Thalappavu is a multilayered film - Madhupal

Thalappavu is a film that means much for Madhupal. The Thiruvananthapuram-based director who is known to the average film-goer as an actor and known in certain circuits as a writer and film-buff too, is making his directorial debut on the big screen with Thalappavu, which very likely is going to be a film worth a watch.

Madhupal is making the film with utmost diligence, putting in all the wealth of experience he has gained over the years and crafting the film with the full-fledged support of everyone in his team, including the scenarist Babu Janardhanan, cinematographer Azhagappan, actors Prithviraj, Lal etc. Thalappavu is inching towards completion.

Madhupal has a serious approach to films and is a lover of meaningful cinema and a regular at all film-festivals. Thalappavu is much more than a mere debut film for him. He opens up about his debut directorial venture in a chat with Unni Nair of nowrunning.com on the sets of the film. Excerpts:

The media is abuzz with the report that Madhupal is making a film based on the killing of naxalite Verghese and the consequent developments. Why at all did you choose such a subject for your maiden film?

Let me clarify something first. The incident which you mentioned, the killing of Varghese, could have formed the basis of the story narrated in Thalappavu. The protagonist in the film, played by Prithviraj, is a kind of rebel, and can be compared to Varghese or any person who takes up arms to fight against a system which he finds to be faulty. The film has as its base the killing of a naxalite youth by the police in the 1970's, and it is on this that the whole plot is founded. Thalappavu is actually a multilayered film, one that zooms in on diverse issues. The issue in prime focus is that of friendship. The film depicts a very strange kind of friendship, that between a policeman and a person who has taken up arms against the system and is seen by the law as a criminal, someone to be got rid of. The policeman and the rebel meet accidentally and become very close. But the destiny of their friendship is going to be rather queer. The policeman, as part of performing his duty, is forced to shoot and kill his friend.

What else is discussed in the film?

Thalappavu focuses on social and political issues too. As I said earlier, we have a revolutionary as one of the key characters in the film, someone who reacts violently against a system he considers corrupt and is willing to take up arms and fight a bloody battle. Whether this is right or wrong is another matter. What we are striving to point out through this film is that it is always a desirable thing to be able to react to what is happening around us. This is a trait which our new generation doesn't seem to have or care a whit about. By speaking about such a theme, we are conveying a very strong message to the generation of today.

So, the film is set in the 1970's, since the killing of a naxalite youth by the police can fit only that period in Kerala's history. So, aren't you attempting some kind of a period film?

No, I didn't say that the film is fully set in the 1970's. The killing of the young naxalite Joseph by the policeman Raveendran Pillai, the incident from which the story of the film takes off, is of course based in the 1970's. But we travel down time to the present day. Since we have the present day too as the backdrop of the film, things of relevance in today's socio-political situations are also discussed in Thalappavu.

Tell us how this film happened?

I had always desired to make a film of this kind, something worthwhile and meaningful, as my debut film. But the credit for its genesis goes primarily to the scenarist Babu Janardhanan and then to actor Prithviraj. It was Babu Janardhanan who came up with this thread, all developed into a perfect story. He discussed the story with Prithviraj, who was only too eager to do the film. Raju (Prithviraj) asked Babu Janardhanan to suggest a director and Babu, with whom I share a good rapport and who knows me very well, suggested my name. That is how the film began.

So, how are things going on the sets?

Things are progressing very smoothly. Everyone here is involved to the core in the making of the film. Cameraman Azhagappan, scenarist Babu Janardhanan, actors Lal and Prithviraj and everyone else in the team, is fully involved. They all share the same kind of enthusiasm that I feel about the film. There is perfect team work here. And things are moving as per our schedules without any hassles at all.

Don't you think the film will be too heavy for the ordinary viewer, taking into view the subjects discussed?

No, not at all. We have taken great care about the packaging of the film. The ordinary viewer, whom I don't dare to underestimate in any way, will find that this is a film that is close to his life and heart. Everything that goes to make a good, sensible film worth being watched and enjoyed by a family audience is there. There is drama; there is action; there is sufficient dosage of sentiments; there are songs and there is some humour too, good wholesome humour. And the film features very popular stars like Prithviraj, Lal, Jagathy Sreekumar, Rohini etc. Won't our average film-viewers, who I think are not averse to giving space to such well-intentioned films, like to come and see the film?

So, you are very optimistic about the box office outcome of the film?

Very much indeed!

All the best to you and your team!

Thanks.

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Thalappavu