How Pakalum Pathiravum director got cast as a child trafficker in Unni Mukundan’s Malikappuram | Exclusive

Pakalum Pathiravum director Ajai Vasudev & Unni Mukundan had collaborated in films such as Rajadhi Raja and Masterpiece

Ajai Vasudev and Unni Mukundan

Director Ajai Vasudev and Unni Mukundan had teamed up in several big ‘mass’ action-entertainers such as Mammootty’s Rajadhi Raja and Masterpiece. But it was a casual visit of the filmmaker to the sets of Unni’s Malikappuram that gave him a role in what is arguably his first-ever blockbuster.

In an exclusive chat with OTTplay, Ajai, who is set for the release of his upcoming directorial Pakalum Pathiravum, tells us that he has no intention of turning into an actor like his contemporaries Johny Antony.

Also read: Unni Mukundan: I’m not a propagandist, Malikappuram worked as it was accepted by people of all religions | Exclusive

“Malikappuram’s role was something that just happened accidentally,” says Ajai. “I had gone to the sets of Malikappuram to meet Unni and others. I met them and the next morning, they were gearing up to shoot at a school. But they only got permission to shoot in the afternoon. That’s when they said that there was a character and asked if I could do it. I said fine. It was only after I had done the make-up and turned in front of the camera that I got to know that I was playing a child trafficker.”

That said, the director explains that he is happy with the outcome. “It’s only because the movie was a huge hit that everyone noticed I was in the film. In fact, I am thrilled that I could show my face in one of the biggest Malayalam hits this year,” he says.

Also read: Malikappuram writer to script a big-budget multi-starrer for Soundarya Rajinikanth | Exclusive

Ajai’s upcoming directorial Pakalum Pathiravum, which is scripted by Nishad Koya, is set to hit theatres on March 3. The movie, which is a realistic thriller, has Kunchacko Boban and Rajisha Vijayan in the lead along with Manoj KU, Seetha, Jagadish and Minnal Murali actor Guru Somasundaram.

The film, which has Kannada writer Dayal Padmanabhan’s story, was planned and executed right after the pandemic lockdown. Its OTT rights have been snapped by ZEE5.

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