Priyadarshan on the making of Malayalam cinema’s most expensive film ‘Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Singham’

Kunjali’s loyalty was with the Zamorins, the then ruler of Malabar, who appointed him as Admiral Markar of the fleet.

Perhaps the most successful mainstream director of Malayalam cinema, Priyadarshan has proved himself in many genres and languages. From rib-tickling comedies to thrillers, period sagas and action films, he has made gold at the box office. Intermittent feuds did not affect their position at the box office.

Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham The most expensive Malayalam film ever made is; Its budget is reportedly over ₹100 crore. The film is dedicated to the glory of the Indian Navy.

Directed by Priyadarshan with a screenplay by Ani Shasi, the period film is set in the 16th century when the monopoly of traditional Arab traders was challenged by Portuguese ships that reached Kerala in 1498.

Many credible accounts of Kunjali Marakkar I do not exist; The stories of where he was from are not clear. Some stories claim that he was an Egyptian who entered the service of the Zamorin, while some claim that he was an Arab who settled on the Malabar Coast. Even the facts about Kunjali Marakkar II, III and IV are shrouded in mystery.

taking cinematic liberties

“Conflicting stories abound about the Marakkars. Nevertheless, all the characters in my film are historical figures. They may not be all contemporary. Those are the cinematic liberties I’ve taken.”

There are no paintings of the Marakkars or how Kunjali Marakar IV became such a fearful naval warrior and who trained him. “Was it a hereditary post? we are not sure. Hence, my script is a mixture of facts, fiction and folklore,” he says.

Mohanlal plays the lead role of Kunjali Markar in Priyadarshan’s ‘Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Singham’. photo Credit: special arrangement

Since there are hardly any pictorial references to the costumes and ornaments of warriors and people, the costume designers of the film, who won the National Film Award for their work, had to rely on their own imagination and some references from books and illustrations.

Mohanlal and Priyadarshan discussed making a film on Kunjali Marakkar in 1996, but faced challenges while making it. Kalapani persuaded them to postpone the idea. The director remembers how difficult it was to shoot in a ship Kalapani And here was a movie set in the turbulent waters of the Arabian Sea at the turn of the 16th century.

However, massive progress in VFX and makers wanting to control the grand project prompted Priyadarshan to revisit the idea of ​​a film on the great warrior.

Mohanlal plays the lead role of Kunjali Markar in Priyadarshan’s ‘Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Singham’. photo Credit: special arrangement

The film, produced under the banner of Ashirwad Cinemas with Moonshot Entertainments and Confident Group as co-producers, went on floors by the end of 2018.

With Mohanlal in the lead role of Kunjali Markar IV, the stellar cast includes Nedumudi Venu, Prabhu, Suresh Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Suniel Shetty, Manju Warrier, Keerthy Suresh, Siddiqui, Mukesh and Pranav Mohanlal. He says that the film was written with Mohanlal in the lead role as he felt the character needed an actor who would fit in with Kunjali’s larger than life stature. The shortened version of Kunjali is essayed by Pranav Mohanlal.

But for some scenes in the Arabian Sea at Kovalam in Thiruvananthapuram, the entire film was shot at Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad.

Art & VFX

Completed in 102 days, Priyadarshan insisted that the film could not have been made without the help of his trusted art director Sabu Cyril, with whom he has worked in several films. A one-acre reservoir filled with 1.5 lakh liters of water was built in Ramoji town. We built four ships that never went to sea. Director of Photography Thirunavukarasu’s camera never saw the sea during the shoot; All the action on the high seas, storms, roaring waves was created with the help of VFX,” explains Priyadarshan.

Nedumudi Venu and Suniel Shetty in Priyadarshan’s ‘Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Singham’. photo Credit: special arrangement

While the film is still in release, it has already won three National Film Awards: for Best Feature Film, for Costumes and for VFX. His son Siddharth Priyadarshan’s award for VFX lends credence to the director’s belief that the VFX effect of the film has no parallel in India. This is the first time that a father-son duo was winning a National Film Award.

Rahul Raj’s music is already creating a buzz before the release of the film.

Mohanlal with Jay J Jakkrit and Siddiqui in Priyadarshan’s ‘Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Singham’. photo Credit: special arrangement

“Marakkar was a patriot whose allegiance to his land transcended the barriers of caste and religion. That is my message in my film. If Kunjali Marakkar could have done this so many years ago, why do we find it so difficult to put our country ahead of caste, religion and region?”

Priyadarshan insists that filmmakers transcend religion and politics. “I am a filmmaker and this is my livelihood. There is no politics or religion in cinema. that’s the way it should be.”

Harish Peradi and Arjun Sarja in a still from Priyadarshan’s ‘Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Singham’. photo Credit: special arrangement

whereas Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham Coming to cinema, Priyadarshan is busy directing a feature film in Tamil starring Urvashi in the lead. “I enjoyed reading the script of Appatha, A short film about a woman and her dog. This is Urvashi’s 700th film. twenty eight years later Mithunam, I’m working with him. Madhu Ambat is the cinematographer. ,