creating a character with a handicap and evoking laughter through it. But real humour has to be treated with seriousness. Only a very few filmmakers have done that in Malayalam. The actors shouldn’t be blamed because they are forced to do such type of clowning. But now things seem to have changed. With our filmmakers learning the art of filmmaking systematically in institutes and foreign films too making their impact, a new generation of filmmakers with a keen sense of humour has started coming up. But still there’s a lot to be improved.

You have attained more popularity than other comedy actors in Malayalam. What, in your own view, could be the reason for this?
I am sure it’s because of the dedication and sincerity that I show towards my profession. Whatever role I have got, I have performed to the best of my ability with sincerity towards each of my characters. Even if my character happens to be poorly etched out, I try to improve it, of course with the permission of the director. I never think that since a particular film is likely to be a flop, I shouldn’t put much efforts. To be frank, it seems to me that dedication and professionalism are missing nowadays. People abroad are very professional and that is why they make better films, quality-wise. Why can’t we too be professional? There may be an opinion that they have more money, while we don’t. This is totally absurd. Songs and dances in Telugu films are shot lavishly spending crores of rupees. Songs in Hindi films are shot in foreign countries. But that is not enough. I agree filmmaking is a business, but still it should not lack in artistic values. If our movies were abounding in artistic values, people wouldsurely go to watch them.

What’s the trend amongst filmgoers?
Trend? See, there is no trend among filmgoers. It is we filmmakers who create trends. Why not make good, well-intentioned films rooted in our culture films that can be seen and enjoyed together by all the members of a family? Why not make films that help in moulding our characters? Our filmmakers should decide, and that too firmly, that we should make only good films, and then the viewers will surely watch these good films. If, on the other hand, viewers, especially those of the younger generation, see soft porno stuff being exhibited in theatres, they’d naturally be attracted towards them. They’re not to be blamed. It is we filmmakers who have to decide. Not just the filmmaking fraternity in Kerala, but filmmakers throughout the country should join hands and do something about it.

In countries like Iran, there are strict rules that films degrading their cultures should not be made and shown. Films that mislead children have been banned. We too have to impose such a discipline on ourselves. In my childhood days, I had seen many films based on mythological subjects, films which used to teach us good things like respecting parents, teachers etc. Of course, such films were made with commercial interests, but still they had a good influence on a whole generation. But today’s children, in their growing years, get to see only ads and films encouraging the wrong set of values. Even films based on historical subjects are not made. The producers point out that such films are not commercially viable. It is true only because certain other types of films are taking the upper hand in the box office. We have created this situation. We have to find the solution too. Of course we should make use of the latest technologies in filmmaking. We should also keep the commercial aspect in mind. But we shouldalso take sufficient care that our films do not mislead the younger generation.

Wrong values should not be encouraged. If at all wrong things, for example, using drugs, alcohol etc, are to be shown on the screen as may be rendered necessary by the theme, we should also hint at the consequences. Morals should be taught through films.

You had donned the mantle of a director a couple of times during your career. What were your experiences?
Yes, I have directed two films Annakutty Kodambakkam Vilikkunnu and Kalyana Unnikal. That I had done with the sole intention of getting familiar with the art of direction and learning something about it. And I had realised that directing is not my cup of tea.

Would you venture into production?
I might because I want to make a good film, a film which can be viewed by all. There will be a lot of humour because I love humour.

Whom do you consider as your role model, as far as comedy is concerned?None other than my father. He used to be a respected person in the literary circuits of Thiruvananthapuram. He and some of his friends used to associate themselves with a theatre group called ‘Kalavedi’ and stage plays of their own. One of the plays that my father wrote and staged is Japan Deivam, which now I am recreating for the small screen as Hukka Hua Mikado, directed by Ali Akbar. In this serial I am imitating the style of my father to some extent.

What made you take to the small screen?
I am basically an artist and so it doesn’t matter whether I perform on the big screen or the small. The reason why I took to the small screen is rather personal. For years I have been busy with my career and I haven’t been getting sufficient time to spend with my family. Now that the serial is shot in and around Thiruvananthapuram, I am mostly at home with my wife and my children.

Could you name a character that you would love to do in future, sort of a dream role?
Yes, there is one such character, a character taken from the history of the erstwhile Travancore Kingdom.

I would very much love to do the role of Ramaiyyan, the dalava in the court of Marthanda Varma, the valiant king of Travancore.