Pattinte Palazhi is a peep into female psyche

So we chose a subject that would appeal to the family audience. For the lead role too,we opted for the popular actress Meera Jasmine. She plays a Muslim woman in the film. The producer,who has invested in the film,should be safe and hence such choices. The initial reports point out that families are coming to watch the movie in large numbers all across the state and that they like it.

Another thing that I’d like to point out is that Meera Jasmine’s Muslim characters have always been accorded a warm welcome by the audience,like in Paadam Onnu Oru Vilaapam and Perumazhakaalam. Muslim women like seeing her in such roles too.

Now that it’s the holy month of fasting,and we are sure that Muslim families too would flock to the theatres after Ramzan. That’s the feedback we have been getting. The film’s going to be a family hit.

Can you reveal the box-office collection details?
It’s too early to divulge the figures. The film is going smoothly. And as I said,it’s the Muslim women who are Meera Jasmine’s stock audience. So we can come up with the exact box-office figures only after Ramzan ends.

What is your message through the film?
Pattinte Palazhi takes a peep into the heart of a woman. It’s not to be mistaken as just the story of a woman. It’s more of an exploration of the female psyche.

It’s the story of someone for whom nothing is as important as her intense desire to sing. But she is forced to forsake that ambition and remain a mere wife and a mother tending to her duties towards her family. There are lots of such women in our society,but they all get resigned to their fate. But our protagonist Veena is different.

The film was expected as a musical. How well has it been accepted as one?
It has been accepted thoroughly well as a musical. The songs are being loved and appreciated. In fact ,the songs appeal when you hear them,not the kind of songs that find an instant appeal. The songs have some amount of depth akin to the melodies of earlier days.

The background score of the movie,composed by the young Balabhaskar,has been appreciated a lot. He has put in some solo violin compositions too for the song.

Anyway,I’d like to point out that all the songs in the film are situational and relevant. The songs and the music are integral to the film’s plot,characters and the protagonist Veena’s life.

What was the reason that you had a long gap between films?
My last movie,Made in USA,was released in 2005. But I won’t say that there is a gap in my career. As you know,I am also a sculptor and an artist and am engaged in two major projects.

On one hand,I am making the lotus-shaped Parnashala at the Shanthigiri Ashram and on the other hand,I am engaged in the work for the Jatayu sculpture at Chadayamangalam,which would be the biggest functional sculpture in Asia. So,as you see,there is no break at all for me.

What are your future projects?
I’m making a 3-D film that will have humour as its main element. Popular actors like Innocent,Jagathy Sreekumar and Mamookoya – those who deliver humour of the refined kind- will be part of the cast.

The most interesting aspect is that the hero of the film is a mango tree. The film will deal with a social issue with an aim to create an awareness about the environment. There would be a certain amount of depth to it. Dr.Rajendra Babu and noted cartoonist Yesudasan are penning the script.