Twenty Twenty hopes to bowl over the audience with its fast pace, multi-star cast and captivating storyline.
FILM NEWS
“It’s like being part of a celebration like Thrissur Pooram,” says actor-producer Dileep on the making of the film ‘Twenty Twenty,’ which will have almost every actor in Mollywood acting in the film. The shoot of the film, directed by Joshiy, is nearing completion and is scheduled for a June-end release.
Fund raiser
Innocent, president of Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA), explains that the initiative was launched to raise funds for the organisation. “Although arranging stage shows would have been an easier option, the majority was in favour of a film. We decided to give the responsibility of producing the film to some one who would give the association a fixed amount. Dileep came forward and the project was on,” he says.
However, Innocent points out that creating a story that would give the same importance to all the main heroes was never on the agenda.
“A good story was developed and the members are wholeheartedly supporting the film,” he adds. Echoing Innocent’s sentiments, Dileep says that the decision to make a film involving as many members of AMMA as possible was taken three years back and the shoot started last December.
“It’s a big budget movie and regardless of the fate of the movie at the box office, AMMA will be paid Rs. One crore. I don’t think there has been such an attempt ever in the history of cinema anywhere,” he says.
Director Joshiy agrees that the film is being made on a big canvas. “But for me, it’s the characters that matter more than the star status of those who are performing in the film, as I have worked with most of the actors. It was quite a task to choose a suitable subject. Once that was decided, things started happening more easily and quickly. Since the project involves a lot of actors, it is often difficult to arrange the schedules,” he says.
While Joshiy is a veteran director of many multi-star casts, scenarists Siby K. Thomas and Udayakrishnan find it hard to believe they are part of a team that is going to be a milestone in the history of Malayalam cinema.
“We believe that it’s the closest to winning the Oscar,” gush the scenarists.
“It is history in the making and perhaps the only attempt of its kind. We became conscious of the challenge we had accepted only when we actually started thinking about a possible subject involving all the big names in the Malayalam film industry. We are aware that everything will be put under the scanner – the characters, their place in the storyline and the punch lines in the dialogues.
“So, we decided to opt for a story that would do justice to the actors. At the same time, it is has a gripping and entertaining plot,” say the duo who refuse to divulge anything further.
“The suspense is reserved for the screen,” they chorus.
Mood of celebration
Although the film has no connection with cricket, the title ‘Twenty Twenty,’ like the shorter and exciting version of the game, signifies the pace with which things happen in life. “There is a mood of celebration,” say the scenarists.
‘Twenty Twenty’ has had its own share of surprises and upsets as well, with actors like Nayantara making a comeback of sorts, after a brief hiatus, to Malayalam cinema while reigning actor Meera Jasmine found it difficult to find the required dates for the project.
“Meera was originally paired opposite Dileep and had to shoot for just under a week, but she could not give the dates for the shoot,” says Siby and Udayakrishnan. Innocent, however, refused to comment on the issue.
Quiz the director about the genre of the film and Joshiy smiles: “All I can say now is that ‘Twenty Twenty’ is being packaged to attract every section of the audience. Let them decide on its pluses and minuses once it reaches the screen.”
