Popular Malayalam film star Mammootty, who has given a brilliant performance in his recent Kayyoppu (signature), says that awards are like appetizers that give momentary satisfaction, but one yearns for them again after a while.
"Awards are like appetizers or meals. You are satisfied when you have them. But you always need more. I expect an award every year," Mammootty, who has won three National Awards, told IANS in an interview.
Mammootty was in the national capital last week, along with filmmaker Ranjith, for a special screening of Kayyoppu. The film attempts to explain the trauma of innocent victims of terror through the story of a struggling, introvert but genius writer, played by the superstar.
The movie, which looks intensely personal in the first half, culminates into a relatively universal issue - terrorism.
Through Kayyoppu, the director and the actor say they wanted to present to the "intelligentsia and audiences the devastation caused by mindless acts of violence and also underline the almost fatalistic existence in today's times".
Asked why he picked the theme of terrorism, which many believe is not an issue as serious in the south as in northern India, Ranjith said: "It's a movie for the victims of terrorism. Their trauma is the same - be it in Beirut, Iraq, New Delhi or in Kozhikode."
{{/usCountry}}Asked why he picked the theme of terrorism, which many believe is not an issue as serious in the south as in northern India, Ranjith said: "It's a movie for the victims of terrorism. Their trauma is the same - be it in Beirut, Iraq, New Delhi or in Kozhikode."
{{/usCountry}}He added: "It is to remind one that it could happen anywhere, any time."
Through the protagonist Balachandran, whose life is immersed in the world of books, Ranjith has also tried to look at the diminishing reading habits of the highly literate Malayali community.
Ranjith's earlier cinematic works include the romantic Nandanam, action thriller Prajapathi and action drama Ravanaprabhu.
According to Mammootty, the movie is also about love. In the film, Balachandran, who preferred to be an intellectual hero in his younger years, gets ready to embrace his old romance - Padma (played by Khushboo) - when she returns to Kerala after a failed marriage.
"It shows you can fall in love at any time, any age or any moment. Nothing matters in love," said the ace actor, who has over 300 films to his credit.
Mammootty, who played a number of offbeat roles last year, said he was keen to get a "variety" of roles to play.
"I do glamour (roles) to remind people that I am still glamorous," he chuckled. He pointed out that his just-released Mayavi, in which he plays a typical masala hero, has been doing well in theatres.
"I have great hopes for my next film in which I will be playing Pazhassi Raja, (a historical figure of Kerala who raised the first revolt against colonial rule)," Mammootty said.