‘Mukesh and son Shravan are a great combo in Kalyanam’

Director Rajesh Nair says his next film Kalyanam is a cliché love story. He explains, "There's little novelty in love. Everybody's love story is riddled with clichés. Kalyanam is no different. It is about a pair, who wish to fulfil their deep love by wedding."  And, their love story, which rides high on humour, will hit the screens next month.

Kalyanam also marks the debut of actor Mukesh's son Shravan and Varsha Bollamma. Quiz him on how he landed on Shravan, Rajesh says, "The lead in my story is not a quintessential hero. He is someone who is shy, introverted and confused. He needed to look a bit chubby as well." Rajesh wasn't ready to compromise and was adamant that he would cast only a fresh face. "It was producer Vijay Babu who suggested Shravan's name to me. So, I thought why not meet him. But, he just floored me with his antics. He reminded me of Mukeshettan a lot." The filmmaker adds that Shravan gave a terrific performance, that is so unlike a newbie's. "Even actor Sreenivasan couldn't believe how confident Shravan was before the camera," he adds.

But, Rajesh says Shravan stumbled a bit when it came to acting beside his father. "Shravan would normally give perfect shots in the first take. But, when he had to act alongside his father, he tensed up. They are like friends, but somehow Shravan would get nervous. It took some time for him to chill."

The director says it is these shots that are the highlight of the film. "This is a fun-filled film, and the best sequences are the combination scenes between Mukesh and Shravan," he says.

Kalyanam is the love story of a couple who have been together since childhood. "They love each other a lot, but can't confess because they are neighbours and their families share a close bond. Kalyanam is about how they overcome the obstacles and fulfil their love," says the director. 

The film also has Sreenivasan and Mala Parvathy in significant roles. Binendran Menon has cranked the camera, while debutant Prakash Alex will compose the tunes.