Neeraj Madhav: I have a different accent, body language in Ka

Neeraj Madhav has been doing things a bit differently since the lockdown. The actor went into major rapper mode and dropped tracks that went viral and stayed at the top of music charts for weeks. He also took on a new role in his personal life, turning dad to a baby girl in late February. And now with the poster of the film

Ka

, released on his birthday on Thursday, it looks like the actor has tried something different from his previous ventures.

The film by debut director

Rajeeshlal Vamsa

is a “dramatic thriller” set in the Chengalchoola colony in Thiruvananthapuram and the actor tells us, “It is different from anything that I’ve done before in Malayalam. I have a different accent and body language in the film, and there are some action scenes too.”

Rajeeshlal, who has also scripted the film, says that Neeraj was given a bit of a makeover, with a beard and tough feel, for the role. “Neeraj usually has a bit of a payyan image; but he has a more mature avatar than in any of his previous roles in Ka, which is a story set in a colony. I chose him for the role even though he hasn’t done anything like this in Malayalam before, because I felt he was very versatile among the young crop of actors today. I saw his potential through films like Oru Mexican Aparatha and Paipin Chuvattile Pranayam and felt he can do a weighty role. He has a youthful look, but is a flexible actor, can dance and do action.” The film has newcomer Aparna Janardhan playing the female lead, and has music by Jakes Bejoy.

Neeraj, who is coming together with his Adi Kapyare Kootamani co-stars Aju Varghese and Dhyan Sreenivasan for Vijay Jose’s Paathira Kurbana, says he is hoping to spend as much time with his daughter as possible before he heads out for shoots again. “I sing to her; I’m really enjoying these days of

fatherhood

, and am trying to spend the maximum time with her now. She seems to be a relatively peaceful baby,” says the actor.