Mohanlal On Working With New Directors And Malaikottai Vaaliban’s Failure
Mohanlal is arguably one of the biggest and finest actors in the Malayalam film industry. He has given hits after hits with achieving both commercial and critical acclaim. Having made his debut in 1978 with Thiranottam, which was released 25 years later due to censorship issues. His official debut was in 1980 with Manjil Virinja Pookkal, also the directorial debut of renowned Fazil. The film was a major success, paving the way for his superstardom.
In an interview with Galatta Plus’ Baradwaj Rangan, Mohanlal spoke about working with new directors. He said that several up-and-coming directors are approaching with fresh stories. Referring to his next with Shobana, Thudarum, directed by Tharun Moorthy, the actor revealed that he was also collaborating on a new project with Aavesham and Romancham fame Jithu Madhavan.
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Speaking about the plethora of good directors in the industry, Mohanlal observed the dilemma of him finding the star ‘Mohanlal’ in the characters they offer. “When they narrate the story, I will find Mohanlal in that… They have to wipe it out,” he said.
“To do a film with a new director is a challenge for me,” remarked the actor.
Elaborating, Mohanlal said that in the Malayalam film industry, if a film fails to work, the blame usually falls on the actor. Citing the example of Malaikottai Vaaliban, the actor said that he did the film with “huge expectations,” and although it was a good film, it didn’t turn out well.
He added that “The entire burden will come on my shoulder,” which is why he is careful in picking up stories and collaborating with new directors.
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Expectations were high when Mohanlal teamed up with Lijo Jose Pelliserry for Malaikottai Vaaliban; however, the film received mixed reviews upon its release, with many finding the film’s slow pace tiring. Released on January 25 this year, the film received negative reviews. However, since its OTT release, many have praised the film for Mohanlal’s outstanding performance and the unique approach with its storyline.
On the work front, Mohanlal is looking forward to his directorial debut, Barroz: Guardian of Treasure, which is scheduled for this Christmas, 2024. It is based on the novel by Jijo Punnoose and is being produced by Antony Perumbavoor under Ashirvad Movies. The fantasy thriller will feature an ensemble cast including Maya, Cesar Lorente Raton, Kallirroi Tziafeta, Tuhin Menon, and Guru Somasundaram.
