It was just after lunch-break. The lead actors Dileep and Harisri Ashokan were not yet back after lunch. But here, on the grounds in front of the famous Anchumana temple near Edappally, Ernakulam, and director Thaha had already started his work. The film is Parakkum Thalika, Thaha's latest film, which he is doing after a little gap of time under the banner of Kalasangham by MM Hamsa.

The scene that was being shot involved Oduvil Unnikrishnan and some actors dressed up as cops. Oduvil's character gets down from a car, then calls the cops in the jeep to his side and says something to them pointing towards the camera. By the time the shot was okayed, Dileep and Harisri Ashokan too had arrived.

They got into their costumes. By that time somebody in the unit was heard shouting, "Bus varatte" (let the bus come.) An old bus parked on one side of the ground was started and driven to the middle of the ground. Till now it had appeared to be just an old and discarded bus, not part of the shooting. But now it became clear that the bus had something to do with the film. And as the shooting continued, it became quite evident that the bus was central to the subject of the film.

The scenes that followed had Dileep and Harisri Ashokan and Oduvil and the cops, the continuation of the earlier scene. Shooting continued even after sunset and tea break. The heroine Nitya Das, who had been resting in a room attached to the adjacent auditorium, joined the team. Cochin Haneefa too had arrived and then again people began getting busy for the last leg of the day's shooting. During tea break, director Thaha briefed about the subject and his treatment of his subject.

Could you tell us something about the theme of the film?
The film is about Unnikrishnan, a youth who wanders through the city of Ernakulam with a bus. There is a story behind his getting the bus. Earlier, when his father is killed after being hit by a vehicle, he sues the owner of the vehicle for compensation. The owner of the vehicle comes forward with a compromise suggestion and offers him a bus.

The prospect of his becoming a bus-owner makes Unnikrishnan accept the bus. Then he sells his house and property in order to run the bus. Though at first he runs it for commercial purposes like marriages and as school bus, later it falls out of use. And being homeless, Unnikrishnan makes the bus his home. Along with him is Sundaran, who had been with him as the cleaner of the bus and his constant companion.

The bus is seen parked in different parts of Ernakulam. Since the documents and papers of the bus are not correct, a Police Inspector known popularly as 'Veerappan' Kurup and his cops constantly haunt Unnikrishnan and Sundaran. So, they keep on changing their place of parking and thus their address too keeps on changing. It is around this bus and these characters that I have made the film. Certain other characters too come and join them and the story progresses thus.

Is this a comedy or so?
That cannot be said right now. I may sometimes use comedy in the course of narration. That's all.

So, is it sort of a family entertainer?
Sure, it is. It is a film fit for the family audience.

Could you tell us something about your new heroine?
I have introduced not one, but two new faces-Nitya Das and Keerthi Chatterjee. I wanted new faces, which are not at all familiar to the audience. And I wanted a heroine who has no image at all. (Then with a smile he adds) and one more thing, there is an element of surprise for the audience regarding the cast, especially the heroine.

Really! What is it?
It's suspense. You'll have to wait till the film gets released. It is something new that I have tried.Nitya Das, hailing from Kozhikode, is a second year pre-degree student of the MES Women's College, Kozhikode. It was by sheer coincidence that she got this role. Lots of faces were being tried out for this role.

Finally it was Nitya's face, which appeared in the Grihalakshmi photogenic competition that appealed to all. (Nitya had got the second prize in the competition). Dileep rang up Nitya's father and talked to him. Some screen tests and all, and Nitya was thus launched into the film.

How do you feel, working for the first time with so established actors?
To some extent I am of course thrilled and happy working in a film. But my co-stars, who are so well established, don't behave with me as if I am a new comer or as if I am much junior to them. They are all very friendly and co-operative. I enjoy working with them.

Have you ever acted before, in a film or a TV programme or so?
Yes, once. I had acted in a serial Kunjammaavan. But that was not a significant role. That can hardly be called acting.