Having played a key role in Beyond The Soul that won international acclaim,Thampy Antony has now bagged the Hollywood film Cash starring Sean Bean. His latest release in Malayalam,Yugapurushan,is a biopic on the life and times of Sree Narayana Guru,the great reformer. In a freewheeling chat,the actor-producer-writer shares his future plans Lets begin with Sufi Paranja Katha,your forthcoming film. Please tell us about your role in the film.Id say that after Beyond The Soul,its my character in Sufi Paranja Katha that matches up to that standard. Or,if I may not sound vain,Id also like to say that the character is one that I had done better than my character in Beyond The Soul. I play a character named Shanku Menon,who has four sisters,of whom only one is surviving. Its this sisters daughter,Shanku Menons niece Karthi,who is the protagonist of the movie. Shanku Menon,who has astrological capabilities,after examining Karthis horoscope sees that she is destined to suffer. But he doesnt disclose this to anyone. Now,by a cruel turn of fate,Karthi,as she grows up,develops a liking for her uncle,a liking that has its moorings in lust. But Shanku Menon strives to keep her at bay. Its then that a youth named Mammootty enters and the story develops on a different plane. What,in your opinion,is the highlight of the role?Its conflict,an inner kind of conflict that characterises the persona of Shanku Menon. There are some real powerful scenes,like the one in which Shanku Menon gets himself bound in chains,with the help of his servant,in a bid to refrain himself from doing something wrong. It was a challenge doing the role. As the producer,what is the USP of Sufi Paranja Katha?It has a well-narrated and very relevant story/theme as its main highlight. The direction is also good. In the recent International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) where the film was screened,the response has been really good. Another highlight of Sufi Paranja Katha is that it handles aspects relating to religion in a very sensitive manner. The film presents a brilliant study of religion versus human relations. I am reminded of a scene where a character asks a rather relevant question,Matham maariyennu vachchu ummaye marakkaan pattumo? (I have changed my religion,but does that mean that I will forget my mother?) A rather touching question indeed. Many such other instances make the film interesting and relevant. So,how was it that you came to produce Sufi Paranja Katha?The director Priyanandanan had discussed with me the prospects of a film based on Shabdangal,the famous novel by Vaikkom Muhammed Basheer a few years ago. At that time I had told him that I wasnt interested in the project. Later when he brought up the subject again,I felt I should go ahead and do it. I discussed with my friend and associate Prakash Bare and we decided to go ahead with the project. Profit or no profit,we were determined to make it. Could you tell us about Cash and the other forthcoming films of yours,as an actor?In the Sean Bean starrer Cash,I am playing a bearded Sardarji,a Sikh named Sardar Bahadurjit Jateendrapreet Singh. Its a very interesting kind of character and I am sure that it will do good to me as an actor. The other films are In Ghost House Inn and Janaki. In In Ghost House Inn,which is directed by Lal and is a triquel to In Harihar Nagar and 2 Harihar Nagar,I am playing a doctor. I cant say more about the character as its pivotal and has much to do with the suspense element in the film.In M.G.Sasis Janaki,I am playing an elderly character named Shekharan Master,a retired teacher,a Gandhian and the son of a freedom fighter. The story develops from the point Shekharan Master gives refuge to a young girl,the daughter of a prostitute.In fact,2010 is eventful for me as an actor. I have had one release already (Yugapurushan) and I am having three more films ready for release Sufi Paranja Katha,In Ghost House Inn and Janaki. And I have Cash too. You had produced Blessys Calcutta News,a film that took a long time to complete and was a full-fledged commercial venture. Could you tell us your experience doing it?I produced Calcutta News because of my association with Blessy. He was an associate to Rajiv Anchal in Beyond The Soul. He had given me a good role in Palunku. And he is one of the most versatile directors in recent times. It was a great experience doing Calcutta News,a pucca commercial venture. But it was an eye- opener of sorts too. I learnt quite a few lessons making the film especially about Malayalam cinema. I came face-to-face with the bitter fact that Malayalam cinema,as a business was a nightmare for a producer,as its mostly a loss-making venture. Id say that no producer who sees cinema as a business should do a film in Malayalam. Here nobody seems to be thinking of the producer or how to save him and his interests. There is a winning formula for a director,there is a winning formula for an actor,there is a winning formula for a writer,but there is no winning formula for a producer in Malayalam cinema.It was after Calcutta News that I decided to produce films with a lesser budget. That way the loss,if any,would be rather tolerable. It was at this stage that Prakash Bare,who has my kind of a passion for cinema and acting,came to associate with me and we decided to jointly produce smaller and meaningful films like Sufi Paranja Katha. Tell us something about your next production venture,Jihad.We had committed to do Jihad because of our association with scenarist Didi Damodaran and her journalist-husband Premchand. We were also impressed with director Sohannlals debut film Orkkuka Vallappozhum. It has Jayasurya playing a key role in the sensitive film. Jihad is,budget-wise a smaller kind of film,and hence business-wise we are likely to be on the safer side. I believe that Malayalam cinema should be made on a budget of Rs. 1 to 1.5 crore.
