M.T. Vasudevan Nair | I am glad I could create memorable films with M.T., says filmmaker Hariharan

(from left) M.T. Vasudevan Nair, actor Mammootty and filmmaker Hariharan.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement 

Collaborating with M.T. Vasudevan Nair has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my long career in cinema. It had all begun with a casual remark by scriptwriter T. Damodaran. During a rehearsal of one of his plays at Kozhikode, he told me and M.T. that it would be nice if the two of us worked together on a film. M.T. said he had seen my films and that he liked my craft. I had, of course, read just about everything he had written. 

He asked me to pick any of his published stories that I felt could work as a film. I chose Edavazhiyile Poocha Mindapoocha. For someone who had made only commercial films till then, it was a new experience for me. The film became a big hit, and it proved that artistic films could enjoy box-office success as well. 

We went on to collaborate on several films. I am glad that together we could make some of the most celebrated films in Malayalam, like Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha, Amrutham Gamaya, Parinayam and Panchagni. We would have several discussions before he started writing the script.  

(from left) M.T. Vasudevan Nair, composer Ravi Bombay and Hariharan. 
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

It was a news story about a boy’s death caused by ragging at a medical college that became Amrutham Gamaya. I felt it had the potential for a film and he came up with a brilliant script.

Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha was initially planned to be made with Prem Nazir in the lead, but I had differences of opinion with the original producer, and then P.V. Gangadharan stepped in. I remember M.T. doing meticulous research before writing the screenplay. He had done that with Pazhassi Raja as well. He wanted to bring into focus the role Pazhassi had played in the fight against British rule. 

For Panchagni, Naseeruddin Shah was supposed to have played the male lead. But I later decided to cast Mohanlal, who had wanted to work with me. He did a great job, and it remains one of his best performances. Among my cherished memories is the letter he sent about the making of Vellam in 1985. He praised my efforts to shoot the flood (remember, there were no computer-generated graphics at that time).

M.T. was a remarkable screenwriter. His contribution to the art of scriptwriting in Malayalam cinema was huge. I still recall Nazir speaking in awe of M.T., after acting in Murappennu, his first script. He told me M.T.’s dialogues were natural, so unlike the usual style in Malayalam cinema of those days. 

(As told to P.K. Ajith Kumar)