Cochin here I come!

Once I had a convincing enough story, I started scripting it. But at the same time I was wondering who would suit the role best. Since I am from Karnataka, I was thinking of some stars from Kannada film industry. Many faces flew by but none settled in. many of them are good. But none were suiting the role perfectly. I even spoke to few actors here. But somehow things didn’t workout well. But I was so much in love with the story; I was not in a mood to compromise.

At this juncture, Sanju a classmate at FTII, Pune and a dear friend of mine was staying with us in Bangalore. He was writing a script based on Bangalore. So we were discussing each other’s scripts. When I expressed my problem with actors, he asked me what kind of actor I was looking for. I said, someone like Mammootty sir would be able to justify this role. Sanju said, that is nice, then approach Mammootty sir, why not? I smiled. Are you insane? Mammootty sir is too big for me to approach. But Sanju insisted that I should try. Then the question was how?

I learnt that Mammootty sir was shooting near Kundapura for Kuttishrank. The camera women for the film was Anjali (who won the national award for the same film recently) she was my senior at FTII, Pune. So I contacted her to collect some number through which I could contact Mammootty sir. She helped me with Mammootty sir’s personal makeup man George’s number (who won the state award for best make up in Palashiraja) I sent him a message introducing my self and expressing my desire to meet Mammootty sir and narrate a story to him. There was no reply. I thought another attempt went unnoticed.

But next day when I was riding to some place, my phone ringed! George was calling me! When I picked up the call, he said, “one moment…” next voice I heard said, “Hello I am Mammootty speaking…” I was shocked. Can it be real? Can it be so simple? I was humbled! It took me few seconds to gather my words! Then is said, “Sir, I would like to narrate a script to you” he asked if I had seen any of his films and knew the kind of role he was doing recently. Of course I knew. Who wouldn’t know him? Then he asked me to send the synopsis of the film to his email ID. George gave me an email ID.

I rushed back home and told Sanju about the good news. He was overjoyed. I didn’t want to send a stylized one line order or the synopsis. I sent Mammootty sir the complete script instead!

Next day was 8^th of January 2009. I receive a call from Gorge! He asked me when I could come to meet Mammootty sir in Cochin. I said, I can fly down immediately. He then asked me come. I was still in amazement if this was all real! I hurried to book my tickets to Cochin. Cochin, here I come!