Sibi Malayil has changed. He used to direct only big projects. Projects like KIREEDAM, HIS HIGHNESS ABDULLA, USTAD, and so on. Projects with Mohanlal, Mammootty and like. But he is returning to the style of his earlier films 'MUTHARAM KUNNU P.O. Simple films which are liked by people. Not that people did not like the mega films. But he is not interested in such films any more. He has returned to Kerala a well. He changed his residence to D D Village, Thammanam in Cochin from Chennai.

Sibi Malayil talks to Indiainfo.

Why this sudden change to low budget films?

Big budget projects are not possible under the present financial circumstances of Malayalam film industry. Number of audience coming to theaters diminished considerably. People chose only those films that prove outstanding. There was only one entertainment to general public. Films. Now they have a choice. TV, Home theaters and Theme parks. So it has become the responsibility of the directors to satisfy the remaining audience and make them stay in cinema halls. The budget has to be re-assigned. That is what I am doing. DEVADOOTHAN with Mohanlal was shot with big budget. It could not collect. I have decided for the time being to direct films that costs around 60-70 lakhs. ISHTAM was such a project. AAYIRATHIL ORUVAN also is a small project.

Directors like you do not rely heavily on super stars. Is it?

The success of a film now days are not directly connected to the star value alone. It gives a minimum guarantee till recently. Not anymore. Now it is the subject and presentation. Our stars are good artists. But the remuneration is high. I just want to avoid a situation where such films are fail.

Do you mean to say you will never cast super stars?

No. But if they are ready to co-operate in low budget films. I will definitely cast them. And again if the producer insists that I cast super stars. But then the producer should take the risk.

What happened to DEVA DOOTHAN?

It was a film meant to shoot with new actors. Producer came to me saying he has the date of MohanLal. We had to effect some changes to the story. Cost escalated also. I will not repeat the mistake again.

You are bringing in new scriptwriters. Do they warrant success always?

Almost. I have brought in Lohita Das, G M Lal, and Sachidanandan Puzhankara. Now I am trying Sindhuraj, Paul Brothers.

What is the main reason for bringing new writers?

I have relied on Lohita Das for a number of films. I have never gone for others. When Lohita Das started directing films I had to look for new writers. They are new. Their plots also will be new.

You learnt film making under the Navodaya projects. What did you learn from them?

I always felt Navodaya as a good school of practical film making which gives exposure to all aspects. My success is attributed to my association with Mr Jijo and Mr Fazil. MAMMANKAM, PADAYOTTAM, THEEKKADAL, MANJIL VIRINJA POOKKAL, MAMAATTIKKTTIYAMMAKU, were the ace films I worked with as associate director. It made me confident in making my own films. I learned the grammar of cinema from Navodaya.

Those like Fazil, T K Rajeevkumar who learned film making from Navodaya became directors in their own productions. But you found your project out side Navodaya. Why?

Navodaya decided to give me an independent film. There was a subject also. It was decided to shoot after PADAYOTTAM. But the dates of artists I wanted were not available. The project could not be started. When a chance came up it was out side Navodaya, MUTHARAM KUNNU PO.

There was a talk that such film as Ustaad was not your kind of films?

It was an action-oriented film. Perhaps audience was not expecting a film like that from me.

What happened to films like SINDOORA REKHA and AKSHRAM with Suresh Gopi in the lead?

Suresh Gopi was an action hero at that period. And I presented him in roles those music oriented subjects. Action movie lovers did not try to see the film. The family audience mistook it for action movie first. But when people saw it on TV they really appreciated those movies. See every film has a fate of its own decided by unseen factors. Image of actors creates such problems in our cinema.

Will you work with Lohita Das again?

It was me who gave an opportunity to Lohita Das to write a script. I am ready at any time to direct a film written by Lohita Das. It is up to Lohita Das to decide whether he wants to do a film with me. I have not left out him. It is the other way. It is possible if he comes with a script. He is a full time director now. If a director writes a script the natural thing that follows is to direct it. Is not it? So I doubt very much an association of both of us in a film.

MUTHARAM KUNNU P O was a comparatively a short length humorous film. But later there were no humor but only family subjects.

I like family subjects. MUTHARAM KUNNU was a result of the demand from the producer. He wanted a very low budget film. Then that was possible.

For the last 12 years you have made Madras your home. But now shifted to Cochin. Is there any particular reason?

The ideal place for post shooting works was Chennai. And I always a wanted to stay with my family. We have similar facilities now in Kerala. So I came back.

Get married in the right muhurath