'I wouldn't have dared to develop Aatmakadha as a script'

Sreenivasan has carved a niche for himself as a fantastic actor, director and screenplay writer.

Oru Naal Varum, which he has scripted and that sees him rubbing shoulders with Mohanlal after a very long gap, has hit the theatres recently. His son Vineeth's debut film, Malarvady Arts Club, is also playing in theatres.

On the sets of his upcoming Malayalam film, director Premlal's Aatmakadha, Sreenivasan talks about his current projects and much more.

Oru Naal Varum and Malarvady Arts Club are two major releases in theatres. How do you feel about it?

[Laughs] It happened by chance. But no film will compete with any other. They will compete with themselves.

Oru Naal Varum has corruption as its theme.

It is about how a highly corrupt assistant town planning officer learns a lesson. There is humour in the story though it is not a comedy film.

How would you rate Malarvady Arts Cub, written and directed by your son?

The result of his hard work is there to be seen. I feel it should impress the viewers. I could get involved with its making only in a limited way. I had given him certain suggestions and he accepted some of them, I think [laughs].

You have played a visually challenged man in a comedy film called Varaphalam earlier, and are playing it again in Aatmakadha. How different is the role here?

The earlier one had comic shades but my role in Aatmakadha is serious. It is quite tough to play such a character and requires focus.

What attracted you to this role in Aatmakadha?

The character is unique. Most people get dejected when they face difficult situations. This film can motivate them to face challenges. My character, Kochubaby, lost his eye sight at the age of 13. But his mother trained him to live a normal life.

She taught him practical mathematics, which helped him calculate how many steps it would take him to reach the kitchen, the road, the church and the work place. He wouldn't need his stick when he walked along his regular paths.

He is an expert in making candles at a small unit run by a priest. He faces life with a positive mindset, gets married and has a daughter.

If you had written the script of Aatmakadha, how different would it have been?

Frankly I wouldn't have dared to develop this as a script in the first place. It is quite different from the stories I script. But as an actor, I have to do it and it is a challenging role.