Priyadarshan is nearing a career milestone few filmmakers do — his 100th film. Now that Bhooth Bangla has released and Haiwaan is in post-production, it’s time for the director to focus on the project that will team him up with his long-time friend and frequent collaborator Mohanlal. What will the duo give us this time around? A musical drama revolving around a father and his son, Priyadarshan revealed to mid-day.
“I will start my film with Mohanlal sir in November. It’s a complicated film because it’s a musical and will take me a lot of time to put together,” the director said.
A clash of egos and conflicting ideologies on music between the father and son, both renowned Carnatic singers, will form the backbone of the Malayalam movie. Revealing that Mohanlal will portray the son, Priyadarshan added, “It’s a commercial entertainer with action, 12 songs, and a family drama at its heart. Both are Carnatic singers, and I would want the father to be a newcomer, an elderly person with a background in Carnatic and Hindustani music, and Kathakali. Usually Kathakali performers are actors and singers. It’s a challenge to cast the father. If SP Balasubrahmanyam was alive, I would have requested him to play the father’s role. Mohanlal sir sings very well. He has sung for movies before, but I won’t make him sing in this film as it involves classical singing on a high [octave].”
The yet-untitled movie, also written by Priyadarshan, will be shot in Palakkad, Kerala.
40+
Number of films Mohanlal and Priyadarshan have collaborated on
Rs 3.5cr
Reported collection from paid previews of Priyadarshan’s ‘Bhooth Bangla’