Congress leader looks upon films as alternative career

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 21 (IANS) Rajmohan Unnithan, a firebrand Congress leader in Kerala, reared and consequently dumped by his political mentor K. Karunakaran, now has a new career - acting in movies.

Unnithan shot into prominence when former Congress leader Karunakaran made him a spokesman at the height of the party's squabbles. His crisp dialogue delivery, mastery over the Malayalam language and the manner in which he handled tough questions from the media attracted film director Shaji Kailas, who signed him for his first film, "The Tiger."

Now after his first release, Unnithan says offers are pouring in.

Earlier after falling out with Karunakaran, Unnithan was totally sidelined in the Congress party just before the May 2004 Lok Sabha poll.

Not one to be left brooding, Unnithan went full blast and launched a tirade against the Karunakaran family through routine press conferences.

This actually gave director Shaji confidence to sign Unnithan for his first film.

With the signing and shooting for his first film, Unnithan's fortunes within the party soared. He was then made an All India Congress Committee member and appointed chief coordinator of the recent Thiruvananthapuram by-election.

Unnithan, however, feels that his party left him in wilderness after the Congress candidate was defeated in the Thiruvananthapuram constituency.

He told IANS: "I am really disappointed because after the loss, the state unit did not even call me for the meeting that was convened to discuss the candidate's defeat, despite my being chief coordinator for the poll."

So he is now going ahead with the new film offers after his first film's release last week.

Since the film's release, his phone has not stopped ringing, as he is flooded with calls lauding his performance from his friends and more importantly from the film industry.

He said: "Since the release, I have had at least half a dozen top directors calling me up and saying that they want me in their next project."

Putting aside his political ambitions for the time being, Unnithan is busy wrapping up the shooting for "Balaram Vs Taradas" a film by veteran director I.V. Sasi, where he plays a villain.

Superstar Mammootty is in a double role, while Unnithan plays an important character in the film.

Unnithan said: "I am happy that directors treat me with respect and Sasi even rewrote a portion of the script when I said I do not want to be portrayed as a traitor in his film."

But Unnithan said politics remains his first love and he would dump his fledgling film career any day if the party wants him to.

He added: "Of course I want to be more active in politics and I wish my party would give me the space for it. If not, I will have to look upon films as my new career."

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The Tiger