Superhit Malayalam movie ‘Kireedam’ is often touted as a cult classic that delivered one of the finest performances of screen icon Mohanlal. The visuals of the movie that was shot in the beautiful countryside in Thiruvananthapuram district have captivated the hearts of the audience. The laterite road that runs through the middle of the lush paddy field where Mohanlal and Sreenath’s characters meet and the bridge where the hit song ‘Kannerpoovinte Kavilil Thalodi’ was shot are etched in the minds of the movie lovers. The public can now enjoy the spectacular beauty of the countryside where these scenes were filmed. “The project that lets the people enjoy the beauty of the Kireedam bridge and the Vellayani Lake, bringing the scenes from the movie back into their minds, is in its last stage. The bridge that is part of the Vellayani Lake in Thiruvananthapuram where the significant scenes from the movie ‘Kireedam’ was shot will now be a tourist centre,” Tourism minister Muhammad Riyas announced on his social media handle. It was Education Minister V Sivankutty who presented the idea to Riyas.
Vellayani Lake
The bridge on the Vellayani Lake too was a major ‘character’ in ‘Kireedam’. This bridge is shown in many important scenes in the film. So, the people in the locality called it the ‘Kireedam’ bridge. The bridge acts as a silent spectator in the emotional scenes with Mohanlal and Sreenath. Meanwhile, the bridge and the surrounding area added charm to the evergreen melody ‘Kannerpoovinte Kavilil Thalodi’. Veteran filmmaker Sibi Malayil deserves credit for making this region timeless by portraying the mesmerizing beauty of the Vellayani Lake and the solitude of the bridge. The perfect rural setting around the lake and the verdant paddy fields could capture anyone’s imagination. This place indeed has a great potential for village tourism. The bridge that is known by the name of a blockbuster movie will now become a major tourist attraction in Thiruvananthapuram.
