Kerala's costliest film to cash in on Mohanlal magic

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Cochin: A milestone in Malayalam cinema, KP Kumaran's Akshagopuram is touted as the costliest film from Kerala till date.

Starring Mohanlal, the film is an adaptation of Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen's Master Builder and is completely shot in London.

At the Cochin premiere of the film on Wednesday night, Lal seemed overwhelmed by the shades he had to portray as the protagonist of the film.

“I consider this as a great moment. I am not talking about the commercial viability of the film. As an actor I gained lot of things after doing this film. Even portraying the role of Albert Samson, I started learning about human minds. It’s entirely about a man's lust, love, sex, greediness. But he doesn't consider this as something gray in his life. That's the combination of this man. That’s the chemistry,” he said.

Also starring Sreenivasan and newcomer Nithya, Akashagopuram explores a man's all consuming desire for success and veteran director KP Kumaran hopes the film will take the culture of cinema in Kerala to a whole new level.

“There has been international productions of many kinds before. But to make a Malayalam cinema of global nature is something for the first time. A Norwegian play, in London backdrop, London technology and using even London musicians gives it an international classic touch although my focus audience will be Malayalees. That's the specialty of this movie,” he says.

The film's soundtrack is composed by John Altman - a Hollywood veteran with films Titanic and Shall We Dance to his credit.

“It’s marvelous, the last film that where I had someone dancing to my music was Jennifer Lopez and Richard Gear in Shall we dance, so I always like it when people dance to my music. The first time I came to Kerala last year, I remember getting into the hotel and putting the TV on, there was Mohanlal, I change the channel, there was Mohanlal again and finally i found some cricket. Then i thought he is big,” says Altman.

Made at an estimated budget of Rs 10 crores, Akashagopuram will have to draw in full houses to break even but Mohanlal's performance and the film's unique and experimental positioning might just see it create history of sorts.