Exclusive! Shabareesh Varma: Be it Nivin, Alphonse, Sharaf, Siju or Kichu, we’ve all been growing in our careers

This Friday marks a special day for Shabareesh Varma as the actor has two projects – Upacharapoorvam Gunda Jayan and Member Rameshan 9aam Ward – releasing on the same day. Both films, though devoid of big stars, are special for their theme and team. While Arun Vaiga’s Upacharapoorvam Gunda Jayan, which has Saiju Kurup in the lead, revolves around a wedding, Aby Treesa Paul and Anto Jose Pereira’s Member Rameshan 9aam Ward is a family entertainer that focuses on the challenges in the life of its protagonist after he is suddenly thrust into the world of politics.

Shabareesh, who is also part of the music team of both films, talks to us about the movies, his upcoming projects including Alphonse Puthren’s Gold and how he rates the success that he and his friends have desired for long in cinema.

You had said in a previous interview that Siju Wilson was the reason you became part of Upacharapoorvam Gunda Jayan. What can you tell us about the film and your character in it?

The movie revolves around the titular character, essayed by Saiju Kurup, who is organising the wedding of elder sister’s daughter. About 80% of the story spans from the eve of the wedding till it’s over. I play Reji, who is Jayan’s neighbour and almost like their family. He helps them out and supervises every event of the wedding. The movie also has a host of artistes – Siju Wilson, Sabumon chettan, Biju Sopanam, Jaffar Idukki and Johny Antony.

It's a wedding of a Cherthala-based middle class household. When Arun Vaiga narrated the story, is that what connected the most?

When you think of films about weddings, you would probably be reminded of Kalyanaraman and most recently, Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam. But Upacharapoorvam Gunda Jayan is different from both of those films in terms of mood and presentation. If you would ask me if such an incident could have transpired in real life, the chances of the various incidents that make up the film happening are high. You would find so many relatable characters that you meet while attending a middle-class wedding.

By now, your song Gunda Gunda has already become popular with the audience. Having sung Pistah song in Neram and Scene Contra in Premam, has it now become a given that you would come up with a catchy tune if you are part of the cast?

(Laughs) I was cast in Gunda Jayan only as an actor. Ajith P Vinodhan was the one who was in charge of the making video of the film and as he knew I was there, he quickly wrote some lyrics and asked if I could sing it. There was also Jayadasan chettan, who plays a character named Kunjappan in the film. He is a folk singer, writer and composer, and so the song was conceived while we were jamming together. It’s not part of the movie because my character Reji doesn’t have to sing as part of the film’s story. So, this was shot as a promo video.

You have, however, penned the lyrics for all the song for Member Rameshan 9aam Ward.

Yes, but I haven’t sung any in it.

What can you tell us about the movie?

Arjun plays the lead role. I play Subbu. Both of us are painters and Chemban Vinod Jose is our mentor. While he is inclined to politics, my character and Arjun’s aren’t. But after a certain incident, Rameshan is forced to contest the elections and the problems that he has to face – personally, professionally and financially – is what the film is about. A lot of actors and DOP of Upacharapoorvam Gunda Jayan are also part of Member Rameshan 9aam Ward.

Personally, are you someone who has a clear political stance?

I have my own political views, and it often doesn’t match that of the political parties that exist here. However, I don’t wish to be active in politics or anything of that sort. Just like you follow cricket as a sport, I am also someone who keenly follows politics and would one day even write a political film that will reflect my ideologies.

You are also part of several anticipated films such as Alphonse Puthren’s Gold.

Yes, it’s a film with Prithviraj Sukumaran and Nayanthara in the lead. Most of us from Premam are part of the movie too. Anend C Chandran and Hridayam’s cinematographer Viswajith Odukkathil have cranked the camera for the film. My wife Ashwini (Kale) is its art director; she had also worked in Hridayam.

The detailing in Hridayam is something that has been praised. How would you rate her work, having seen the effort from close quarters?

I would give it an 8.5 out of 10 in a heartbeat because she has worked really hard for it. Because she isn’t a Malayali, she is only now figuring out the nativity aspect but her aesthetic sense is top notch and she puts in a lot of effort for her movies. In Gold too, I am sure the audience would notice that.

Be it Nivin Pauly, Alphonse, Sharafudheen, Krishna Shankar or yourself, all of you came into the industry with sheer passion for cinema and it’s all paying off right now. As a group, how are you enjoying this success?

All of us had this intense desire to make it in films and if you have observed, we are all growing in our careers with every film. This will be evident from all our films, and it’s because we can’t do any other jobs. Both Alphonse and I studied digital filmmaking and audio engineering, respectively, in Chennai, and so this has always been our aim. We want to make as much impact as we can in cinema, so that even if we die, our name lives on. For us, it’s not just monetary benefit, we want our films to be discussed years later even after we have passed on. There will be failures along the journey, but we aren’t going to pull back.

What are the other upcoming films?

I am part of Kochaal, Dinoy Paulose’s Pathrosinte Padappukal, Manju Warrier’s Vellarikapattanam and Saiju Kurup’s Anthakshari. Both Vellarikapattanam and Anthakshari have me in very different roles than the ones I have played so far. These were new to me and I am awaiting the audience’s feedback for them.

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