Odiyan is a mass entertainer with a pan-Indian appeal: Shrikumar Menon
Mohanlal’s Odiyan is arguably one of the most anticipated movies in South Indian cinema. Scripted by National award winner Harikrishnan, Odiyan marks the directorial debut of renowned ad filmmaker VA Shrikumar Menon. Mohanlal’s own production house Aashirvad Cinemas is funding this big budget venture.
Odiyan deals with an unique theme, which has rarely been experimented in Indian cinema. The movie is primarily about Odividya, a black magic practice, and people who practice it, who are called odiyans. There are a lot of stories and myths about odiyans and their life in Kerala’s folklore. Mohnalal plays the role of Odiyan Manikyan, the last living odiyan in the world.
Many among the audience believe Odiyan to be a dark horror-mood kind of film but director Shrikumar Menon clarifies that it is a proper mass entertainer that has class elements in it. In a recent interview to a leading English daily, director Shrikumar Menon is quoted saying, “One can call Odiyan a super-hero movie as Manickyan is a man with great athletic power.” As per the director, the movie has a pan-Indian appeal and they are planning to release it simultaneously in Tamil and Telugu as well.
Odiyan’s story is set in three different timelines starting from the pre-electricty days in the 1950s to 2000. Mohanlal’s Manikyan is a renowned odiyan who lived in the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border in Palakkad. The movie will follow his life from his childhood to his 60s. Mohanlal will be appearing in multiple looks in the movie.
Odiyan’s third schedule will commence on December 20. A leaner and fitter Mohanlal is expected to join the team soon. He will be playing the younger age of Manikyan in this schedule for which he needs to be in a good shape. The superstar is putting in the best of his efforts to shed the extra pounds. He is working with a team of 25 people who monitor his diet and workout.
Odiyan has some big names, both in the cast as well as the technical side. Veteran actor Prakash Raj and Manju Warrier will be seen in prominent roles in the movie. Narain, Kailash, Siddique and Innocent are also part of the supporting cast.
India’s leading stunt master Peter Hein is choreographing the action sequences. Pulimurugan’s cinematographer Shaji Kumar is wielding the camera and Sreekar Prasad is handling the edits. M Jayachandran is composing the songs and Sam CS of Vikram Vedha fame has been roped in to handle the background score.
