Malayalam film ‘Kunjeldho’, directed by debutant Mathukutty, starring Asif Ali, is a campus film
Popular RJ-turned-director Mathukutty aka Arun Mathew laughs when he remembers an incident he shared with director-viewer Vineeth Srinivasan. The filmmaker burst into laughter. Vineeth felt that there was a story seed in it and asked Mathukutty to convert it into a script.
Then Vineet was working on his third film thira (2013). while he was shooting kunjiramayanam (2015) [as the lead actor]Mathukutty had prepared his script. Vineet gave him some suggestions and he had to direct the film. But since he was already working on several projects, he suggested that Mathukutty direct the film which he had cherished for so long.
“It was like kunzeldho It became my first directorial venture,” says Mathukutty. “It’s a film about emotional development, how boys become men, how they change as we move through our teens and twenties. There are many elements in the film that I took from my college years. It is a feel good campus film packed with humour.”
As soon as actor Asif Ali read the script, he reportedly told Mathukutty that some incidents seem to be drawn from his life. Mathukutty believes, “Most of us know a Kunzeldho.” The film was announced in June 2019 and shooting began in September 2019.
Apart from Asif, who plays the lead role of Kunzeldho, Vineet, Siddiqui, Sudhish and Gopika Udayan are in the cast. Vineet is also the creative director of the film.
“I wanted to be unobtrusive” atton’The name of the s (older brother) must be in the author’s credits. He was the one who gave me the story idea and sat through the first narration. Since I had never assisted anyone or worked on a film set, there were a lot of technical details that I didn’t believe in. Until I got used to it, Vineet atton Was there to hold my hand on the set.”
Mathukutty wanted to give credit to Vineeth for whatever he did. Though they wanted Vineet to be named as a co-writer or director, the latter would not have the name. Hence Vineet has been given the credit of creative director.
back to college
Shot at UC College Aluva, Mathukutty says he had to shoot at his alma mater as most of the events in the story were inspired by his college life. “I became Mathukutty in college as a way of distinguishing between myself and another student, also called Arun. That’s how my friends started calling me Mathukutty. I had to go back to the campus, where the story begins.” Perumbavoor, Thodupuzha, Paravoor and Munnar are among other locations in the film.
The film traces the life of Kunzeldho as he goes from class 12th to school in college and then into his 20s. “That is why I was looking forward to cast Asif. He has the face and body to pull it off. Kunzeldho is having the time of his life in college when certain events force him to make decisions that have far-reaching consequences. ,
Despite the film being ready in early 2020, the makers were willing to wait for the theaters to reopen. Mathukutty admitted that like any debutant he was eager to take the film to the theatres, but if the makers had decided otherwise, he would have gone along with him.
There is a reason for the film to release on the occasion of Christmas. “The climax of the film will come out on December 26 and so I am happy that it is releasing on December 24.”
Once the film bug bites, it’s hard to move. So it is with Mathukutty. He has completed his second script and is in talks with the producers and actors.