‘Pachuvum Athbutha Vilakkum’ is based on his real experiences, says Akhil Sathyan

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By Arjun Ramachandran

08/05/2023

Director Akhil Sathyan’s debut Pachuvum Athbutha Vilakkum (Pachu and The Magic Lamp, 2023) is entering its second week with packed houses.

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In 2016, Akhil Sathyan directed a documentary film — That’s My Boy — which, he says, was an attempt to assess his capabilities as a filmmaker.

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In an interview with South First, the filmmaker speaks about his debut movie and his journey toward making an entertainer with a message.

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Of his father Sathyan Anthikad, Akhil says, “he is an inspiration by default. My dad never forced anything on me. We have the same taste.”

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“Pachuvum Athbutha Vilakkum is not a family-oriented film. It is about a middle-class guy whose life changes after a particular incident.”

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For the lead role of Ummachi, “we wanted a 71-year-old lady who is healthy, graceful, and can speak English, Hindi, and Malayalam.”

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“There is nobody in Malayalam with these characteristics so, I insisted on a fresh face and that is how Viji Venkatesh came into the picture.”

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“She cried during the narration and I realised that she understood the crux of the project. We needed a person who had a modern outlook and she was a perfect match.”

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“Nivin Pauly was the first star to call and ask me to plan a movie. I am grateful to him for that. If not for him, I wouldn’t have thought about cinema.”

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