Will portray Karinthandan the best possible way: Vinayakan

I am not scared of any association: says Vinayakan
'I have nurtured the character of Karinthandan in my heart for so long,' Vinayakan says.

Award winning actor Vinayakan is all set to play the title role in the forthcoming movie ‘Karinthandan’ directed by Leela Santhosh, the first filmmaker from a tribal community. The first look poster of the movie has become an instant hit on social media. The movie, which tells the tale of Karinthandan, a tribal leader who is believed to have discovered the Wayanadu mountain pass, is expected to be one of the most significant films in Vinayakan’s career. The actor speaks to Manoramaonline about his role in ‘Karinthandan’ and also about his unfaltering opinions and stands.

Most awaited character in Malayalam cinema

“I have nurtured the character of Karinthandan in my heart for so long. I believe that Karinthandan would be one of the most significant characters in the Malayalam cinema. I had really wished to portray this character. This is in fact the role which I really wanted to do as an artist who works in movies,” says Vinayakan.

Not just a hero, but a super hero!

“I have a dark complexion. So I keep thinking what a dark skinned man like me can do to play the lead role in movies. I did not come just to become a mere actor. I am here to be a ‘super hero’,” the actor says. Vinayakan reveals that he came to know about the character of Karinthandan as part of his quest for roles that would suit his complexion. He says, “This character has been in my mind for the last six to seven years. Only now it got its right structure. So that is the reason why we announced the movie now.”

Hard work for ‘Karinthandan’

The legend says that Karinthandan, a tribal stalwart, was incredibly strong that he could even fight a wild tusker. Vinayakan says that he has been trying to get into the right physique to play the character, for the last three years, and he adds that this physical transformation could be identified in his recent films as well. “I am 45 years old, but Karinthandan was someone who died when he was just 35. So it is really difficult to undergo this physical transformation and I have to work very hard for it. The movie features the indigenous tribal language of Wayanadu. I have to learn that language too. However, the only thing that I have in my mind right now is to become the ‘hero of the woods’. My aim is to amazingly portray the role of Karinthandan in the best possible way,” says the award winning actor.

A movie with Leela

Vinayakan says it was noted director – cinematographer Rajiv Ravi who told him about Leela. He added that Rajiv had asked him to meet Leela as she was planning to do a movie on Karinthandan. So Vinayakan came to know about the movie and agreed to do the role of Karinthandan even before the film 'Kammattipadam', the movie which fetched him the state award for best actor, came out. “My aim was always to become a super hero. But when I met Leela, an incredibly courageous woman, my part in the movie became a secondary concern for me. She has done an amazing job to come up with a historical movie like this. I have heard that someone else has claimed the ownership rights of 'Karinthandan'. Anyone can claim anything. There was only one Mahabali, but he belonged to everyone. Similarly the tale of Karinthandan might be different for each person. But this is ‘my’ Karinthandan. I am with Leela in this and I will dedicate myself completely for this project,” says Vinayakan emphatically.

Not scared of any association

Vinayakan claims he has no affinity to any association in the cinema industry. He says, “I have no connections with any association, be it AAMA or the WCC. I am not a part of it, neither am I against it. None of the actors who are part of those associations ever refused to act alongside me.” He opened up that he had thought about becoming an active member of AMMA in the recent times. However, the actor changed his mind after the association got mired in controversies following the infamous actress attack case. “I have no intention to dismantle an association like the AMMA. But there really should be some democratic virtues. I will always stand with the assaulted actress. That is all I said. My concern is all about a square meal at my home. I have no intention to interfere in anyone else’ personal matter,” says Vinayakan.

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