Vast stretches of paddy fields, idyllic backwaters and lush green coconut trees provide an apt location for film shooting. And many are the films that have been shot against this backdrop of Kaavalam. And now Vinayan, the maker of films like Akashaganga, Vaasanthiyum Lekshmiyum Pinne Njaanum, Dadasahib etc, has been busy shooting for his latest venture Karimaadikuttan.

Vinayan has been there on the sets since early morning. Reaching there, we could see floating on the backwaters, a decorated platform made across three boats, with artists in various dance costumes. On top of the crane was sitting cinematographer Azhagappan with his associate, while Vinayan was giving necessary directions over the mike to those on the boat. It was a song-sequence that was being shot. And when everything was ready, Vinayan did take the shot after the necessary rehearsals with the help of the dance-director.

On the platform made across the boats, amidst the dancers were Kalabhavan Mani and Nandini, the lead pair and along with them were actresses Priyanka and Meena Ganesh. On the loud speakers was played the line from a song. The line "Naalu kaalulloru…" sung by Mani himself echoed over the waters and Mani and Nandini, with accompaniment from others, started dancing to the tune.

Between shots, Vinayan spoke about his plans to get the film released on time and his attempts to wind up shooting that day itself. He also spoke about his next venture, the Tamil remake of Vaasanthiyum, Lekshmiyum Pinne Njaanum, with Mani himself doing the lead. When the floating platform was brought ashore for a short break, Mani remained on board chatting to those around and uttering jokes. He did catch hold of a mike and do a bit of mimicry for the sake of his co-artists.

In the meantime, Vinayan with Azhagappan and others got on to the platform and it drifted away, and they returned after about half an hour only after the director okayed yet another shot.Then the scene shifted to another place nearby. Bordering on vast stretches of paddy fields was a road on which Mani was to dance with others to the accompaniment of another four lines of the same song-"Penninte Kannil poothiri…". Before shooting began Vinayan did brief us about this film and the central character in a brief interview.

Could you tell us something about this film?
This film is about a youth who is known as Karimaadikuttan. Though he is a 30-year old man, he has the intelligence of a 10-year old boy. Everyone has a sort of affection for him and he too is always ready to do anything for anybody in the village. The remuneration that he gets for any job somehow never goes above five rupees. But he works really hard when he is terribly hungry just for the sake of this meagre amount. And he has no complaint against anybody.

People even ridicule him. But he thinks only the positive aspect of things and has no grudge against anybody. Of course we never try to look into the mind and sorrows of the mentally retarded people around us. They are mentally retarded, what problems are they going to have? -that' s our usual attitude. They too long for love. And love, when given can take them to heights. That's what I am trying to tell in this film.

What are your hopes regarding the box-office response of this film?
This film, I am sure, is going to be a greater hit than Vaasanthiyum, Lekshmiyum, Pinne Njaanum. That film was sort of a documentary on a blind man. But this goes much further and goes deep into the life of the protagonist. The range itself is different. And of course the treatment too is different.

It seems you have given much importance to songs here?
Sure. Songs have much importance here. It has all the ingredients of a commercial film. In fact it is a pucca commercial film.And it was time for shooting. Vinayan got busy again. Mani, now with costumes changed, joined the others and the shooting started. In between shots, Mani startled his co-artists by pricking on their legs with coconut leaves and imitating their dance-steps in a funny way. When a particular shot was being taken without him, Mani did talk about his character and this film.

How do you assess your role in this film?
This, as you know, is a character who is 30-years old but mentally retarded and he behaves like a 10-year old boy. Though the name of my character is Kuttan, people call the character Karimaadikuttan on account of being black. Of course, the character should not be neglected saying that it is a mentally retarded character. At heart the character loves everyone and is a lovable character.

I have done my best to give life to this particular character. I have observed the mannerisms of mentally retarded people and have done accordingly. Of course I have done mentally retarded characters before also, but this one is different. I have tried out certain things, which nobody else would try to do.

What are they?
It's a suspense. You'd better wait and see for yourself when the film gets released.

How would you assess this character in terms of the scope of acting?
I have given up making assessments. I know it is not good to assess one's own character. It is for the people to see and assess my character. All that I can say is that I have done what all I could do to act out my part. I am 100% satisfied with the role. And I am almost sure that this film will do very well at the box-office.

Apart from Kalabhavan Mani and Nandini, Karimaadikuttan also has Bharathy, Janardhanan, Saikumar, Ganesh, Athira, Rajan.P.Dev, Shivaji, Augustine, Ponnamma Babu, Priyanka, and Meena Ganesh etc in the cast.The story is by Vinayan and J.Pallasserry while J.Pallasserry is doing the script. Songs penned by Yusuf Ali Kechery are set to tune by Mohan Sithara.

Azhagappan does the cinematography while B.Murali does the editing part. Bawa is the art director while P.V.Shankar does the make-up and Manoj costume designing. Samson.J.Paanaadan produces the film under the banner of Surabhi Cinema, which is also releasing the film.