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on 2008/7/30 0:46:09
It’s taken him five years in the industry to become a saleable star.
And Prithviraj is loving it. “My hard work is finally paying off and I’m at a stage in my career where my name is generating money,” says the son of the late Malayalam actor Sukumaran.
Though he began his career in Malayalam, it was only after his Tamil flicks clicked that Prithviraj was recognised as a rising star by the industry and the audiences. But Prithviraj doesn’t agree. “That observation comes from the success ratio I’ve had in Tamil films. But then, Malayalam cinema is where I learnt everything about films and acting. I’ve even won a best actor award in Malayalam. But yes, establishing oneself as a solo hero in Malayalam is a tough job,” he says.
And that’s because Malayalis are averse to change, he reasons, adding that they are content to see familiar faces over and over again, making it difficult for newcomers to make a difference. “If you’re patient and grind through this initial acceptance barrier, then things get easier. But you have to get there first,” he says.
And that’s where he is today, shuttling between states as he juggles shoots in the Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu industries. “I am currently shooting for the Tamil remake of the hugely successful Malayalam film Classmates Titled Ninaithale Inikkum, the Tamil version plays on the basic premise of Classmates , but the characterisation is different,” says Prithviraj, the only member of the original starcast to have been repeated.
His other projects include Thirakatha in Malayalam, in which he plays a filmmaker. “The treatment of this film is different, as one part of it is set in the ’80s and the other in the present day. Priya Mani plays my co-star. I am also working in the Telugu film Police Police , in which I play a cop. If all goes well, this should be a very sleek film,” he says, with a hint of doubt in his voice. He’s quick to clarify, “Sometimes the version in your mind is not exactly what turns out to be the final film.
There are a lot of uncertainties. As an actor, I’d be doing the film based on my interpretation of the script and that may not be what the director has visualised.”
His loyalties may be with Malayalam cinema, but Prithviraj is aware that meatier roles have been coming his way in Tamil. “If you leave Bollywood out, the regional cinema that is on a creative high is Tamil. It’s going through a renaissance. There are new directors and technicians who try out innovative themes and let technology take the front seat. As a by-product, you get more interesting roles and films.
Malayalam, in contrast, is going through a lean patch with no great talent making inroads. There haven’t been enough directors to make thought-provoking cinema. Hopefully, this is a passing stage,” states the actor.
And right now, all that he is looking forward to is working on the Mani Ratnam movie that he has been signed up for. “It’s a bilingual film to be made in Tamil and Hindi. That’s all I can divulge. But yeah, it’s certainly a dream come true. I’m very excited,” he signs off.
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