Triggering a re-think: Prithviraj

Prithviraj surprised fans and critics alike by bagging the 2006 Kerala State best actor award, writes KK Moidu

Young Malayalam actor Prithviraj bagged the 2006 State award for Best Actor for his performance as Balachandran Adiga in Vasthavam, but the announcement came as a shock to many. According to reports there was much debate in the award committee before a final decision was taken in the matter. Youths like Prithviraj are rarely known to win such awards. Such laurels normally go the way of frontrunners like Mammootty, Mohanlal and Suresh Gopi or otherwise it is veterans like Murali, Nedumudi Venu, Thilakan, Oduvil Unnikrishnan and O Madhavan.

This year too cinegoers expected Mammootty to win the award for Karutha Pakshikal or Palunku or Mohanlal for Rasathanthram or Keerthichakra. But these two were not even in the final race and actor/scriptor Sreenivasan won the special jury award for his role as a handicapped beggar in Thakarachenda, directed by the debutante Avira Rebecca.

Sreenivasan

Prithviraj was born on Oct.16, 1983 as the younger son of late actor Sukumaran and actress Mallika. His older brother Indrajith and sister-in-law Poornima are also actors. After completing his school education from Sainik School and Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan School in Thiruvananthapuram, he earned a degree in IT and later studied engineering in Australia, before entering the tinselworld.
Director-Script writer Renjith cast Prithviraj as the male lead in Nandanam opposite Navya Nair. Though the movie was a superhit and performed well at the box office Navya hogged the limelight and even won the State Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of the film's Cindrella-like character, Balamani.
Prithviraj too won the hearts of filmgoers as Manu in Nandanam and soon became a favourite of women viewers. His pairing with Navya Nair was perfect and director Bhadran repeated the pair in Vellithira. Prithviraj took a break from his studies and concentrated full-time on films. Vellithira didn't do well at the box office unlike other Bhadran films. One of the main reasons that the Malayalam audience didn't accept him in his role as Raghuram aka Style Raj. However, the song Pachamanga Pachamanga became more popular than the movie.

Prithviraj's repertoire of well-performed roles includes that of the responsible brother (Muthu) in Meerayude Dukhavum Muthuvinte Swapnavum, who always dreams of marrying off his handicapped sister; the irrepressible Romeo (Kunjoonju) in the superhit Swapnakkoodu directed by Kamal. His portrayal of the lorry driver in Lohithadas's Chakram is another example. He made a mark as the cop in Sathyam and Vargam. His portrayal of the corrupt Sub-Inspector Solomon Joseph, who falls victim to his wrong-doing, in Vargam was well-accepted by the public. He also played a naval officer in Albhuthadweep, directed by Vinayan.
The actor's five-year career gave him ample opportunities to handle different types of characters. He was also lucky to be part of the technically perfect Santhosh Sivan film, Ananthabhadram, a supernatural thriller with a novel storyline. His other movies Akale, Ammakilikoodu, Krithyam, Daivanamathil etc., also did moderate business at the box office. However, it has not always been success and accolades for this under-25 actor. He has had flops like Stop Violence, Nakshathra Kannulla Rajakumaran Avanundoru Rajakumari, Vellinakshathram, Police and Achanurangatha Veedu etc.

Although, Prithviraj proved his acting talent, he had been labelled as a hero who cannot carry a film on his shoulders alone. He was relegated to second-hero roles and so never became a superstar. Critics never credited with a status higher than that of actor Sukumaran's son. Prithviraj never got films with prestigious banners or reputed directors. His hard-hitting statements and rebellious nature got him branded as egotistical and Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (Amma) put a covert ban on him. All this hindered him in the realisation of his dream in the megastar-dominated Malayalam industry.
When meaty roles dried up on the home turf, he tried his luck in Tamil. Like other top Malayalam stars, his debut in Tamil was not as a hero. He portrayed a different kind of villain in master cinematographer KV Anand's directorial debut, Kana Kandein. This negative character, Madan, is very different from the stereotypical villan. He does not drink, smoke, rape or even talk loudly. Lady Luck smiled at Prithviraj, when all the leading heroes refused to do the negative role. Tamil leading man Srikanth and Gopika played the lead roles in the film.
Prithvi's performance in Kana Kandaiein won a lot of praise and became the stepping stone for his wish-fulfillment as a hero in Tamil films. This came with Parijatham, directed by veteran craftsman Bhagyaraj. Parijatham also marked the debut of Bhagyaraj's daughter Saranya as an actress. After Parijatham clicked at the box office, Prithviraj became a much sought-after name. Offers poured in from reputed banners and among them Mozhi, produced by Prakash Raj and directed by Radha Mohan, with Jyothika as his heroine; Satham Podathe, directed by Vasant and co-starring Padmapriya. Prithviraj was paired with Sandhya in Kannampoochi Yeneada, which has music by Yuvan Shankar Raja and is directed by G. Thilakan.
He also signed a comedy film, Kallapart, directed by debutante Viji, a famous Tamil TV actress. Asin Thottumkal and Prakash Raj are the other artists in the film. Kallapart is a remake of the superhit Malayalam film Udhayanaanu Tharam starring Mohanlal, Sreenivasan and Meena. Prithviraj is doing Mohanlal's role in Kallapart and music has been composed by Vidyasagar. Because of his Tamil successes, he was also signed to do a Telugu film directed by Bhushan, where he is paired opposite Anjali Zaveri.
Classmates, directed by hit-maker Lal Jose, marked his comeback to Malayalam cinema. Although the film had no major stars, it went on to become the biggest grosser in Malayalam cinema's history, competing with the films of superstars, released around the same time. That propelled Prithviraj to superstardom. He has once again become hot property in Malayalam films. Classmates went on to prove that a film about youngsters can also re-write box-office history provided it has superb screenplay, direction and amazing performances.
After Vargham and Ammakkilikoodu, director Padmakumar's third movie with Prithviraj, Vasthavam, brought the actor real luck by fetching him the state award for the best actor. The film's story, written by Babu Janardanan is heart-rending. It features Prithviraj as Balachandran, the son of an honest communist leader, born in a poor Brahmin family. He works as a priest at the local temple and has heavy responsibilities like marrying off his sisters and saving the family from abject poverty. Balachandran's cousin, Sumithra (Kavya Madhavan), is his love interest and their affair has the approval of both families.
Everything, however, changes when Thruppan Namboodiri (Salim Kumar) approaches Balachandran's family with the proposal of his niece Surabhi (Samvrutha Sunil). Balachandran is promised a job in the state secretariat, if he marries Surabhi. Initially Balachandran turns down the offer. However, Sumithra expresses her willingness to sacrifice her love in order to save his family. Balachandran marries Surabhi, but on the night of the marriage, Balachandran's sister elopes with Sreedharan, an adivasi leader.
Balachandran's mother dies of the shock. After the funeral Balachandran goes to Thiruvananthapuram to take up employment at the secretariat. Balachandran comes under the corrupting influence of Unnithan, a secretariat old-timer, who has no qualms about accepting bribes. It turns out that in addition to getting a husband for his neice, Thruppan Namboodiri also wanted in his new job to obtain approval for his ceramic factory.
Balachandran get close to his divorcee colleague Vimala after learning that she is the niece of a highly influential politician, Pattom Raveendran (Murali). When Pattom becomes a minister, Balachandran is appointed his personal staff member. Balachandran uses Vimala, the minister's wife and henchmen to attain his goals. Very soon, Balachandran becomes more powerful and richer than the minister. He forgets his past, ignores his wife and the people who helped him. Vasthavam thus delves into Kerala's current political scenario - secretariat, employees like personal assistants to ministers, their private secretaries and clerical staff.
As for Prithviraj's career, the new year has begun with offers like Pakal, directed by debutante MA Nishad, where he plays a journalist. Jyothirmayi is the female lead. In Anantham, directed by Kukku, and Nammal Thammil he co-stars with Geethu Mohandas. Kadha with Kavya Madhavan as his heroine and Avan Chandiyude Makan has Sredvika as his heroine.
After the surprise success of Classmates, the big names of Malayalam cinema are re-thinking and approaching Prithviraj with offers. Renjith is casting him in his new movie opposite Mamta Mohandas and with good reason.

Prithviraj has all the right qualities. He is young but looks mature. He has a good physique and can handle both action-oriented and romantic roles with ease. This "star son" is expected to shine on the industry for a long time. His hard work and sincerity have been rewarded with success. With little competition from contemporaries his future couldn't be brighter.