A Vijay fan called Pokkiri Simon

Ambady K, scenarist, talks to CE on what to expect from Sunny Wayne-starrer Pokkiri Simon  
A Vijay fan called Pokkiri Simon

Loud characters, garish costumes, flashy songs and dappankuthu moves, Jijo Antony's Pokkiri Simon is every bit the quintessential masala flick. As the movie readies to hit the screens this Friday, Ambady K, writer of Pokkiri Simon, tells us that the Sunny Wayne-starrer is going to give the audience a break from realistic dramas. "We believe there is a space in Malayalam cinema for such larger-than-life flicks," says the writer who is also an Indian Information Service officer.  In a tete-a-tete with CE, Ambady tells us about what is in store. 

Who is Pokkiri Simon ?
The protagonist Simon happens to be a hard-core fan of actor Vijay. "Not just a namesake fan, but someone who has made Vijay and his superhit flick Pokkiri a part of his life. Better known as Pokkiri Simon, the man dresses up as Vijay's character Tamizh and along with his friend, Love Today Ganesh, takes 'fangiri' to another level by naming their street Ilayathalapathy Vijay Nagar. They also suffer from every symptom of a Vijay fan, including rivalry to Surya fans," says Ambady.

As for the Sunny Wayne who plays Pokkiri Simon onscreen, Ambady says they could only picture Sunny in the role. "While I discussed the story with producer Krishnan and director Jijo Antony, we all were unanimous about Sunny. Even now, I can't think of another actor playing Simon," says the writer.

Besides Sunny, Prayaga, Sarath Kumar, Gregory, Nedumudi Venu and Marshall Tito will be seen in prominent roles.

What happens to Simon?
Ambady says that Pokkiri Simon isn't heading to Chennai to meet Vijay. He is quite content living in his place and the plot revolves on an entirely different plane. "Unlike popular presumption, this movie isn't about meeting Vijay or realising that dream. The story happens in Illayathalapathy Vijay Nagar. It is their world that we are focusing on. Their little problems and psyche form the crux of the movie," he adds.

But, while most of the movie has the flavour of an entertainer, towards the end there is something thrilling enough to put the viewers on the edge of their seat.

Why Vijay and not Lalettan or Mammookka?
It is all a coincidence, says Ambady. The writer says he first went to Chenkalchoola Colony in Thiruvananthapuram to research for another story that he was penning. "That story had a protagonist with a Tamil background, living in Chenkalchoola. So, when I went there for details, I met a Vijay fan. That's how the thread came into my mind. In fact, I came to know that there are real-life characters like Pokkiri Riyas and Love today Sreekumar. This was something that has never been explored in Malayalam. I am sure people will love it," says Ambady.

Will the Tamil flavour work?
Ambady is quite optimistic about it. He says, "We have been seeing realistic movies for a while in Malayalam cinema and I believe there is a space for a loud, larger-than-life movies. We were very welcoming to Rajamanickyam, which had a Tamil flavour. Malayalis are quite interested in Vijay's mass flicks. So we are sure that Pokkiri Simon, with all its Tamil flavour, will appeal to our audience."

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