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Mohanlal turns director with Barroz 3D

The film is a period venture set in Portugal. 

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Mohanlal

By Jyothi Venkatesh

Mohanlal Viswanathan, known as Mohanlal, is not only an Indian actor, film producer, playback singer, film distributor, and director who predominantly works in Malayalam film industry besides also having sporadically appeared in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Kannada films.

After four decades of acting, the Malayalam star has finally decided to turn director. Mohanlal has now directed a 3D film titled Barroz – Guardian of Da Gama’s Treasure. The film is a period venture set in Portugal.  The actor was present along with the cinematographer of his film Santosh Sivan at the launch. Mohanlal’s first film as a director which introduces the 17-year-old music prodigy as the music director, with five songs including a Portuguese folk song and an underwater sequence song, is billed as one of the most-ambitious projects ever made in the Malayalam film industry.The film has a different layer of emotion in 3D. I want every viewer to step into the theatre to explore its magic with a very open mind.”

When I got the opportunity to catch up with the actor in Malayalam at his trailer launch at PVR Icon in Mumbai, I asked him how the idea of him directing a film took shape, he said that a meeting with Jijo Punnoose, the director of India’s fantasy 3D Film My Dear Kuttichathan, made it possible.

“At the outset, let me frankly tell you that I never wanted to be a director and direction, believe it or not it just happened. Director TK Rajeev Kumar, who has now assisted me in the making of my film and I had met Jijo to discuss and make a 3D show. He narrated the story of Barroz, which I thought would make for a great film. When the discussion came up as to who will direct, I said I will. Jijo encouraged my decision,” Mohanlal said and added that the film, which revolves around a ghost and a rebellious teenager, was shot in Goa and will also feature many international actors.

Mohanlal added, “We have crafted the film by designing it for all the kids as well as adults alike but I do not know frankly how my film has shaped up and how it will fare at the box office turnstiles. Frankly I would say that I was guided and blessed by some unseen spirits. To do the impossible is a big challenge for an actor or for that matter a filmmaker. I was just a tool when I made Barroz and I would give all the credit to all my technicians for making the film what it is ultimately”.

Also read: Rajinikanth: Fans and their frenzy for the superstar

Akshay Kumar was the chief guest at the event. When asked about Akshay playing the protagonist in Priyadarshan’s films, a director he has also often worked with, Mohanlal said, “You can’t compare actors. They are totally different – in terms of the costume, characters they are playing or even their body language. I have seen most of Akshay’s movies that Priyadarshan has remade, and he is a brilliant actor. He is a 100% professional actor. You cannot compare one actor with the other. I have acted in not just one or two but 45 films with Priyadarshan as the director. Priyadarshan’s first film was with me as an actor and his 100th film will also be with me hopefully”.

Mohanlal was frank enough to confess that though he has always admired Akshay for his punctuality, he also confessed that he was not at all as professional as his colleague and joked about not wanting to give any advice to young actors entering the film industry because “I am ‘not that old”, though he has turned 64. Mohanlal’s Barroz which took almost four years to make thanks to the pandemic will be released in theatres on December 27. Mohanlal will also soon star in L2: Empuraan and Kannappa.

Mohanlal added, “I am very glad that actor Allu Arjun has tasted great success with his film Pushpa 2 The Rule. I feel that every film in every language should run well at the box office. It’s like a gatecrash. I did a film long ago called Sazaa E Kala Pani.  That was a Pan-Indian film back then itself. Cinematographer Santosh Sivan only shot that film. He got a National Award. So, somebody should do it. We have all the materials, all the great technicians, artists. But somebody should bring out very different films that can be shown anywhere in the world. So, we are just tools trying to let it happen.”

The makers, while recently unveiling the teaser for the fantasy film, also said in an aside that they are planning to make the Mohanlal – Jithu Madhavan project to be bankrolled by producer Anthony Perumbavoor next year. Mohanlal will be teaming up with another young director Tharun Moorthi for the most eagerly awaited Malayalam drama Thudarum, which will mark the team up of the legendary actors Mohanlal and Shobana, whose pairing in the 1993 hit Priyadarshan film ManichitraThazhu will make the fans rejoice after a very long hiatus.

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