The euphoria at his home was almost palpable. It was a riot of colors with everything submerged under flowers and bouquets. His phones never stopped ringing. People were streaming in incessantly to wish super-actor (to call him 'superstar' will be a euphemism, he is much more than that). Mohanlal in his moment of grandeur. Lal has given a series of outstanding performances which remain firmly etched in the collective memory of cinemagoers. In the process he has left a trail speckled with awards and accolades. The histrionic journey he started as a villain in the film 'Manjil Virinja Pookkal' has reached the pinnacle of glory with a third National Award for the best actor, crowning a career that has attracted ever-increasing critical attention and acclaim. It is also perhaps a unique event in world cinema that an actor is receiving the country's top award, that too twice, for his roles in his own productions. Both, earlier Bharatham and now Vanaprastham, were produced by Lal's own production company Pranavam Arts.
Mohanlal and his film 'Vanaprastham' has had raves over the past so many months that it seems almost redundant to point out what a superbly accomplished actor Lal is or what a poignantly executed film 'Vanaprastham' is. But Vanaprastham allowed him to impress in certain ways we had rarely seen before. What renders his performance as Kunjukuttan, the doomed Kathakali artist in the film, so satisfying is his evocation of a soul seeped in professional glory as well as acute personal misery at the same time. He delivers the gut-wrenching moments in the film with unimpeachable pathos, equivalent of notes hit by a singer with perfection.
Here is Mohanlal in his finest hour looking back at and beyond 'Vanaprastham'...
Interviewer : How will you describe your feelings on receiving the National Award for the third time? Did you expect it?
Mohanlal : Well, you know this is a hat-trick for Malayalam cinema with Mammootty bagging the award last year and Suresh Gopi and Balachandra Menon the year previous to that. It is a proud moment not only for me, but every Malayalee. Vanaprastham was not made with an eye on any award. We wanted to make a film which would remain immortal in the annals of Indian cinema. And as an actor I put my heart and soul into it to make that dream come true.
Interviewer : Since 'Vanaprastham' has also been adjudged the best film do you think the director Shaji N.Karun also should have got an award?
Mohanlal : My genuine belief is the award I got, the award the film got are all an award for Shaji sir too because Vanaprastham is the product of his brains, his thoughts, his efforts. This film, like all Shaji-films, received a lot of acclamation and acceptance outside India. 'Vanaprastham' got the best film award at the Istanbul Film Festival too. The hype Shaji Sir got at Canne was unbelievable. Everyone was raving about him. It was indeed a matter of pride that an Indian Director got so much acclaim. Today I got a call from the Rashtrapathi Bhavan, the President wanted to send me a congratulatory note. Even for that I feel indebted to Shaji Sir because he is the one who made 'Vanaprastham' happen.
Interviewer : Can you compartmentalise into phases your growth as an actor from 'Manjil Virinja Pookkal' to 'Vanaprastham?
Mohanlal : I can comfortably say it has been a climbing careergraph..But I don't look back or keep track saying "in such and such an year I did this film which was a turning point or a milestone in my career" etc etc. I live in the present. That doesn't mean I forget my roots or those who made my journey towards where I have reached today possible. I have taken all the good as well as the bad things that have happened in my life and career with equilibrium. I don't get too overwhelmed when good things happen. Nor do I get devastated when things go wrong. Maybe because life has been kind to me.
Interviewer : Did you feel bad about the Kalabhavan Mani incident when you got the State award for this film, how Mani fainted, etc...? And was it not immature of Mani to equate himself with Mammootty and Mohanlal on the basis of just one film?
Mohanlal : I'm sure Mani wouldn't have said anything of that sort. Sometimes what is said is distorted when it comes in print. Artists are emotional beings. Their reflex action is too fast. The industry is like a family. There will be momentary upheavels. Media people blow it up. Otherwise it is all very cool. I'm very happy Mani got the Special Jury Award at the national level. History was repeating itself. In 1989 Mammootty got the best actor award and I got the Special Jury Award for 'Kireedam'. I myself called up Mani and congratulated him. It'll be indeed a historic moment when the 14 award winners representing Malayalam cinema go on the podium one after the other to receive the awards from the President.
Interviewer : It's said the phenomenal success of your film 'Narasimham' has trapped you in the 'superhuman superstar' image, that you'll never again be accepted if you did 'Kireedam', 'Chitram' or 'Pavithram' type of roles....
Mohanlal : The success of 'Narasimham' was undoubtedly unprecedented. It had an unknown magic which no one could define. But there was nothing superhuman about my character in it. Nothing, for example, like bashing up 100 people single-handedly or jumping on a running train and stopping it! See, for the industry wheel to move forward we need hits. Lot of people, even the hotel people and paanwallas who do business at the gates of the theatre benefit from a hit film. It also acts as an incentive for producers to make more hit films. But 'Narasimham' has NOT set a precedent. 'Life is Beautiful', the film that followed and the just released 'Sraddha' were of a different genre. I'm now acting in films by Siby Malayil and Kamal with off - beat themes.
Interviewer : Your critics attribute the failure of 'Life is Beautiful' to the 'superstar' trap...
Mohanlal : It is not true. There is no set formula for hit films. Many people come and tell me you should make films like 'Kireedam or 'Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam' etc. But where are such stories? It's all in the hands of the story-writer, the director. The artists can't do anything about it. It is luck for an artist to get a good story, a good director, good co-stars etc. It's when all these aspects combine together a good film is evolved. And more than anything there is someone up there, a bigger Director directing everything. It's all in His hands.
Interviewer : Why do you think 'Life is Beautiful' failed?
Mohanlal : Your guess is as good as mine. It was a strange story, wife's sister loving her sister's husband. Maybe the Malayalee audience could not digest it.
Interviewer : Was the reshooting of the climax in Madras a damage control exercise?
Mohanlal : The climax as such was not reshot, only some of the dialogues. There were complaints it had vulgar dialogues. There had been films with worse scenes and worse dialogues which passed muster and became hits. May be the audience found it unpalatable in a Mohanlal film.
Interviewer : What about once again doing a totally negative role as in 'Manjil Virinja Pookkal'?
Mohanlal : You are eager to see me getting bashed up by the hero, aren't you?(laughs) Well, jokes apart, if somebody brings a good theme like that I'll be only happy to do it.
Interviewer : Do you think the geographical confines and language barrier come in the way of Malayalam films making it big at the Oscar level?
Mohanlal : Not like that. Many films in languages other than English from small countries win Oscar awards. We had submitted 'Vanaprastham' for Oscar entry but it was not selected. Our people, the concerned authorities should take initiative and more interest in these matters.
Interviewer : Is 'Vanaprastham' the ultimate for you?
Mohanlal : After 'Vanaprastham' comes 'Sanyasam', so say the scriptures.(laughs). Nothing is ultimate. There will be better films and better actors too. Films, like life, are an ongoing process, you know.
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