Pookalam movie dubbing time. Vijayaraghavan, who plays the lead character Ichappa, saw the performance of Ganga Meera, who played his younger daughter Elsamma in the film, and called her over the phone and said, “Gange… you stand out like Ambili Maman on screen”! Ganga Meera’s character Elsamma is clearly in the mind of the audience watching the movie. Ganga Meera says that the transition from Arjun Ashokan’s character in Jaan-A-Man from a mischievous mother who asks ‘Kissaticha’ to Elsamma who demands a lot of emotional ups and downs was not an easy one. The audience will love the character just like Ichappa loves Elsamma. Ganga Meera Manorama online shared experiences of Pookalam movie.
The way was opened by Jan A. Mann
After seeing Jaan A Man, director Ganesh Raj called me for the role of Pookalam. Later the script reading session was called. Elsamma has to do some very emotional scenes in the film. I have not done such scenes till now. Ganesh asked if I feel like I will be typecast because I am an older character. I had no such fear. Must be cast first… then typecast! I immediately agreed to do the role. Playing a role in the ‘Anandam’ team reunion movie was definitely exciting for me.
That tense scene
The role of Elsamma was challenging for me. I found it difficult to get into the emotional scenes. It was easy to capture the character’s emotional journey as it was shot almost in scene order. Ganesh interacts with the actors beautifully. There were a couple of tense sequences in the film for me. They are scenes that are necessarily emotional. I had told Ganesh that I was tensed to do it. Whenever I see Ganesh, my question is to shoot that scene. Then he will cool me down. We will be encouraged by saying that we can do it.
My scene in the climactic sequence where everyone is fine was shot on the last day of the shoot. The shoot that day went on till 5-6 in the morning. I was also very tired that day. With that, the tension of whether I can do that scene well. I felt like I had lost all my confidence. Ganesh intervened precisely there. He called me and told me the life journey of that character in detail and brought me to the emotion of that scene. Then asked, are you ready now? I said, yes! Then the take left. It came across beautifully in the film.
Set like family
The prime location was a house in Erratupetta. Most of the scenes have all the actors in one way or another. Leaving the hotel together. Coming to the location. They go back together following the shoot. When this happens for 25 consecutive days, a warm relationship develops between the actors. The name of the boy who played the role of Guinness is Arun. But we used to call him Ginnu. Everyone used to call Kuttetan (Vijayaraghavan) and KPAC Leelechi as Ichapan and Ichamma.
Elsamma of Ichapan
Elsamma, who I play, is Ichapan’s closest daughter in the film. There was a little fear in the first combination with the boy. It was changed by director Ganesh. The moment the shot is said to be ready, the boy becomes a hundred-year-old Ichapa. The voice modulation and body language changes in an instant have been watched in amazement. When asked how this is possible, he said that it is impossible to tell. Because it has become like a muscle memory for them. Kuttetan said that it is something that any artist can achieve through experience. It was all new learning for me. He would watch our performance very closely and comment in detail. The boy called me while dubbing. After seeing me in the movie, he said, ‘You stand out on the screen like Ambili Amma’. Even the expression given in some scenes will be remembered and appreciated. When you listen to what he says, you will understand that he is saying it with great sincerity! I was very happy to hear such kind words from him.
Abuka what a sweetie!
I met Abuka (Abu Salim) for the first time when I went to the costume trials. He was told to go to the trails at 5 o’clock. I was in Thiruvalla then. But, at two o’clock that day, the production called and asked if it is possible to come a little earlier, that Abuka has come here. They called me when they suddenly had an idea to take a picture of us together. But I am not in Thiruvalla. Either way it will take two hours. So Abuka was posted until I came. I was tensed. When he went there with this tension, he saw Abuka in the role of the character in the movie. He comforted me like Venuchan in the movie. ‘Don’t you come from the country? Don’t be tense.’ With that, all the lack of experience between us disappeared. There was a sweet realization that this man was really like this.
A year’s journey
If you ask me what memories this movie brings, I would say it’s the people in it. From the director Ganesh, the cameraman Anand, the actors to the assistant directors, everyone was cool. This movie is our one year journey. A lot of ups and downs happened in between. All this time they all stood with Katta. Especially the kid! Even following the shoot, Kuttetan would call everyone separately to inquire regarding things. I like to call it all a blessing. Their professionalism, humility, hard work, friendship and many other things have been learned from this movie. Some of the films made before the spring season are yet to be released. Vinay Fort starrer Soman’s Kritav, Naila Usha and Indrajith’s Kunjammoni’s Hospital and Aju Varghese’s Candidate Sreekuttan are the upcoming films.