‘That courage is gone’: Sathyan Anthikad on unrealised Mohanlal-led film with Sreenivasan

Director Sathyan Anthikad has said that he and late writer-actor Sreenivasan had once planned a film in the vein of Sandesham, with Mohanlal in the lead, but that the project will now remain unrealised.

Speaking at a memorial meeting held after Sreenivasan’s funeral, Anthikad said the two had discussed making a political satire centred on the perspective of an ordinary, innocent citizen in the contemporary political landscape.

“Many people used to say they wanted a film like Sandesham. Sreeni and I also thought about it. We considered making a movie about an innocent person’s view of politics today, with a character played by someone like Mohanlal. It is certain that it won’t happen now. If Sreenivasan were here, I would have had the courage to make such films,” Anthikad said.

Reflecting on Sreenivasan’s legacy, the director said his work as a writer had not received the recognition it deserved because of his success as an actor. “Because Sreenivasan became an actor, we haven’t celebrated Sreenivasan the writer as much as we should have. His name is mentioned only in lists of great screenwriters. If he had been only a writer, his screenplays would have been discussed far more,” he said.

Anthikad added that no one else in Malayalam cinema had been able to create characters and situations that spoke so naturally in the language of ordinary people. “Sreeni could create humour even out of nothing,” he said.

Describing Sreenivasan as a writer who guided Malayalam cinema towards social goodness, Anthikad said it was primarily in that role that he would now be remembered. “We realise a person’s importance only after they are gone. We are yet to read and truly understand Sreenivasan. I have not met anyone in Malayalam cinema with talent equal to his,” he said.

Anthikad also spoke of the personal sense of loss he felt following Sreenivasan’s death. “Even when he was unwell, my belief and courage came from knowing that Sreenivasan was still around. That courage has been lost today,” he added.