Mani-minded

When director Vinayan decided to make a movie on his late friend actor Kalabhavan Mani, the most challenging aspect must have been zeroing in on an actor who could convincingly pull off Mani’s character on screen. Precisely because the actor who started off as an auto rickshaw driver and scaled the heights of stardom had a huge fan following. The director chanced upon Senthil Krishna after his wife suggested his name and soon after meeting him, Vinayan decided to cast him as Rajamani in Chalakkudikkaran Changathi. Call it a sweet coincidence – it’s the same Vinayan who gave Kalabhavan Mani’s a stereotype-busting role in Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njanum who gets to introduce Senthil to stardom!

Senthil, who has been doing comic roles in TV serials and stage shows and minor roles in movies for long, says that he has bagged an opportunity of a life time. Recalling the offer, he says, “I was very skeptical about taking it up. Firstly, I had never imagined that I could ever be cast as a hero. Moreover, this was a huge risk as I had to portray a person who lived here, whom people admired. Not just his onscreen persona, I had to portray his personal life too,” he says.

“Striking a balance was mandatory or else it would be the end of my career as well. However, seeing Vinayan sir’s confidence, I decided to go for it,” he adds.

Recalling that emotional moment when he signed up for the role, Senthil says, “When Vinayan sir gave me the first cheque, I felt I was on the top of the world and was unable to hold back my tears. Seeing me breaking down, he said, ‘Mani was exactly like this. He was sincere when he made people laugh and cry. I want somebody with the same pace’. That moment on, there was no looking back. All my days were completely dedicated to getting into the skin of the character,” adds Senthil, who had to build his physique, learn swimming, ride an auto rickshaw, row a boat and learn many new things, to play the Chalakudikkaran.

Asked what the toughest part of being Mani was, he says, “To not imitate Mani and stay as the character in a movie based on his life. When I say this, people might think that both are the same. But the audience, especially Mani chettan’s fans, will understand that Chalakkudikkaran Changathi is not a biopic, but a story inspired by his life. It’s a tribute to a wonderful actor and a humanist. The film is shot from the director’s perspective and will definitely have every commercial element in it.”

Having made his acting debut in Pulliman, Senthil had got a chance to work with Kalabhavan Mani and had performed at a couple of stage shows with the late actor. “That has helped me a lot to understand his body language and mannerisms. I used to observe Manichettan to understand his comic timing and spontaneity. But who knew that one day I would play the lead character in a film made on him,” he exclaims.

That must be why Vinayan and many from the cast and crew, including Kottayam Naseer, found Senthil very similar to Mani. “While shooting with Naseer for a scene, he abruptly stopped. When the director asked what happened, Naseer said he was suddenly reminded of Mani while interacting with me,” says Senthil, who is very touched by the love and encouragement from people around him.

Chalakkudikkaran Changathi is hitting the screens on Friday and the excitement is very high. For Senthil, the film is also a revelation — both about film making aspects and his performance. Smiling, he says, “I enacted in comedy and serious scenes, danced, shot fight sequences and even romanced many heroines. I’m a more confident actor now.”