Sibi Malayil (Director) about Mohanlal.

It was winter of 1991-on the sets of ''SADAYAM''. As most sequences required shooting to be done in prison premises-we decided on a single-straight shoot schedule. I remember this particular scene. The situation was like-the character played by Lal (Sathyanathan)-awaiting his death hanging that following night-receives a message that-the sentence has received a stay from the Supreme Court-and his execution is put on hold. The shot sequence had Janardhanan chettan, Murali and Nedumudi Chettan along with Lal on screen. The shot ends with Lal breaking down into tears, falling to the floors with camera zooming in to his expressive emotions-unable to comprehend the sudden joy of getting a few more days to live.

MT Sir was with me, behind the camera during that shot. As cut was called on, all he could do was to take out his thick framed glasses and wipe of his tears. That was a new experience to me-as I had never seen MT Sir crying before. We moved away from the light-and he wept, head down on my shoulder. "I have always considered my pen mightier than any emotive human expression in the world. This man (Lal) has proved me wrong today. Was he (Lal) crying? Was he laughing? Was it that incorrigible pain between these two poles? Maybe only he knows it." MT Sir walked past I expected this. I let out a wry smile. It was Mohanlal on Screen.'' - Sibi Malayil (Malayalam Film Director)