Mohan‘Seven Arts’ Mohan’s life had many twists and turns, like the movies he helped produce. He had a slow start to his career but shifted to the fast lane soon. When everyone thought his career was drawing to a close, it would take off again.
Thanks to Mohan, a Malayalam movie bagged the top slot for the first time in the 20 years of the International Film Festival of Kerala. The production controller-turned-producer has worked with generations of directors including Bharathan, Padmarajan, I V Sasi, Joshiy, Priyadarshan, Sibi Malayail, Lohithadas and even Rajeev Ravi.
He left his hometown Vadassery near Payyannur to eke out a career in movies. He landed up with Movie Basheer’s cinema company in Ernakulam as an advertisement announcer. He then became a production assistant with Hari Pothan’s Supriya. Major directors would insist on having Mohan on their sets in his heydays 38 years ago.
Mohan has grown by producing movies but also suffered due to it. Why take the risk?
I did not see cinema as just another job. This is a desire. A desire to be a part of good movies. I would still work as a production controller even after I started producing movies. I knew some of the movies I produced were going to fail at the box office. But nobody would say I have produced bad movies. I have only produced four movies, including Annayum Rasoolum and Ottaal.
Mohan should know Ottal was not a movie to gross crores of rupees
You can never say which movie will pay you back. I have seen great hits and utter failures. Failures have shattered my life. I did not make Ottaal to make a profit. I wanted to associate myself with a good movie.
Jayaraj and I go back a long way. Both of us started our careers with Bharathan Sir. When Jayaraj told me the storyline, I felt like Malayalam deserved such a movie. I was virtually penniless when we started working on the movie. But the awards the movie bagged have almost covered the costs. Moreover, it’s a matter of pride when people say the ‘Golden Pheasant’ was awarded to a movie produced by a production controller. This movie was invited to the Montreal Film Festival. Could someone like me ever dream of such a venue.
'Ottaal' bagged the top slot for the first time in the 20 years of the International Film Festival of KeralaYou have seen many star rising in your 38-year-long career
As a production controller, I have paid meagre remunerations to actors like Dileep. Even now, Dileep shows the same affection he had for me then. He had promised to do a film for me but I am not able to organise it. I had paid Rs 50 as the first remuneration to a future star. I sent him to Bharathan Sir but the actor later said in an interview that Bharathan had got him to travel down from Mumbai. Most actors including Mohanlal and Mammootty still show the same affection they had 38 years ago.
Any more projects on the anvil?
We have completed the first schedule of a movie which has Fahadh Faasil in the lead. The next schedule will start this month. I plan to stop producing after that and stay on as a production controller. Cinema is not a money-spinner for me. It is a way to be happy and contended. I earned that through Ottaal.
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