Lal Jose - Ready for next venture

Lal Jose, who began his career with Oru Maravathoor Kanavu, is now counted among the most promising filmmakers in Malayalam. If with Meesha Madhavan and Classmates he became a sensation at the box office, he won rave reviews and critical appreciation with Achanurangaatha Veedu, which was shown in the Malayalam Cinema Now Section of the recently concluded 11th IFFK. He has carved a niche for himself among the elite filmmakers of Kerala.

Born in Vallapad in Thrissur, Lal Jose completed his education at Ottapaalam and then made his entry into films as an assistant to noted director Kamal. He worked with Kamal in almost 16 films. He also worked as associate director to prominent filmmakers like Thampy Kannamthaanam, Lohitadas, Harikumar, Vinayan, K.K. Haridas, and Nizar. Then in 1998, he made his debut as an independent director with the Mammootty-starrer Oru Maravathoor Kanavu, scripted by Sreenivasan. His next ventures were Chandranudikuunna Dikkil and Randaam Bhaavam.

It was in 2002 that Lal Jose, teaming up with scenarist Renjan Pramod who had earlier scripted Randaam Bhaavam, came up with Meesha Madhavan, which became a phenomenal success. He then went on doing films like Pattalam, Rasikan, Chanthupottu and Achanurangaatha Veedu. With his last release Classmates, which is on its way to a record box office collection, he has proved that he is here to stay. On his visit to Thiruvananthapuram in connection with the just concluded IFFK, Lal Jose talked to Unni Nair of nowrunning.com about himself and his films. Excerpts:

Let us begin with Meesha Madhavan, the film that catapulted you into the big league. Tell us how that happened.

While doing Randaam Bhaavam itself, Ranjan Pramod and I had decided to do a film with Dileep. We had even got Dileep's dates. When Randaam Bhaavam bombed, we were at a loss, not knowing what to do. Anyway we had Dileep's dates and fortunately, about that time we came upon a story narrated by a friend, about a real-life thief in his village. That developed into Meesha Madhavan.

What prompted you to cast Salim Kumar in a serious role in Achanurangaatha Veedu?

When I made Meesha Madhavan and Chanthupottu, I knew that only Dileep could do justice to those roles. And similarly when I decided to make Achanurangaatha Veedu, scenarist Babu Janardhanan had made a rough sketch of the main character, Samuel. The sketch resembled Salim Kumar and that was it.

Coming to Classmates, what actually prompted you to make the film?

The story that was told in the film has much in parallel to my college life. When I studied in the NSS College, Ottapaalam, I too was member of such a gang. We used to meet on the banks of the river Bharathapuzha. There was a singer in our group too, named Dinesh, who is now in Chennai. Most of the characters in Classmates have similarities to my college-friends. And when scenarist James Albert who had had his college days almost at same time as I had mine joined me, it all came together really well. When I was searching for a new subject after Rasikan, James Albert had come to me to narrate a story. When I heard it I was hooked. That is how Classmates evolved.

Did you expect such a success at the box office?

To be frank, we were all tensed up till the release date. We were of course confident about the subject. But the narrative was different as far as mainstream cinema is concerned. The way we linked the past with the present and the way we worked out and sequenced the flashbacks were different. We were worried whether the average cinemagoer would accept this. On the day of the release when we got positive calls during the interval, we were re-assured. We knew that things would work out well.

What, in your view, is the prime reason for the tremendous success enjoyed by Classmates?

The main reason is the nostalgia factor. Sukumaran, Pious, Satheeshan Kanjikuzhi, Thara Kurup, Murali, Raziya - such characters are there on almost all campuses. The intensity of romance and campus politics as depicted in the film too evokes nostalgia. The packaging of the film and the narration too worked out well. The songs including the not-so-peppy "ente khalbile..." appealed to the viewers and have become hits.

So, you are happy with the film's success?

I am happy. But I won't say I am thrilled. Success and failure don't affect me as much as they did earlier. I give the best I have to every film I make. If a film is not received well by the audience, I sympathize with the producer who placed his trust in me. But things have to go on and I move ahead with my next film. Same is the case with films that become success stories. After every film, we have to keep going.

So, what about your next film?

My next film will be set in Dubai and will tell the story of a middle-class man who goes to Dubai from Kerala to clear a debt. Sreenivasan will be doing the lead role. The film will be shot in Dubai and will focus on the dreams and aspirations of Malayalees in the Gulf. It will discuss some other relevant matters too. Things are being worked out.

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Classmates