These reel dads rock in real life too!

Of late, Malayalam cinema has seen a slew of memorable father figures on screen.

Whether it’s the sarcastic yet understanding father played by Joy Mathew in 1983 or the uber cool dad enacted by Renji Panicker in Jacobinte Swargarajyam, many a time these onscreen dads remind us of our own fathers, triggering pangs of nostalgia and that aching love, which we don’t often express. So, why do these ‘movie dads’ always ring a bell? What kind of fathers are these actors in real life? Father’s Day seemed like the perfect excuse to prod their children a little and find out...


He is my go-to guy for solutions:Kalidas Jayaram

When I was young, dad always used to be busy with shoots. But whenever he came home, he would compensate for his absence by talking to us and involving himself in every activity we do. Over time, he has become my friend and I feel lucky to say that he is my best friend today, more than a father. Once at school, I got punished for something I did. When dad came to know about it, he immediately came down and spoke in support of me to my teachers. Also, my first film Oru Pakka Kathai hasn’t released yet after two years and I am anxious about it. It was my dad who made sure that I don’t lose my confidence or feel depressed. He knows what I’m thinking and comes up with the right solution every time.

He makes us laugh: Shaheen Sidhique
Vappachi is a very cool guy. He makes us laugh by cracking jokes, imitating our family members and narrating anecdotes from shooting locations. When he is at home, he wants all three of us children to be around him. He will ask us to skip tuitions even though he knows we need to attend them to perform well at school. I am always proud to tell the world that I am his son. Once my best friend met with an accident at Coimbatore and at the hospital they had no means to contact his family. Someone over there identified my friend and told the authorities that he is Siddique’s son’s friend. They contacted my dad. I was in London then, but dad helped them with further procedures.

He gives us ample freedom: Nithin Renji Panicker
My dad is a better father in real life than all the roles he has portrayed on screen. He gave us more freedom than the father in Premam, he is more broad-minded than the one in Om Shanthi Oshana and more loving and caring than Jacob in Jacobinte Swargarajyam. Since childhood, my dad has respected our dreams and given us the freedom to do what we wish to do. He always puts us in a situation where we cannot ask for more. When my brother and I said that we wanted to be in the film industry, dad explained to us the risks involved and then told us to go ahead.

He is my good friend:Ann Esther Joy
I like everything about my dad. The way he perceives things and the way he interacts with people. His friends’ circle has all kinds of people and he talks to everyone as to a friend. There is nothing and no one which can make him uncomfortable. He is a totally ‘adipoli’ father. He is not only my dad, but also a good friend. He joins us when we play, and understands us when we are in trouble or frustrated. He really understands our generation well and we never have had those generation gap issues. Once we were having my birthday party at home. My new friends from college had come home and they were a bit nervous about meeting my dad. But as soon as they landed, my dad made them so comfortable that they became friends with him! I don’t think many fathers do all this.

He is my support system:Jinadevan Vijayaraghavan
Achan has had a big role to play in every decision I have made in my life. He is a good companion and the best advisor and mentor one can have. He never forcefully tries to impose his thoughts on me but instead understands my confusions and guides me to clarity. When I had to make choices in my career, it was he who supported me and helped me to choose the best option. I was into the insurance sector but now I am a successful businessman. I owe it all to him. Having him as my biggest support system is my best blessing, which I find lacking in many of my friends.

He brings out the best in us: Sanjay (Bobby and Sanjay)

Dad has never scolded us or hit us even once in my life. He has never asked us to do anything for him, till today, be it financially or in any other way. But he taught us to be self-reliant. We started dreaming of becoming script-writers in our early twenties and thought that since dad is a producer, things would be easy for us. We used to go to him with our scripts but he kept on rejecting them. At times this made us angry but when we presented the script of Ente Veedu Appoontem to him, he told us that he was going to produce it. And then things moved quickly; Sibi Malayil joined us, Jayaram and his son too came forward. Now when we look back, I realise that our dad rejected our earlier scripts to bring out the best in us.