Those who watched Nadhir Shah’s Kattapanayile Ritwik Roshan cannot easily forget Surendran alias Kattapanayile Jayan, essayed by one of the most versatile actors of Mollywood — Sidhique. In fact, it is his ability to enact different roles, without getting stereotyped that helped him to bag a prominent role in Kamal Hassan’s next venture Sabaash Naidu which is being produced in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. “It is really a big offer in my career. I have been called to act as a RAW officer, who is senior to Kamal sir’s character,” says Sidhique.
The actor continues, “He is one of my favourite actors even before I joined the industry. Though I had got many opportunities to meet and befriend him, I did not attempt it because I wanted to meet him at a moment he would recognise me. Years went on and it was in 2014, during an award night at Dubai that we first talked to each other. That was really a memorable moment. When he came there, he looked at me and after being seated, he waved at me. When I went to him, he told me that he had seen Drishyam and I had done a brilliant job in it. I replied ‘Ini enik marichalum virodhamilla’ as I was that happy. I was there to receive the award for best supporting actor and I felt I got two awards that night,” he recollects, adding, “The next day, we met at the restaurant of the hotel where we were staying and we talked for around three hours.”
Sidhique says Kamal first said no when director T.K. Rajeev Kumar suggested him for the role. “He said so citing that I was younger than him whereas the role was that of a senior officer. The reason was that when we first met, we took a photo in which I was wearing a wig which looked very natural. But later, when he saw photos of mine in an aged get up, he said ok. The happiest moment was that I was the first one to be invited to the stage by Kamal sir during the launch function for of the film,” says the actor.
In the meantime, he has completed yet another film in Tamil — Rangoon, produced by A.R. Murugadoss with Gautham Karthik in the lead role. The film has completed the post production and is all set to hit the screens.
His upcoming film in Malayalam — Fukri — has him teaming up with Siddique-Lal, who gave him his first break in career through their In Harihar Nagar, after a gap of around 25 years. Godfather was the last film for which they teamed up. “In fact, it was not just a break; I prefer to call it an entry. Though I was in the industry doing small roles, it was the film that registered me in the minds of the audience. Later, I did a prominent role in Godfather. But after that, only now could I join them,” he says. Now Siddique is in the role of the director while Lal essays a prominent character in the film.
“It was after they started the production that I got the call to Fukri. Without hearing the script, I said yes. I heard the screenplay only on the sets. I think it is the first film in which I essay a title role. Siddique said that it was after seeing the power of my role in Pavada that he fixed me for the character,” says the actor who appears in a different attire in the movie.
Sharing an interesting moment on the sets of Fukri, he says, “It was after I joined the sets that Lal came there for our combination scenes. After seeing a song canned for the film, he opined that ‘It is Siddique's luck’. When I thanked him hearing that, he said ‘I meant it is director Siddique’s luck that he got you for this film’. That was a really big appreciation,” he says.
Coming back to his master class appearance in Kattappanayile Rithwik Roshan, he says, “One day, Nadhir Shah came to me and narrated the screenplay of the film along with his writers Vishnu, Bipin and executive producer Anoop (actor Dileep’s brother). After the narration, I suggested two actors for the role of Surendran. But Nadhir Shah said that I should essay that role as I would be perfect for the character which has two get-ups. Though I told him to go ahead with another actor, he insisted that I should do it. In fact I was embarrassed while facinfg camera in the retro costumes, amid the public. When it comes to imitating Jayan sir, I tried not to make it vulgar like some mimicry artistes do,” says the actor, who is also a fan of Jayan.
Asked him about the recently announced strike for the release of the films, he says “I prefer to say that it is the time for audience to raise their voice against this strike. It is their right to watch films. More over it is the time to watch films as it is a festival season. They must get a chance to watch films and entertain at cine halls.”
