For director Srikumar Menon, his film Odiyan, starring Mohanlal, symbolises many firsts. With Odiyan, Menon, popular for helming advertisements for some leading brands, makes his debut as a feature film director. Odiyan is also setting new trends in the film marketing sphere in Mollywood, Menon tells THE WEEK.
“It is not everyday a Malayalam film gets fan release shows in countries across the world; the first of its kind in Poland and Japan.” Set for a December 14 worldwide release, the highly-anticipated film will be released in over 3,000 screens—another first for a Malayalam film. The idea of branding comes naturally to Menon, who spent most of his career in the advertising industry. Drawing lessons from here, the Odiyan team has gone all out to promote the protagonist whom they refer to as India's 'desi superhero'. From launching Odiyan models in cities across the state, to conducting social media contests for fans, where they carved Odiyan into objects as small as a piece of chalk, releasing a comic book on the myth of Odiyan, to attempting three Guinness Book records—it has been an eventful ride for the team. “We have seen such promotions and merchandise sales for Marvel films, or maybe a Rajinikanth film here in the south. But Mollywood has not tapped into that potential, and we hope to be the trendsetter,” he says.
The film revolves around the myth of the Odiyan clan, popular in northern Kerala. It is believed Odiyans were shape-shifters who had the power to transform into the shape of animals in split seconds, and literally scare people to death. Referred to as the king of darkness, Odiyans moved around at night. When electricity brightened the nights in the remote hamlets, it is said to have driven Odiyans to 'extinction'. In a non-linear narrative, Odiyan, which spans over a period of 50 years, follows the life and times of the last Odiyan—Manickyan—essayed by Mohanlal, before and after the arrival of electricity. The film also features Manju Warrier and Prakash Raj in key roles. Shot extensively in Palakkad district of Kerala, Odiyan also captures the mood of Varanasi in scenes that feature the aged Mohanlal.
Menon says he is a fan of Mohanlal the actor, his expressions, and his ability to completely transform into the character. The first scene they shot was at the ghats of Varanasi, he says. Describing it the director says: “It was a scene in which Mohanlal, emerging from the ghats, had to turn around and look straight into the camera. The transformation was otherwordly. When he looked straight, all I could do was bow down and fold my hands in respect.”
Menon says it was as if a spirit had taken over the veteran actor, one that stayed along throughout the film's journey. “This is probably Mohanlal's most challenging role, both physically and emotionally,” he says. With mystical elements, emotions, and fights, Odiyan doesn't fit into a black or white, he says. It is all grey; there is no typical good versus bad—it is a portrayal of humans and raw emotions.
