There are only two kinds of movies - sensible and insensible: Venu

It took more than a decade for three time National Award winning cinematographer, Venu, to direct his second movie. Like his previous project, this time also he is attempting something new. His next film, Munnariyippu, which stars Mammootty and Aparna Gopinath in the lead, revolves around the relationship between a prisoner and a scribe. The ace cinematographer-turned-director doesn’t want to tag his movie with any kind of labels.
“There is no dichotomy between art house and commercial cinema. I believe there are only two kinds of movies - sensible and insensible; movies with substandard elements that appeal to baser instincts of the crowd, and movies appealing to the finer sensibilities of the audience. However, according to my conscience, the former is quite unacceptable,” says Venu, adding that his second outing has a simple story that can happen anywhere.
Meanwhile, Venu who cranked the camera for many legendary directors, including Bharathan, Padmarajan and K G George, ensures that his Munnariyippu is rooted to reality and will feature real-life characters and situations. “It is a film of dialogues. The characters and situations talk a lot. The transition from one scene to the other also happens through dialogues,” says the director, adding that Mammootty will be seen in a never-seen-before role in the film.
Mammootty plays Raghavan, who is serving life-term imprisonment for killing two women. Though he repeatedly states that he didn’t murder anyone, the character does not show any interest to get himself released from prison. And there comes Anjali, an ambitious young journalist, played by Aparna Gopinath. During the course, she pens down the life of Raghavan and it helps to release him from prison. The following events form the rest of the plot. “If the movie is about the story of Mammootty, then Aparna acts as its career to the audience,” adds Venu.
Scripted by Unni R, the movie also includes Nedumudi Venu, Joy Mathew, Prathap Pothen and Renji Panicker in prominent roles. While Nedumudi plays the role of a jail superintendent, Joy Mathew, Prathap Pothen and Renji Panicker are journalists. Joy plays a senior journalist, Chandraji, in the film. The director himself will crank the camera, and State award winner Bijibal will do the background score.
The film was shot in Viyyur prison and Calicut .
Venu’s earlier outing, the critically acclaimed movie Daya (1998), had won him a state award for the best debut director. So, why did he take so long to come up with his next project? “It was not a conscious decision to take a break from direction for 15 years. The first movie, Daya, was incidental, but I have been nurturing the theme of Munnariyippu for the last five to six years. In fact, I was not too far from the industry; have always been here as a cinematographer,” he signs off.