Changes in Malayalam Cinema and Superstars !

Malayalam Cinema is preparing to make a wholesome change and the charge is led by Ranjith and a band of a youthful directors. It is encouraging that superstars Mohanlal and Mammootty are holding the reins in this effort to lift Malayalam cinema from the abysmal depths of decay it had fallen into. This is evident from the movies being made with these superstars. SPIRIT directed by Ranjith and with Mohanlal in the principal role takes a dig at the youth for their insatiable urge to gulp down large quantities of booze. Newcomer Anoop Kannan directs JAWAN OF VELLIMALA which stars Mammootty and portrays the anxieties and worries of a man living adjacent to a dam. SPIRIT completed shooting in 31 days setting an example in austerity. Normally, a Mohanlal movie would have taken more than one schedule and would have cost more than 5 crores. Likewise, when Prakash Raj, who was envisaged as the anti-hero, demanded 3 crores as his fees, analternative was found in Shankar Ramakrishnan who incidentally wrote the screenplay for URUMI. Besides cost reduction, Malayalamcinema gained a new star. AntonyPerumbavoor, producer of SPIRIT must have heaved a sigh of relief. Actually, Ranjith started this war against extravagance with a spateof low budget movies like KAYYOPPU, PRANCHIYETTAN, INDIAN RUPEE AND THIRAKATHA daring others to travel along unchartered paths. Emboldened by Ranjith, young directors like Rajesh Pillai, Aashiq Abu and Salim Ahammed came out with offbeat films carrying divergent themes. However, films involving mainstream actors continued in the conventional style. Though Mammooty had expressed his willingness to be a part of the new movement through Ranjith films, most of the offers he received were superstar-centred. Mohanlal has also made his intentions clear now by his role inSPIRIT. In a recent award giving ceremony, Mohanlal offered to give dates to any new young director who approaches him with offbeat themes. SPIRIT with Kaniha as heroine, will be released next month and with thesuccess of the movie, more such roles could be expected from Lal. Among superstars, no one has encouraged new directors as much as Mammootty. He had given dates to Lal Jose, Martin Prakkat, Aashiq Abu, Anwar Rasheed, M.Mohanan, Babu Janardhanan and Seenu Sohanlal without second thoughts and hasnow unearthed a new talent in Anoop Kannan who will be directing the new movie JAWAN OF VELLIMALA being produced by Mammootty’s own Play House. Earlier, Anoop Kannan was working as assistant to Lal Jose. Story and screenplay are by JamesAlbert and Mamtha Mohandas actsin the lead female role. Srinivasan has another important role in the movie. The story is woven arounda dam and the inhabitants aroundit and is another movie treading adifferent path.