Malayalam cinema goes international with 'Aakasha Gopuram'

Kochi, August 22 : Country's first international Malayalam film 'Aakasha Gopuram', released nationwide on Friday.

The film is an adaptation of the Henrik Ibsen classic play 'The Master Builder', which was first published in 1892 and first performed in Berlin on January 19, 1893.

Tutu J. Sharma, Taizoon Khorakiwala and Manu S. Kumaran produced the film while National award winning director K. P. Kumaran directed it.

The film stars Mohanlal, (the late) Bharat Gopi, Shweta Menon and Nithya.

Speaking to the media Kumaran said it was impossible to change the original text however he has interpreted it in his own way.

"It's such a text that you can't change it. I have certain suggestions or certain interpretations. I have been keeping the play intact and I have been breaking the play at several places, besides this I have been adding my own ideas into it. The play is intact but it's not a play nor is it a transitional play it is a pure film. I have been throwing all these scenes on it through vast locations," said Kumaran.

The film is making news outside its home territory for several reasons, one being that it is an adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's famous play 'The Master Builder.' Second it has assembled the best of talent from Hollywood, United Kingdom, Tamil and Malayalam film industries. Multiple Emmy Award winner John Altman has given the music of the film. Altman has the credit of giving the music of the films like 'Golden Eye,' 'Titanic,' 'Bhaji on the Beach' and 'Shall We Dance'.

Altman admitted that the film 'Aakasha Gopuram' has different music.

"I think they wanted (the producers of this film) the sort of sensibility which I had in the films 'Titanic' and 'Shall we dance'. The sorts of scoring that I was doing in those movies which people are familiar in here (in India). So I think it won't be as big shock as some people thought it will be but yes it has a different approach," said Altman.

Other international names associated with the film include Nigel Holland ('Batman Begins,' 'Braveheart' and 'Resident Evil' fame), who is the man behind Aakasha Gopuram's sound design.

Rerecording mixers are Robert Farr ('Star Wars: Episode II' and 'Episode III' and 'Gangs of New York' fame) and Matthew Gough ('Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban' and 'Cold Mountain' fame).

Visual effects are by John Harvey and Jonathan Trussler of 'Kingdom of Heaven' fame.

The film is shot entirely in the United Kingdom by cinematographer Santosh C. Thundiyil who has made a name with films like 'Kuchh Kuchh Hota Hai,' 'Pinjar' and 'Kaal.'

The film Aakasha Gopuram is set in London among the Indian immigrant community and tells the story of Albert Samson (Mohanlal), a middle-aged architect, who has clawed his way to prominence.

His single-minded focus on his job, however, has hardened him and prevented him and his wife Alice (Swetha Menon) from having a meaningful private life.

Mohanlal spoke about his role in detail.

"My association with three ladies (actress in the film) is very strange in the film. This character (Mohanlal's character in the film) has got very strange ideas because he loves to make things very big, he is renowned architect so it's a passion and it's a creation. So this man lives in a different plane, so he reacts with these ladies in different planes," said Mohanlal.

Known for his deep commitment to female empowerment through his films K. P. Kumaran in 'Aakasha Gopuram' paints an intriguing portrait of one man's consuming desire for success.

ANI