MT Vasudevan Nair Filmmaker Hariharan says, I am happy to be able to make memorable films with MT

(From left) MT Vasudevan Nair, actor Mammootty and filmmaker Hariharan. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangements

Collaborating with MT Vasudevan Nair has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my long career in cinema. All this screenwriter T. It started with an informal remark by Damodaran. During the rehearsal of one of his plays in Kozhikode, he told me and MT that it would be great if we both worked together in a film. MT said that he had seen my film and liked my art. I definitely read everything he wrote.

He asked me to feel that any of his published stories could work as a film. i chose Idvazhiye poocha mindpoocha. This was a new experience for someone who had only made commercial films till then. The film became a huge hit, and it proved that artistic films can also succeed at the box office.

We went on to collaborate on many films. I am happy that together we can make the most popular films in Malayalam, viz Oru vadakkan veergatha, amritam gamaya, parinyam and Panchagni. We used to have a lot of discussions before he started writing the script.

There was news that a boy had died due to ragging in a medical college Amritam Gamaya. I had potential for this film and he came up with a great script.

Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha Initially the plan was to cast Prem Nazir in the lead role, but the original producer had a difference of opinion with me, and then PV Gangadharan came along. I remember that MT did careful research before writing the script. He was done with that Pajahassi King Also. He wanted to bring to the fore the role played by Pazhassi in the fight against British rule.

for the PanchagniNaseeruddin Shah played the male lead. But later I decided to cast Mohanlal who wanted to work with me. He did a great job, and it remains one of his best performances. Among my fondest memories are the letters he sent about the construction vellum In 1985. He admired my attempt to shoot the flood (remember, there were no computer-generated graphics).

MT was a notable screenwriter. His contribution to the art of screenwriting in Malayalam cinema was immense. I still remember Nazir speaking in awe of MT after the performance Murappannu, His first screenplay. He told me that MT’s dialogues were natural, hence different from the usual style in Malayalam cinema at that time.

(As told to PK Ajith Kumar)