Anoop Menon has completed 17 long years in the entertainment industry, during which he made the successful transition from mini screen to big screen. It is not just that. Not content with only acting, he proved his mettle as a scenarist and a lyric writer, too. Time has come for Anoop to begin a new chapter in his professional career -- donning the directors hat. That progression seems to make sense for Anoop, a man who is unabashedly in love with cinema, since direction would let him explore the broader scope of filmmaking. It would see his film career come a full circle.
The news that he would be taking over the reins of the film King Fish, which was initially set to be directed by V. K. Prakash, in which he plays one of the leads, was met with curiosity. With his signature nonchalance and unaffected poise, Anoop clears the air as to why he decided to take the plunge to wield the megaphone. He fans the fires of curiosity further by revealing that it was an unplanned decision; circumstances converged to force him to make the decision. So yes, we are suitably piqued and he explains, “I was not supposed to direct the film, but only act in it. VKPs Netflix series got advanced and he had to begin its shoot. So, I sat down and had a long discussion with VKP and we realised that getting another director to step into his shoes at such short notice was impossible. Mind you, we are to begin the shoot on the 27th on this month and the script work is over.
To get another director to understand and sync with the script would have been difficult and so, there was no other go, but for me to step in.”
Anoop says this with his trademark smile and also adds on for good measure, “Actually, I had wanted to direct a film after five years, but this opportunity came out of the blue.” It was not that the duo did not try to rope in other directors, but date issues and short notice threw water over those efforts.
Now, that leaves Anoop pulling double duty as the actor and the director. Yes, he is not backing off from acting and will be playing the role of Bhaskara Varma, who dabbles in real estate and is also the last royal member of a particular dynasty. He lost his entire family in a ship capsize. “The same reason stands true here, too — the difficulty to get another actor at the last minute!”
The challenge will be double fold, but Anoop has never been one to shy away from accepting challenges. He candidly shares, “What other option do I have? We have already invested a sum of Rs 40-50 lakh on the sets, so postponing the project is out of question. I would have loved it if some other actor had accepted the role, but all the other actors we approached had date issues.” It goes without saying that while some acting instincts can be embraced in the switch, other traits will need to be actively resisted. “Whether it is writing or acting, I just try to enjoy what I do. I will try to make an engaging and entertaining film and that is what I can guarantee,” he says, adding that he has completed around 70 films so far. “You come to a point where you realise that you have to go with the flow, and do what you know and what you think is right! Sometimes, you may be wrong and some other times, gloriously right! I am thinking and hoping that I will be gloriously right, not infamously wrong.”
Anoop will be directing a master storyteller and actor in King Fish — Ranjith. Again, that is about coming full circle. “He had directed me in Thirakkatha and now I am directing him. Ranjith is one of the best actors we have and it is an honour to direct him. I do not think any film has tapped his potential as an actor till now. I would love to try and see if that is possible.” Anoop adds that Ranjith is like his brother and that he is looking forward to spending time with him. “He is now my raw material for the character Dasaratha Varma.”
Returning to his own character, Anoop adds, “He is also a loner.” Durga Krishna plays a dancer in the film and Anoop shares, “We wanted a dancer for this film. There is also Niranjana Anoop, who plays a modern girl with feminist views.” Irshad plays a prominent character, Nawas Ali, and the rest of the cast is yet to be finalised.
Anoop’s other projects include one with Jayasurya, which he is writing, and three other films titled Prathi, The Great Indian Circus and Lottery.
