Mohanlal requested for the role in Panchagni : Hariharan

Hariharan-MT Vasudevan Nair team had given some of the best movies in Mollywood. The legendary duo has made many classics like Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha, Sargam, Panchagni, Parinayam, Amrutham Gamaya and Nakhakshathangal.

Hariharan recently shared a very interesting story behind the movie Panchagni.

When MT Vasudevan Nair finished writing the script for Panchagni they had decided to cast Bollywood actor Nasseeruddin Shah for the lead role of the journalist in the movie.

After a few discussions they managed to rope in Nasseeruddin Shah and paid him an advance. Vijayakumar a friend of Hariharan informed him that he is starting a new production company, Seven Arts. He wanted MT Vasudevan Nair and Hariharan to do a movie for his banner. So they decided to do Panchagni under the banner Seven Arts.

Seven Arts Vijayakumar told Hariharan that an actor Mohanlal had asked a chance for the movie. Since the casting was already finalized Hariharan told him not to expect anything. Mohanlal met Hariharan the next day in the director’s home in Chennai.

Hariharan was impressed by Mohanlal’s soft nature and manners decided to offer him a role in the movie. The director called MT Vasudevan Nair and said that he is planning to cast Mohanlal in Panchagni for the role of the journalist.

But the writer was hesitant as they had already booked Nasseeruddin Shah. But Hariharan convinced his writer and finalized Mohanlal for the role.

Panchagni is considered as a classic in Malayalam cinema and the role played by Geetha in the move is considered as one of the most powerful roles in Indian cinema history.

Hariharan said that he considers the role in Panchagni as a big break in Mohanlal’s career who later went on to become the biggest superstar of Malayalam cinema industry.