Mathai Bibin, the name may not ring any bells but mention the ‘chakkara’ priest in a short film and the bells would be clamoring wildly. Yes, Mathai is the same actor who played the role of the priest in the short film Ente Hridayathinte Vadakku Kizhakke Attathu that went viral. For an actor who has always been passionate about films, the popularity that the short film garnered was unexpected. The news is that Mathai will now be playing the lead in the upcoming film Orange Valley. He is almost unrecognisable with the clean shaven look in the posters of the film that is a far cry from the full-bearded priest he played earlier.
Mathai laughs and mentions his character demanded the new look. He explains, “I play a police officer called Anand in this film. Actually, I had finished my acting course from Act Lab and was busy with plays. As a matter of routine, a lot of auditions happen there and I attended one such audition. Later I got a call saying I was selected and it was only after a three-day workshop that I was confirmed.”
Mathai states that though he has acted in short films before, acting in a full-length film put him in the midst of a highly trained technical crew and a larger gathering of people to interact with. "The acting part is the same,” he quips. Mathai’s goal has always been to act. It has been six years since he has been slogging and sweating towards his goal, even shifting to Kochi from his hometown of Kalady. He actually wanted to study drama during his college years but could not do that. Nevertheless, he acted in college plays and later enrolled in the acting course to grasp the basics of acting.
He reveals, “I did not take up a full-time job fearing it would interfere with my acting opportunities and so did some part-time jobs that would give me the freedom to pursue my passion.” Coming back to the short film that put him in the limelight, he says it was the culmination of an eight-month-long effort on the part of the director, cast and crew. “It was shot in a cinematic manner and the popularity I received has left me flummoxed.”
Mathai also recently acted in an ad campaign for a leading textile brand alongside a transgender person Gowri Savithri, when many other male models balked at the concept. Why? Bibin remarks, “I never expected such a question to be asked by anyone! As an artiste, I have to do my part which is acting; I don’t have to think beyond that! Gowri is someone who is very well-read and knowledgeable and I see no reason to harbor any bias. I have a long road to travel and prefer to go with just my goal in sight.” Before signing off, he says, “I do not mind acting in small roles so that the audience is aware of an actor like me. Maybe these small roles will be the stepping stones in my onward journey.”
