Mohanlal, Priyadarshan’s Olavum Theeravum to be a black-and-white segment in the Netflix anthology?

Director Priyadarshan had earlier said that his segment Olavum Theeravum in the upcoming Netflix anthology based on MT Vasudevan Nair’s stories will be a tribute to the makers of the 1970 film of the same name that was helmed by PN Menon and had Madhu in the lead. Recent reports suggest that the filmmaker had decided to stick to the same story and tone for the segment featuring Mohanlal.

The team recently completed shooting for the featurette, which is apparently 50 minutes in duration and is the longest segment in the anthology that includes nine other films based on MT Vasudevan Nair’s stories. Mohanlal plays the role of a timber trader named Baputty in the segment, which also has Durga Krishna, Mammukkoya, Hareesh Peradi and Surabhi Lakshmi in pivotal roles.

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The makers have now confirmed that they have retained the story and haven’t made any changes to the screenplay based on Nair’s short story that was published in 1957. In fact, a portion of the movie has been shot in black and white as tribute to the cast and crew of the 1970 film. Santosh Sivan has cranked the camera for Olavum Theeravum, which has art design by Sabu Cyril. Another highlight of the segment is that it’s the first time that Priyadarshan, Mohanlal, Santosh and Sabu are working together after their film Kaalapani.

Priyadarshan, meanwhile, has also helmed another segment for the anthology that has Biju Menon and Shanti Krishna in the lead. The short film is based on Shilalikhithangal. Other filmmakers who have helmed segments in the anthology include Jayaraj, Mahesh Narayanan, Santosh Sivan, Shyamaprasad, Ratheesh Ambat and Aswathy Vasudevan Nair.

The remaining segment in the anthology will be directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery and has Mammootty in the lead. The vignette will be based on Nair’s memoir about his trip to Sri Lanka while he was working as a journalist.