Talking to Maniyanpillai Raju is always non-stop entertainment – deep thoughts on life and his illustrious career as an actor and producer in Mollywood, liberally peppered with refreshingly candid insights, comments and digs on its workings and fellow industry personnel. Soon, viewers will get to hear for themselves the veteran actor-producer at his candid best, in his role as the anchor of a new talk show, Malayali Durbar, on Amrita TV.
The last time Raju helmed a show was some 20 years ago when he hosted Philips Top 10 , a music countdown on Asianet. Since then his tryst with the small screen has been limited to occasional interviews and appearing as a judge on several reality shows. “Hosting a talk show like Malayali Durbar , which deals with social issues, is not that easy. Sure, the show has researchers who will sift through loads of material to give you a comprehensive view on topics such as extravagant weddings, divorce, and the attitudes of modern teenagers. But it’s the responsibility of the anchor to ingest the information collected and, more importantly, to bring it out at opportune moments. I’ve always kept a diary of interesting quotes, speeches of famous people, dialogues from movies and the likes that I’ve come across and it has helped me a lot in hosting the show. Only a person who can improvise on the go can anchor such a show. That’s why anchors like Sreekantan Nair and K.B. Ganesh Kumar are a cut above the rest,” says Raju.
He’s never one to hold back complements – or criticism, for that matter, eh? “I’m approaching my 40th year in cinema and I believe I have earned the right to call a spade a spade. For instance, I have no qualms in telling Anjali Menon is truly one of the finest directors I have ever worked with, and that’s saying something. I will tell anyone who wants to hear that the so-called new generation stars need to be a bit more professional, at least about picking up calls, if not anything else. As for the older stars, it’s high time to play their age! If I say that there’s something fishy about how Dileep shies away from working with me, then I mean it and I want him to hear it…,” says Raju. Gasp!
He’s already shot four episodes of Malayali Durbar , which will go on air from July 19. “It has been an eye-opener. The show is not about celebrities. Instead, it’s about ordinary people talking about regular issues that Malayalis faces. As an actor, hosting the show has been like attending film school all over again. I am learning and unlearning at the same time. As it is, I am a firm believer that one needs to upgrade with the times, be it with regards to social media or social issues,” explains Raju.
That’s the wisdom of experience talking. Over the decades Raju has acted in over 200 films, several of them being landmarks of Malayalam cinema of the likes of Aram+Aram Kinnaram , Maniyanpillai Athava Maniayanpillai (which earned him the moniker), Kireedam (which is incidentally celebrating its 25th anniversary this year), His Highness Abdulla , and so on. He’s also never been one to insist on acting in the lead. In fact, prior to last year’s Idukki Gold and Namboothri Yuvavu@43 , he’s actually gone a couple of decades without acting in a lead role.
“I have played the lead in only two dozen or so movies and many of them such as Akkare Ninnoru Maaran , were hits. I’m comfortable playing father, grandfather, advocate, college principal kind of roles. I’m being realistic here. My idea is that each of these roles should make a mark, be it the lecturer in Doctor Love or the transgender in Ardhanaari . In my latest film Bangalore Days , though I played a small role as Nazriya’s [Nazim] dad, it still got noticed. That’s all I want,” says the genial actor. “Malayalam cinema is going through a good phase now, where genuine talent and scripts are being recognised and rewarded by the audience, eschewing high profile production banners, directors and stars. It’s very exciting and interesting to be part of the industry these days.”
Malayali Durbar is on Saturdays at 8 p.m.
Take five
* Maniyanpillai Raju’s debut film was Mohiniyattam (1976), directed by Sreekumaran Thampi.
* Come December, his latest production Paavada , directed by debutant Marthandan and starring Prithviraj in the lead, will go on floors. It will be his ninth production after Vellanakalude Naadu , Aey Auto , Anashwaram , Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu , Anandabhadram , Chotta Mumbai , Oru Naal Varum and Black Butterfly .
* He has acted in 38 of director Joshiy’s films, perhaps the only actor to do so.
* He’s a foodie and “enjoys cooking and feeding people.” Until recently, the actor was responsible for setting the menu for all AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes) meets.
* His upcoming films are Dileesh Nair’s Tamaar Padaar , in which he plays a cop, Alphonse Putharen’s Premam , in which he plays a college principal, and yet-untitled movies by Anto Joseph (with Dileep), Joshiy, and Anwar Rasheed, to name a few.
