New Delhi: After essaying a wide variety of characters in over 300 films, noted actor Mohanlal says being cast as Valiyakathu Moosa, in the recently-released Paradesi has given him the "most satisfaction" in his film career spanning over 30 years.

The film by P T Kunhimohammed, who has also written its screenplay, is based on the story of partition and its effect on several Muslim families in Kerala's Malabar area who are forced to deal with the outsider label imposed on them.

Despite Paradesi not being included in the Indian panaroma at the 38th International Film Festival in Goa, Mohanlal is quite happy with the film and his role.

"I cannot say that it is my most challenging role ever. But yes I haven't worked on a character whose life (in the film) spans the duration between 12 to 85 years," says the actor who was in the capital recently and also watched a screening of the film.

Moosa, a Muslim who moved to Karachi before Partition in search of a better livelihood finds that he is treated like an alien on returning home after the Partition. The film, which has been acclaimed in the press for its sensitive potrayal, is a "genuine film, a real film," says Lal. He remains unfazed on not getting into the Goa Festival and it not getting box-office success.

"I have produced a lot of films and when we make a good film it is on the part of judges to decide whether it should be selected or not. It is their problem. There is nothing for us to say. We are least bothered," says the actor.

With over one third of its population living outside Kerala, the state has a history of migration, says director Kunhimohammed, who had accompanied Mohanlal to the capital.

"Many people have told me that in those days coolie labourers got much more in Karachi and so many villagers had migrated there."