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Malayalam film star Mammootty, who has given a brilliant performance in
his recent "Kayyoppu" (signature), says that awards are like appetizers
that give momentary satisfaction, but one yearns for them again after a
while.
"Awards
are like appetizers or meals. You are satisfied when you have them. But
you always need more. I expect an award every year," Mammootty, who has
won three National Awards, told IANS in an interview.
Mammootty
was in the national capital last week, along with filmmaker Ranjith,
for a special screening of "Kayyoppu". The film attempts to explain the
trauma of innocent victims of terror through the story of a struggling,
introvert but genius writer, played by the superstar.
The movie, which looks intensely personal in the first half, culminates into a relatively universal issue - terrorism.
Through
"Kayyoppu", the director and the actor say they wanted to present to
the "intelligentsia and audiences the devastation caused by mindless
acts of violence and also underline the almost fatalistic existence in
today's times".
Asked why he picked the theme of terrorism,
which many believe is not an issue as serious in the south as in
northern India, Ranjith said: "It's a movie for the victims of
terrorism. Their trauma is the same - be it in Beirut, Iraq, New Delhi
or in Kozhikode."
He added: "It is to remind one that it could happen anywhere, any time."
Through
the protagonist Balachandran, whose life is immersed in the world of
books, Ranjith has also tried to look at the diminishing reading habits
of the highly literate Malayali community.
Ranjith's earlier cinematic works include the romantic "Nandanam", action thriller "Prajapathi" and action drama "Ravanaprabhu".
According
to Mammootty, the movie is also about love. In the film, Balachandran,
who preferred to be an intellectual hero in his younger years, gets
ready to embrace his old romance - Padma (played by Khushboo) - when
she returns to Kerala after a failed marriage.
"It shows you
can fall in love at any time, any age or any moment. Nothing matters in
love," said the ace actor, who has over 300 films to his credit.
Mammootty, who played a number of offbeat roles last year, said he was keen to get a "variety" of roles to play.
"I
do glamour (roles) to remind people that I am still glamorous," he
chuckled. He pointed out that his just-released "Mayavi", in which he
plays a typical mass 'masala' hero, has been doing well in theatres.
"I
have great hopes for my next film in which I will be playing Pazhassi
Raja, (a historical figure of Kerala who raised the first revolt
against colonial rule)," Mammootty said.
By Liz Mathew, Indo-Asian News Service
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