Would be stuck doing similar films if I succumb to fans’ expectations, says Mohanlal


PTI, Dec 19, 2021, 1:30 PM IST

Mumbai: Mohanlal, one of the biggest superstars of the country, says there are days when he is overwhelmed by the burden of fans’ expectations but the actor says what keeps him from not succumbing to the pressure are his diverse film choices.

The actor, who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema, has featured in nearly 350 films in his career of more than four decades.

Though he enjoys a loyal fan base, Mohanlal said his attempt has always been to pick up different films which don’t restrict him to a certain genre according to the perception of his admirers. His latest war epic ”Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea” is a complete departure from his last film ”Drishyam 2”, a thriller which was released earlier this year.

”There are days when the burden definitely feels too much. Fans want their actor, their hero within their limits. They want their hero to be just their own. We cannot cater 100 per cent to that. Fortunately, I am doing different kinds of films. ”Otherwise I would be doing films only in one league. My films are varied. You cannot compare ‘Marakkar’ with ‘Drishyam’, each film has its own soul and identity. People who want to watch ‘a Mohanlal film’ should give me that kind of freedom too,” Mohanlal told PTI in a Zoom interview.

”Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea” is written and directed by the actor’s longtime collaborator, filmmaker Priyadarshan. The film, which released theatrically earlier this month, premiered on Amazon Prime Video on December 17.

Mohanlal features in the Malayalam magnum opus — set in the late 15th century and early 16th century — as Kunjali Marakkar IV, considered to be one of the greatest naval chiefs of India.

The 61-year-old actor said he had studied about Marakkar in school and how he led the war against the Portuguese invaders. It was also Priyadarshan’s dream to give the story a big screen treatment.

The duo first started thinking about mounting the film after their acclaimed 1996 drama ”Kaalapani”. But back then, the team had to put the idea on the back burner due to financial constraints. ”At that time, it was not easy to make the film because of the cost. After 25 years, we were able to make the film. Back then, it was not easy to get the desired special effects, but now things have changed, the technology and people are available — if you have the budget,” he said, adding they spent a whole year to nail the special effects.

At the 67th National Film Awards announced this year, ”Marakkar” won the best feature film, best special effects, and best costume honours. But Mohanlal said it was not easy to mount a film on such a lavish scale.

”To incorporate everything within 106 days was the biggest challenge. Otherwise we would have spent a year making this film, but we didn’t have that much money and time. Because if the shoot lasted for six months, the cost factor would have gone high. Apart from this, mounting a huge set, filming those tough action sequences were enormously challenging as well,” he said.

The film was shot simultaneously in Malayalam and Tamil. For its streaming run, ”Marakkar” will be available on Prime Video in Hindi and Telugu as well.

After the pan-India success of Malayalam hits like ”Drishyam” (2013) and 2019 action thriller ”Lucifer”, Mohanlal said the team found the perfect opportunity to cater to a wider audience in ”Marakkar”.

What also helped was the mammoth success of Telugu filmmaker SS Rajamouli’s ”Baahubali” franchise, credited as the biggest pan-India blockbuster.

”After films like ‘Lucifer’, ‘Drishyam’, the Malayalam film watching audience had increased, it reached all over India. So we got the opportunity to make a film that could be dubbed and reach a wider audience. So ‘Marakkar’ is in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi. ”This is a costume drama, and after ‘Baahubali’, people have started liking watching movies like these. This film carries different action sequences also, because it is totally about war in the sea, which is not common in films,” he added.

 

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Report on Sambhal mosque survey likely to be submitted to local court; security tight in district

CCI orders probe against Google, affiliates for ‘unfair’ business practices in gaming apps’ listing on Play Store

Mahayuti leaders finalize power sharing pact with Amit Shah; CM’s name awaited

Karnataka govt to spend Rs 2,500 crore to upgrade 500 government schools

My name not mentioned anywhere, says Ex-Andhra CM Jagan on Adani bribe controversy

Three women missing in dense Kerala forest; Search operation underway

Heavy rain forecast: Pondy govt declares holiday for educational institutions on Nov 29, 30

Related Articles More

Tamannaah Bhatia on career: You’re trying to create something impactful with every step

Family court grants divorce to actor Dhanush and Aishwarya Rajinikanth

50 years in the industry feel surreal: Hariharan on childhood, films, and all things music

Telugu actor Shri Tej booked for alleged cheating, false marriage promise

Nagarjuna’s younger son Akhil Akkineni engaged

MUST WATCH

Grafting

Coconut Flower

Prakash Belawadi

Naxal Leader Vikram Gowda

Christmas Cake Fruit Mixing


Latest Additions

Gill returns to nets after recovering from thumb injury

Joint India-Lanka naval operation, 500 kg of crystal meth seized

‘Pakodas for masses, halwa for chosen few’: Congress slams Modi govt as ILO report flags wage inequality

ED raids Raj Kundra, others in pornographic content linked money laundering case

FIR registered against Karnataka seer over his remarks on voting power to Muslims

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.