Script and screen writer Sethu's directorial venture 'Oru Kuttanadan Blog' is slated for release on September 14, Friday. The Mammootty starrer has three female superstars in lead roles – Rai Lakshmi, Shamna Kasim, and Anu Sitara. The movie narrates the story of Hari, a non-resident Indian hailing from Kuttanad.
Commenting on her character in the movie, Tamil-Telugu superstar Shamna Kasim told Onmanorama that 'Oru Kuttanadan Blog' gave her a much-awaited break in Mollywood, which would open exciting avenues in future. “I play the character of SI Neena, a naughty, child-like police officer who likes Hariettan (Mammootty.) After a break, Mammootty is back as a caring and compassionate big brother,” she said.
Shamna also said the movie had captured the serene rural beauty of Kuttanad which would amaze any outsider. “The makers have captured the rural outskirts of Kuttanad which haven't been portrayed in many movies. I wonder how they managed to explore such interior locations, avenues and junctions in Kuttanad! I know floods have ravaged this rural pocket and spoiled its beauty but this movie is a tribute to the lost glory of flood-hit Kuttanad,” she said.
Rebuilding of this agrarian landmass will be sped up and inspired by the picturesque portrayal of Kuttanad in this movie, Shamna added.
Mammootty's craze for sunglasses
Mega-star Mammootty's craze for sunglasses is famous in the celebrity-circles. Most of his cop roles adorn sunglasses throughout significant scenes, making it a part of the character's persona. Shamna Kasim's cop character in 'Oru Kuttanadan Blog' too has a craze for sunglasses, which is inspired from Mammootty's real-life character.
“I was so shy to imitate Mammootty's sunglass-craze in front of him. It was director Sethu's idea. Later, Mammootty himself asked me to wear the sunglasses and render the dialogue. 'Sunglasses look good on you. Why don't you wear them? It is a part of the script,' he asked me,” Shamna said.
Shamna's makeover as SI Neena
Shamna Kasim, who started her acting career in Mollywood, migrated to Tamil and Telugu after doing some supporting characters in the home industry. After a break, when Shamna makes a return to the Mollywood as a superstar, she has secured some surprises for the audience.
“I have undergone a complete makeover for this movie. I have cropped and shaped my hair. I have presented myself as a boisterous lass in Oru Kuttanadan Blog. This is the first-of-its-kind experience for me. I didn't deliberately stay away from Malayalam movies all these time. I was awaiting a good character. I knew my home industry will not forget me. However, my long wait was worth it. Oru Kuttanadan Blog has given me an opportunity to unleash another shade of my acting talent,” Shamna said.
Sanju Sivram's Sudhi, a different shade of the peppy actor
'Ni Ko Nja Cha' fame Sanju Sivram has always played peppy, new-gen character roles in Malayalam cinema. Be it in 'Achayans,' 'Hello Namaste' or 'Monsoon Mangoes,' Sanju's characters were light, entertaining and high-spirited. Abrid Shine's 2014 movie '1983' gave Sanju a break into serious, rural character roles. Now, 'Oru Kuttanadan Blog' also portrays the actor as a mature, technologically equipped rural youth who unravels Hariettan's (Mammootty's) life story before the world outside.
“I play a character called Sudhi in Oru Kuttanadan Blog. Sudhi is a blogger who brings out the story of Kuttanad and Hariettan through his writings. Sudhi is different from the new-gen peppy characters I have been doing so far. Somehow, it has faint connections with my character in 1983,” he said.
Sudhi is a rural youth who follows the cyber society very closely. Sudhi scribbles down his perception of protagonist Hari's life in his personal blog which gives a view-point to the movie. According to Sanju Sivram, Sudhi is the key person in the narration of story-line while he's also a character in the story.
'Oru Kuttanadan Blog' also has Vineeth Sreenivasan appearing in a cameo role. The movie is produced by Shanta Muraleedharan and her husband PK Muraleedharan.
