Vinayan never wanted a doppelganger of Mani to act in Chalakkudikkaran Changathi

We all know that director Vinayan had a special relationship with the late actor Kalabhavan Mani and he has taken a film on based on the actor. The film Chalakkudikkaran Changathi has actor Senthil Rajamani playing the lead role.

Recollecting his first meeting with Vinayan, Senthil says it was director Vinayan’s wife who had suggested his name to him. “I was then doing a television sitcom Vellanakalude Naadu. In that I had various get-ups. She saw it and told Vinayan sir about it. Before meeting me, Vinayan sir had watched my comedy shows and other programmes.”
When Vinayan told him that he planned to cast him as Kalabhavan Mani in Chalakkudykkaran Changathi, he broke down. Then Vinayan held him close and said he was looking for a tall and dark man who cried and laughed quickly. “He paid me the advance amount for the role.”

It took time for it to sink in. “I knew it was challenging to play an actor who had so much acceptance among the people. I was sacred.” Senthil asked Vinayan why he was chosen for the role. “I do not resemble Manichettan in any way in either looks or my voice. How will I be apt for the role?” he wanted to know. Vinayan replied that he was not looking for a doppelganger of Mani or someone who could mimic him. In fact, he told Senthil that many such people had approached him ever since he had announced the project.