As Priyan Ottathilaanu, his new movie as protagonist reaches theatres, the actor seems to be again at his journey in Malayalam cinema
As Priyan Ottathilaanu, his new movie as protagonist reaches theatres, the actor seems to be again at his journey in Malayalam cinema
When he began his profession, audiences thought that comedy was Sharafudheen’s forte, due to a string of likeable roles, beginning with Girirajan Kozhi, a flirt and bluffer in Alphonse Puthren’s Premam. Then he stunned the viewers with unfavourable roles: because the lecherous Josey in Varathan and the serial killer Benjamin Louis in Anjaam Pathira. Before he bought typecast, there got here Sanu John Varughese’s Aarkkariyam, by which he performed Roy, an easygoing husband burdened by a secret.
Priyan Ottathilaanu, which releases on June 24, has Sharaf taking part in the protagonist. In a telephonic dialog, Sharaf says that individuals would be capable of relate to his character, Priyadarshan. “He is a homeopathic doctor, a middle-class married man with a child. A people pleaser, he finds his personal life in tatters as he is expected to always help others. His ambition and dreams take a backseat. I know a person like him and I am sure there are a lot of Priyans around us,” says Sharaf.
Directed by Antony Sony, who made his mark together with his debut movie, the Manju Warrier-starrer C/O Saira Banu (2017), Priyan Ottathilaanu is written by the scenarist duo of Abhayakumar and Anil Kurian, who’ve movies similar to Punyalan Agarbathis and Chathurmugham to their credit score. “It was Abhay who approached me with the script. I liked it and after some changes in the script, they approached Antony Sony,” says Sharaf. While Aparna Das (final seen in Beast) performs his spouse, Nyla Usha is forged in a major function.
Sharafudheen in a nonetheless from ‘Priyan Ottathilaanu’
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Sharaf observes that regardless that Neeyum Njaanum (2019) is credited as his first film as a hero, he “became the main character during the making process. I was cast as one of the characters initially. But Priyan Ottathilaanu is the first movie I signed with the conviction that I would be able to pull off the role of the protagonist.”
Sharaf feels that he bought proper roles on the proper time. Even as he was driving excessive on comedy with movies similar to Happy Wedding, Pretham, Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela and many others., Jeethu Joseph gave him a severe function in Pranav Mohanlal-starrer Aadhi. But the most important turnaround was Varathan.
His character in Aarkkariyam is his favorite until date. “I could pull it off because of the way Sanu chettan explained the role. He is a man of detailing and was clear about every aspect of the character. People have been extremely appreciative of my work in Varathan and Anjaam Pathira. But after the release of Aarrkariyam, I got appreciation from unexpected quarters. That’s when I realised that each film wins an actor a different set of audience and I cherish that experience,” he says.
Turning producer
In the meantime, he turned producer with Chavittu, which received awards for the second finest movie, finest sync sound and finest choreography on the recently-announced Kerala State Film Awards. Directed by Rahman Brothers, Sajas Rahman and Shinos Rahman, it was chosen for the International Film Festival Rotterdam early this yr.
Chavittu, which has a mix of documentary and drama, zooms into the world of theatre and theatre artistes. “I am immensely proud that I could associate with a project like Chavittu. I was planning to act in a project of the director duo. But the pandemic stalled the work and I couldn’t give them dates after that. However, having known them from close quarters and their love for cinema, I wanted to associate with them and production was something I could do. It is not easy being independent filmmakers. They have not been able to release their previous film Vasanthi, which won three State awards, till now. We hope to stream it on the state-owned OTT platform [Cspace],” he provides.
Sharafudheen and Nyla Usha in a nonetheless from ‘Priyan Ottathilaanu’
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Looking again at his entry into Malayalam cinema, Sharaf says that he owes all of it to his buddies who even have made a spot for themselves. Be it Alphonse Puthren, who gave him a small function in Neram and later a giant break in Premam or most of the actors in Premam who’ve been his buddies from his hometown, Aluva. “Art and artists have always been my favourite space. But I don’t come from a place where I could say aloud that I wanted to become an actor. The dream was there and I knew I would be able to fulfill it someday. Thankfully, I could live that dream because of my friends,” he explains.
Sharaf, a self-confessed fan of Kamal Haasan, is elated that his buddies too have performed heroes of their new releases — Krishna Sankar in Kochaal and Siju Wilson in Pathonpathaam Noottandu.
He will subsequent be seen because the lead in Senna Hegde’s 1744 White Alto. Expectations are excessive since Senna’s earlier work Thinkalazhcha Nischayam had wowed audiences. “I can’t reveal much about the role. But I can promise you that it will be a unique movie-watching experience,” Sharaf provides.
Sharafudheen in a nonetheless from ‘Priyan Ottathilaanu’
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Among his different releases are Rorschach with Mammootty, Ntikkakkakkoru Premondarnn by which Bhavana is making her comeback, Shafi’s untitled film with Indrans and Anagha Narayanan and the bilingual Adrishyam.
Source: www.thehindu.com
