Unni Mukundan: Films should not be made to propagate a belief

Unni Mukundan could probably give a master class in time management. Apart from a range of acting projects, he is also aiming to get into the director’s seat this year. His first production made waves at the box office, as a commercial and critical success. It was also the “first Malayalam film to be screened at the Dubai Expo”, and picked up the award for best film on Friday at the Bengaluru International Film Festival. The actor-producer balances this success with a down-to-earth connectability with fans, with whom he held a three-month-long body transformation challenge following

Meppadiyan

, and he says he is humbled and overwhelmed by the response to the project and his character Jayakrishnan.

He spoke to Kochi Times about the movie’s success, overcoming ‘body shaming’, his upcoming projects and more.

Meppadiyan, by newbie writer-director Vishnu Mohan, seems to be a gift that keeps on giving. After a good box office run, it has received its first award. How does it feel?
Malayalam films had started receiving a bigger audience and it was giving rise to discussions across India. It is thanks to our content. And it is for this same reason that our film too, was shown at the Indian pavilion at the expo.
It is mind-blowing to be selected best out of about a 100 films from around India at the Bengaluru festival. This was not made as a film intended for the festival or awards circuit. It was a highly commercial film, but we also made a good film that entertained the audience, as well. I had given my soul and heart to it and the response means a lot. Ever since I came into the industry, I have wanted to do a lot of things. As a star, you are not in a position of power to take certain decisions, so I realised you have to be a director or producer to make a difference.

Director Anup Pandalam of your upcoming film Shefeekkinte Santhosham said you have a great sense of humour, which is why he picked you for his comedy. And you put on quite a bit of weight to play Jayakrishnan. Are these conscious steps to move away from the buff hero-type?
In Malayalam cinema, we typecast a fit or well-built guy as someone who cannot convey emotions or crack a joke or cry. It felt frustrating and pathetic to be pigeon-holed in this manner. For the role of Jayakrishnan, I had to gain 20 kg to look like a regular guy. That was the most disheartening part of the role for me. The script did not demand a chubby person, but what was sold to me was that Jayakrishnan would not be able to communicate his dilemma if he was well-built. And I had to buy it.
It is not as if regular guys are not fit. Those days have passed. I have felt limited and disheartened about being constantly reminded about my physicality. It has nothing to do with my acting skills. It’s not as if an actor with a flashy lifestyle would be denied the role of a beggar.


Tell us about your upcoming projects.
I have Telugu film Yasodha with Samantha, and in Malayalam, I have completed two films with Jayaraj sir and one with Luca director Arun Bose. Of course, there is Shefikkinte Santosham coming up. After this, I am joining hands on Vishnu Mohan’s next directorial, Pappa, in which I play a politician. And then I want to get into direction with a film written by Ranam director Nirmal Sahadev. That too, will happen this year.

As a filmmaker, will you make issue-based films?
I don't think films have to be made teach people good and bad. That is the job of schools or even books. If while watching a movie, you come across an idea that feels right on principle, that’s fine. One has so many views on life and society, but you can’t put that into your movie. Art is not for that. Art for entertainment. For me, films are about telling stories. It is sad that films are made to propagate a political or religious idea; that is not right.

Meppadiyan was trolled for endorsing the services of a right-wing organisation and showing a minority community member in a negative light.
That was just part of the storytelling. I used the ambulance of a right-wing organisation, because the character is strapped for money and this is a voluntary service. The minority community money lender is shown as undercutting the value of a property, but Jayakrishnan too, attempts a business dealing in the same manner. These things can be explained logically. It is not good if the discussion veers away from the quality of the film to other things.