Exclusive! Mohanlal’s Monster has a mixed genre and several unexpected turns: Sudev Nair

Malayalam actor Sudev Nair had a major wish ticked off from his bucket list by starring in Mohanlal’s Monster. To act with the superstar has been his wish since he was four years old, Sudev tells OTTplay in an exclusive chat, days before the movie’s theatrical release.

The actor has been having a good run this year being part of films such as Mammootty’s Bheeshma Parvam, Vinayan’s Pathonpathaam Noottaandu and most recently, Sibi Malayil’s Kotthu. Monster, however, gave him the opportunity to not just act with the superstar but also learn from the master of ‘mass’ cinema – director Vysakh and scriptwriter Udaykrishna.

Also read: Mohanlal’s Monster banned in GCC countries due to LGBTQ content? 

On the movie, Sudev says, “Monster has a mixed genre; there is family drama, comedy and thrilling elements. The film takes unexpected turns. That’s also why I don’t want to talk much about it because you never know what you are going to reveal.”

The recently released song Ghoom Ghoom from the movie also presented Sudev, who is usually seen in sombre roles, in his most cheery self on screen. “I felt really happy but the character was such that I had to subdue those emotions,” he says. “Working with Lalettan was my childhood dream. I used to put out Insta stories that if he was listening, to cast me in any role. So, that finally happened with Monster.”

The movie, which also has Honey Rose, Lakshmi Manchu and Lena, was shot last year, during the second lockdown in Kerala. “All of us had to take COVID tests and there was a restriction on the number of people that were permitted. It was all done in a controlled environment and that’s why everything went smoothly,” he explains.

Sudev also tells us that there were quite a few takeaways from working with the film’s director Vysakh and scriptwriter Udaykrishna, who are known for their ‘mass’ movies. “They know what moments affect the audience the most. As an actor, there were a couple of scenes where I was really pushed to deliver something because Vysakh had a very clear idea that only if the performance reaches a particular level, it will be effective enough. So, those were lessons I learnt from the duo, who understands their audiences so well,” he explains.

In the past few films including Bheeshma Parvam, Pathonpathaam Noottaandu and the upcoming Thuramukham, Sudev has played the antagonist, a space that he is now trying to steer clear of. “I am consciously turning down the villain roles now. As a person too, I have evolved and become more polished. Playing the villain is becoming redundant and the audience too will get bored. So, there’s nothing new in it for me either,” says the actor, who is currently shooting for a Hindi web series.