Pakistani cricketer to play lead in Indian film

Filmmaker Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri casts Hafeez to play the lead role in his Malayalam directorial debut.

KANNUR: Filmmaker Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri has managed to pull off a casting coup for his Malayalam directorial debut Mazhavillinnatamvare by roping in Pakistani cricketer Mohammed Hafeez for the lead role along with former Indian captain Kapil Dev and Bollywood star Suniel Shetty.

He says he is thrilled because things fell into place after a long period of preparation.

“We will have the puja of the film in Kannur itself and I expect all the three to be present on November 24,” the multifaceted Namboothiri, who has written lyrics for 300 Malayalam films, said.

He will not only direct the film but has also penned the story, script, dialogues and songs for the movie.

The lead role for the film was first offered to Wasim Akram, who declined. The role then went to fast bowler Mohammed Asif but he was dropped when allegations of match fixing surfaced.

Elaborating on the storyline, Namboothiri said the film transcends boundaries, hence the title Mazhavillinnatamvare (Till the end of the rainbow).

“A rainbow is like a bridge that does not have boundaries and it is one through which people can travel. I chose the cast because the story is based on cricket and only cricketers can do justice to what they know best. It would make my job easy because they are all cricketers who have played at the highest level,” he said.

The lead character of the film is Hafeez who arrives as a bowling coach at a cricket academy in India searching for his roots.

Shetty will play a supporting role, while Kapil Dev will make a guest appearance.

Other actors in the film include Nedumudi Venu, Siddiq, Venjaramoodu Suraj, Kaviyoor Ponnamma and new faces Krishna and Archana Kavi.

“The film will give a lot of emphasis to music. There are five songs for which I have written lyrics and my son will make his debut as a music director. Yesudas and Shankar Mahadevan will sing the songs,” said the veteran lyricist who also performs Carnatic music.

The film is being produced by Kannur based A Mukundan and is expected to hit the screens on the occasion of Vishu.

“We are working out a marketing arrangement for the film to be released worldwide on the same day,” said Namboothiri.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 9^th, 2010.