'Chalakudikkaran Changathi': Five interesting facts about the film on late actor Kalabhavan Man

As veteran director, Vinayan's latest movie 'Chalakudikkaran Changathi' hits theatres today, many movie lovers and fans of late actor Kalabhavan Mani are waiting to watch their favourite star again on the big screen in a film that tells his life story. Director Vinayan, who was a mentor, close friend and the one who gave Mani a break in his acting career, made 'Chalakkudikkaran Changathi' as a tribute and a gesture of honour to his longtime friend. Rajamani (Senthil), a television and mimicry artist plays the lead character of Kalabhavan Mani in this movie which is expected to stir up controversies surrounding the actor's career and death. Let's look at five interesting facts about this biopic.

According to reports, the movie has woven together real-life incidents from Mani's life and career from director Vinayan's viewpoint. The movie shows the growth of Kalabhavan Mani from a man who hailed from underprivileged circumstances to become one of the most loved actors in Mollywood. Though the movie focuses more on the life of the great star after he entered the film industry, it also touches upon his life before stardom, when he earned a livelihood as an auto driver and as a stage artist. The movie also shows the humanitarian side of Mani.

Vinayan, in an interview said that the movie will throw light on the discrimination Kalabhavan Mani faced in the film industry due to his caste and colour. The director has revealed that many prominent actors in the industry withdrew from movies in which Mani played the lead role. Honey Rose plays a real-life actress who denied Mani work- a glimpse we got in in the movie's trailer. Vinayan also recalls an incident when a senior actor returned the advance fees after getting to know that Mani was playing the hero in 'Vasanthiyum Lekshmiyum Pinne Njanum'.

Though the movie shows the struggles and hardships faced by Kalabhavan Mani in his career and life, Vinayan assures that the movie will be a mass entertainer-which is evident from the trailer. The movie will shed light on Mani's positive attitude towards life- that was to celebrate every moment. Like the man he was in real life, 'Chalakudikkaran Changathi' will portray him with a great sense of humour. There will be songs, action sequences and dialogues in the movie projecting Mani as a hero and a compassionate human being.

'Chalakudikkaran Changathi' will portray the final hours of actor Kalabhavan Mani's life and his mysterious death, the investigation of which is still under progress by CBI. Vinayan, in an interview, said that he has shown in the film according to his understanding of Mani's death from close sources, and news reports. Mani passed away under mysterious circumstances in his favourite out house Padi, which will feature in the movie's climax scenes. Padi was recreated for the movie by creating a set in Paravoor.

Vinayan, who gave Mani a career breakthrough with the movie 'Vasathiyum Lekshmiyum Pinne Njanaum', is yet again promoting an upcoming mimicry and television artist Rajamani (Senthil) by giving him the lead role of in 'Chalakkudikaran Changathi'. According to Rajamani, Vinayan wanted someone who didn't look or behave like Mani, instead, the director wanted someone who could smile and laugh simultaneously as the legend did in his life. Senthil has changed his name now to Rajamani as instructed by Vinayan. The director apparently auditioned thousands of artists for the role, but he picked Rajamani to play the lead character after watching his performance in a television series