PremiumExclusive! Roshan Mathew to play a paraplegic in Lijin Jose’s Chera
The movie, scripted by Najeem Koya, also has Nimisha Sajayan in a pivotal role
Last Updated: 08.42 AM, Aug 23, 2021
After his acclaimed documentary 8½ Intercuts: Life and Films of KG George, director Lijin Jose has roped in two of Mollywood’s stellar performers – Roshan Mathew and Nimisha Sajayan – for his upcoming movie Chera.
The team revealed the first look poster of the movie, scripted by Najeem Koya, a few days ago that resembled the Pieta, with Nimisha’s character holding Roshan’s. Ask Lijin if the film has any religious undertones and he tells OTTplay, “The movie’s story has no religious connotation whatsoever. It’s just a first look poster that we wanted to release to create some curiosity. We wanted people to come up with their own interpretations, but Chera has no relation to any religious story. The film is a suspense mystery.”
Chera means rat snake in Malayalam. On the reason for the title, the filmmaker, who had earlier helmed Friday and Law Point, says. “Roshan’s character in the movie is affected by polio, so he basically crawls and hence the title. Nimisha’s character has an element of suspense in the movie and so we don’t want to reveal much about it.”
Lijin informs us that the movie will go on floors soon. “All of us are currently awaiting permission for full-fledged outdoor shoot. We are hoping to begin filming within a month and a half,” he says.
Chera’s poster was released by Kunchacko Boban recently and the Pada actor was criticised by certain sections, who alleged that it hurt religious sentiments. Director Nadirshah’s Eesho had also faced similar allegations a month ago for its title and tagline, ‘Not from the Bible’. While the makers of the latter removed the tagline, they said they will not change the title. The High Court earlier this month had also dismissed a PIL against Eesho’s release.
Meanwhile, Nimisha and Roshan are also part of debutant director Sreejith N’s Oru Thekkan Thallu Case, which also has Biju Menon and Padmapriya in the lead. The movie is based on GR Indugopan’s short story Amminipilla Vettu Case.