50 years of Mammootty: TV Chandran on why distributors yelled at him on the sets of Ponthan Mada

The year 1994 was special for Mammootty as it won him his second National Film Award for Best Actor. But what astounded the jury was the variety of his performances in the two movies that were considered – Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s Vidheyan and TV Chandran’s Ponthan Mada. While the former had him as a menacing and tyrant landlord, Chandran’s drama had him as a docile and subservient member of a lower-caste who strikes an unlikely friendship with his master played by Naseeruddin Shah. 

As part of OTTplay’s series celebrating 50 years of Mammootty, director TV Chandran shares his experience of working with the megastar, how it helped shape the movie and made it reach the audience.

Mammootty won the National Award in 1994 for playing two diametrically opposite roles. It was also a time when was a top star, so what made you approach him for the role of Mada?

We were doing a major film and this was a pivotal character. So, I thought he was the right person. The film’s producer T Ravindranath and I went to meet Mammootty. By then I already had a complete vision of the film and so we discussed it at length. Mammootty was extremely interested. I think it must have been a challenge for him to do totally different characters. Vidheyan was shot first and I had even met him on the sets of Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s film. It took almost a year since our first meeting for Ponthan Mada to go on floors. He was not just acting in the film, he was part of it from start to finish, and we had also used his suggestions. 

The movie also had two acting powerhouses – Mammootty and Naseeruddin Shah. How was it directing them together?

It was an opportunity of a lifetime for me. We first spoke to Mammootty and he had suggested that we approach Naseeruddin for the role because they were acquaintances. He had passed me his contact and that’s how I went to Mumbai to meet Naseeruddin. Right after the first narration, he too was happy and we had also translated the lines for him. 

What did Mammootty bring to the character that you had initially conceived?

He was the soul of the movie. He took a lot of risks for the film. We had shot non-stop for 40 days and all throughout he was working, wearing just a thorthu (cotton towel). There were scenes where he had to chase buffaloes, and we told him that we would get a dupe to do it. But he said he will do it. So, it was a physically gruelling role. Majority of it had him on top of an areca palm and every morning he had to climb it and would be there for most of the day. 

Wasn’t that risky especially because there weren’t as many safety measures as now back then?

He was the reigning superstar of Malayalam cinema at that time. Several distributors, who came to the sets, would look at Mammootty perched on top of the palm and yell at me, saying that the film industry is hanging from the top of that tree and if something happens the fate of so many films would be adversely affected. There were so many reactions like that. But Mammootty fully supported us and the film. 

What do you attribute to the longevity of Mammootty’s career?

He does unique homework for his characters. Especially for Mada, he had talked to writer CV Sreeraman, on whose short stories the movie was based upon. Mammootty used to discuss a lot with him and did a lot of work before playing the character itself. 

Also, he was there as part of the film. I remember in the post-production phase, he was even concerned about other actors’ performances. We had to finish the post-production in a limited time as that year the movie had to be sent for censor clearance on December 30 instead of December 31. So, we only had a few days in the final phase and it was stressful. As we did the post production in Chennai, we would meet every day and he would also drop by on days he didn’t have work. He was concerned about the film and not just his performance. 

While he had won the National Award for Best Actor that year, you were adjudged the Best Director that year.

Actually, we didn’t really have time to react. My father was unwell and admitted in a hospital during the days of the film’s award screening. So, I was unaware. On the day the award was announced, my father had passed away. I couldn’t enjoy the moment because I was at the deathbed of my father. I had given interviews only 15 days later. It was a rare occurrence, to have the best and worst experience on the same day. Mammootty also knew that and so, we didn’t talk about it. 

The movie addresses caste divide. How much did having a mainstream actor help in taking the film to the masses?

If it wasn’t for Mammootty, the movie wouldn’t have gotten a big release or the attention it did. The film actually won the Kerala State and National Film awards after its release. So, the awards weren’t the reason it ran in theatres. In fact, the awards were announced on its 50th day. It was also a marked change at that time because movies that won awards back then didn’t get a theatrical run. But a lot of people had watched this film. Mammootty’s presence is the sole reason for that. It was a big gesture for him to be part of this movie and it all stems from his inherent love for cinema.

Ponthan Mada can be streamed on Hungama Play, Mainstream TV and Mubi