This story is from October 19, 2011

Maniyan Pillai booked. Now filmed!

Sanjith Sidhardhan / TNN / Oct 19, 2011, 13:30 IST

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Actor Jayasurya plays the real-life con man for the big screen

There's something eerie and charismatic about the negativity that surrounds the life of a real-life don, goon or even a petty thief. Not even Hollywood director Steven Spielberg could stay away from casting actor Leonardo DiCaprio in his film that was inspired by a biography of a thief. Closer home, it is director Babu Janardhan, (of the Bombay, March 12 fame) who has decided to do something similar.
The Mollywood flick tentatively titled Kallante Katha is based on the book Thaskaran: Maniyanpillayude Atmakatha, written by G R Indugopan.It narrates the thrilling life story of a smart, inter-state thief Maniyan Pillai who almost became an MLA in Karnataka before he got arrested in the 80s, says the scribe.
The film, which stars actor Jayasurya playing the con man for the big screen, will also star the real guy Maniyan Pillai in a guest role. "The movie will shed light on both the touching and thrilling aspects of being a thief, and his downfall," says director Babu. And Maniyan, who has been taking up small roles in films and on television, says he's excited about being a part of a venture like this. Though there have been several movies inspired by real-life criminals, notably Charles Sobhraj, there hasn't been one in Indian cinema in which the inspiration was actually given some screen time.
While Maniyan is thrilled that his life would be immortalised on the silver screen, the 61-year-old Kollam resident maintains that "he plans to carry on just like a drift wood, but will never stray back into his old path."
If the movie lives up to the best-seller, chronicling the rise and fall of the con man, this one is surely going to be a must-watch for 2012.

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