Oppam

Oppam

First official poster
Directed by Priyadarshan
Produced by Antony Perumbavoor
Screenplay by Priyadarshan
Story by Govind Vijayan
Starring
Music by 4 Musics
Cinematography N. K. Ekambaram
Edited by M. S. Ayyappan Nair
Production
company
Distributed by Maxlab Cinemas and Entertainments
Release dates
  • September 2016 (2016-09) (India)
Country India
Language Malayalam

Oppam (English: Together) is an upcoming Indian Malayalam crime fiction film scripted and directed by Priyadarshan, based on the story written by Govind Vijayan. The film produced by Antony Perumbavoor for Aashirvad Cinemas stars Mohanlal, Samuthirakani, Vimala Raman, Anusree, Nedumudi Venu, Mamukkoya, and Arjun Nandakumar in primary roles. Mohanlal plays Jayaraman, a blind man and the prime suspect of a crime scene he witnessed, now his only way out is to find out the real killer.

Principal photography commenced on 5 March 2016 in Kochi. Theatrical release is scheduled to happen in September 2016.

Premise

Jayaraman (Mohanlal) is born as a blind man but with a heightened senses of smell, sound and touch. He works as an elevator operator in an apartment where many reputed people lives. One day he happens to witness a murder in a flat. The killer escapes and Jayaraman is charged with the crime based on the circumstantial evidences. Now Jayaraman is forced to find the real killer to prove his innocence to the law.

Cast

Production

Development

The initial reports about the film being directed by Priyadarshan and featuring Mohanlal playing a blind man came in November 2015, which was reported to be a crime thriller penned by a debutant.[1][2] The production was confirmed and the title Oppam was announced in December 2015. The director started working on the film ahead of another big-budget film starring Mohanlal which delayed production.[3] The screenplay and dialogues are written by Priyadarshan himself which is based on the story by debutant writer Govind Vijayan. Priyadarshan says about the plot, "Mohanlal plays a visually challenged man, who is the only 'witness' of a murder. If he can't prove who the killer is, he will be charged with the crime. It's basically a cat-and-mouse game". While the genre is thriller, he assures "it got a little bit of humour too".[4] The low-budget film was tentatively planned to start production in February 2016, even though dates of Mohanlal was not finalized.[5] The final draft of the screenplay and casting was completed only in February.[6]

Casting

Priyadarshan wrote the screenplay with Mohanlal in mind as the protagonist who is his usual choice for the lead in Malayalam films.[4][7] He is playing a visually challenged person throughout a film for the first time in his career. Tamil actor-director Samuthirakani was selected to play the antogonist opposite Mohanlal. In the initial casting stage, Sanchita Shetty earlier known for her roles in the Tamil thriller films Soodhu Kavvum (2013) and Pizza II: Villa (2013) was offered one of the two female lead roles, which she accepted and expressed her interest to work in her Malayalam debut "...I fell in love with this film the moment I listened to the script. We'll begin shooting from next month [February] onwards".[8]

In the final casting in February 2015, Vimala Raman was signed in for the female lead role, who last starred alongside Mohanlal in the 2008 film College Kumaran. She plays the love interest of Jayaraman (Mohanlal) and the story revolves around her character.[9] After her casting, the other female lead role was yet to finalize, although Shetty was on the list she was later replaced with Anusree.[10][11] Child artist Meenakshi of Amar Akbar Anthony (2015) fame was also confirmed by the director to play a significant role in the film.[6] Kalabhavan Shajohn was fixed in a character with antagonistic shades.[12] Bollywood model and actress Devshi Khanduri is making her Malayalam film debut with Oppam, who plays a Punjabi girl having a love affair with a Malayali boy played by Arjun Nandakumar.[13] Sreeya Ramesh was confirmed in an unspecified role.[14]

Filming

In the mid of December 2015, as the dates of Mohanlal was not finalized, the production team tentatively planned to start filming in February 2016.[15] Principal photography and regular filming commenced on 5 March 2016 at Kochi in Kerala,[16] Mohanlal joined on the same day. The film will also have locations in Ooty, Tamil Nadu. A largely decorated set was constructed at Kochi to resemble a North-Indian wedding for picturizing a song sequence including Mohanlal and Vimala with some dancers in Punjabi attire.[17] Vimala joined the sets on 12 March,[18] and the song was completed filming in 3 days time.[19] Additional portions were filmed in Pullikkanam and Kanjar in Idukki District, where Mohanlal joined for a 10 days shoot.[20]

Music

The original soundtrack and background score is composed by four debutant music directors referred by the name 4 Musics. The lyrics are written by B.k harinarayanan and Dr. Madhu Vasudevan.

Release

Oppam is scheduled to have a release date in September 2016 during the festival time of Onam in Kerala, India.[21]

References

  1. ↑ Menon, Akhila (6 November 2015). "WHAT! Mohanlal Says No To Priyadarshan?". Filmibeat. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  2. ↑ Vikram, Raj (6 November 2015). "Mohanlal to play a blind man in Priyadarshan's 73 rd movie". Metromatinee.com. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  3. ↑ James, Anu (15 December 2015). "Mohanlal-Priyadarshan to join hands for small budget film before Russian project?". International Business Times. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  4. 1 2 Sidhardhan, Sanjith (21 December 2015). "Mohanlal to play hero in Priyan’s next". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  5. ↑ Sidhardhan, Sanjith (14 December 2015). "Priyadarshan-Mohanlal film to start in February". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  6. 1 2 K. S., Aravind (17 February 2016). "Meenakshi in Priyan’s Oppam". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  7. ↑ Vikram, Raj. "Mohanlal Priyadarshan movie titled Oppam". Metromatinee.com. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  8. ↑ Subhakeerthana, S (25 January 2016). "I am a big fan of actor Mohanlal, says Sanchita Shetty". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  9. ↑ Prakash, Asha (5 February 2016). "Vimala Raman as Mohanlal's heroine". The Times of India. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  10. ↑ Sidhardhan, Sanjith (12 March 2016). "Mohanlal’s Oppam will have two heroines". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  11. ↑ Moviebuzz (11 March 2016). "Mohanlal to play a blind man in 'Oppam'?". Sify. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  12. ↑ Soman, Deepa (29 February 2016). "Kalabhavan Shajon plays a title role next". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  13. ↑ Nair, Sree Prasad (21 March 2016). "#CatchExclusive: Devshi Kanduri to make Malayalam debut with Mohanlal in Oppam". Catch News. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  14. ↑ Sreekumar, Priya (7 April 2016). "No more tolerating insults". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  15. ↑ Sidhardhan, Sanjith (14 December 2015). "Priyadarshan-Mohanlal film to start in February". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  16. ↑ Sidhardhan, Sanjith (6 March 2016). "Mohanlal's Oppam starts filming in Kochi". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  17. ↑ Sidhardhan, Sanjith (15 March 2016). "Mohanlal shoots a dance sequence for Oppam". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  18. ↑ Staff, Onmanorama (13 March 2016). "Vimala Raman joins Mohanlal's 'Oppam'". Malayala Manorama. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  19. ↑ James, Anu (14 March 2016). "Vimala Raman excited to work with legends Mohanlal and Priyadarshan in 'Oppam' [PHOTOS]". International Business Times. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  20. ↑ രാജേഷ്, എസ്. വി. (21 March 2016). "മമ്മൂട്ടിയും മോഹന്ലാലും വീണ്ടും ഇടുക്കിയിലേക്ക്". Malayala Manorama. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  21. ↑ James, Anu (15 March 2016). "Mohanlal-Priyadarshan's 'Oppam' to be released on Onam; First look poster released". International Business Times. Retrieved 16 March 2016.

External links

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