PremiumIyer in Arabia director M A Nishad says Mukesh and Urvashi steal the show in this family entertainer| Exclusive
Iyer in Arabia, starring Mukesh, Urvashi, Dhyan Sreenivasan and Durga Krishna, will release in theatres on February 2.
Last Updated: 12.18 PM, Jan 25, 2024
Director M A Nishad said in an interview with OTTplay that veteran actors Mukesh and Urvashi have taken centre stage in his next movie, Iyer in Arabia, which opens on theatres on February 2. The screenplay and dialogues for Iyer in Arabia have been penned by the director himself.
The family entertainer centres on Sreenivasa Iyer, who resigned from a government job voluntarily. His life takes an unexpected but hilarious turn when he and his wife decide to move to Dubai after their son gets a job there. The main focus of the movie is on Iyer's observations and lessons from his experiences in this new city, and how they modify his conservative mindset.
Mukesh portrays the role of Sreenivasa Iyer and Urvashi plays Jhansi Rani, a history professor and Sreenivasa Iyer’s wife. Dhyan Sreenivasan appears as Rahul, their son.
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The director made a promise that this would be an enjoyable family drama with heartfelt moments and spontaneous humour. "I am positive that the audience won't become disappointed or let down by Iyer in Arabia. I have also added a lot of satirical elements that make fun of the antiquated mindset that still exists today,” he said.
Nishad added that Mukesh easily adopts Sreenivasa Iyer's mannerisms and appearance. “He still has not landed more diverse roles, and in my opinion, he is the most underappreciated actor in Malayalam. His chemistry and timing of humour with Urvashi is so perfect,” he said.
He also gave the supporting cast, particularly Sudheer Karamana and Sunil Sukhada, credit for their performances, which gave the entertainer just the right amount of humour. Durga Krishna, Shine Tom Chacko, Maniyanpillai Raju, Jaffer Idukki, Alencier and Biju Sopanam are among the supporting cast of Iyer in Arabia.
The Vairam director talked about his decision to switch from making socially conscious films to comedies, saying that he wanted to cater to the tastes of the current audience. “People these days are stressed and impatient. To keep them interested in theatres, only a good thriller or a light-hearted family entertainer will work, in my opinion,” he added.
Nishad continued by saying that previous producers mainly wanted him to do more social dramas with elements reminiscent of actual events. "Many approached me for similar films after Pakal, which addressed the issue of framers' suicide. That's when I made Vairam and Aayudham, which had some commercial elements in it," he said.
Nishad has also acted in over 11 films, including the investigative thriller Bharatha Circus, which was released in 2022.