Talent coupled with perfection and down to earth thinking best describes Amal Neerad. This movie icon of Malayalam film industry began his career soon after schooling from Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute, Kolkata and Berlin Film Institute.

Amal Neerad has proved his excellence in direction, cinematography and scriptwriting in both Malayalam film industry and Bollywood. He has associated with Ram Gopal Varma in the making of ‘Shiva,’ ‘James’ and ‘Darna Zaroori hai’.

Malayalam movies to his credit are ‘Black’, ‘Big B’, ‘Sagar Alias Jacky Reloaded’, and ‘Anwar’. Recently he played the role of lens man, wonderfully capturing a song’s beauty in the movie ‘Tournament’.

Could you please share about your family with our readers?

My family consists of father, mother and sister. We live in Cochin.

According to you where has Malayalam film industry reached in comparison to World Cinemas?

I would tell that Malayalam film industry is in its adolescence. While talking about our industry the factors such as budget, professionalism, competence etc should be taken into consideration. We have our own strengths and weaknesses.

We have 50 percent of real good competence. The other 50 percent accounts to our limitations like, small industry with relatively less professionalism, less budget etc.

We are appreciated in terms of having good story, actors and locations. But when it comes to garment suiting the theme, we are no where to be seen. What is your opinion about this?

During 80’s we had normal and nice clothes that matched our theme and characters. Later our industry was in the trial of wanna be bollywood, tamil or telugu movie styles. As a result we dropped on our style and standards. Also we could not become like them.

Is slow motion your signature?

I am a fan of super natural heroes. I love watching movies based on super natural heroes and action. To me slow motion is super natural and I enjoy that teenage excitement in watching such movies. Also when I watch a movie I expect a ‘Larger than Life Image’ from it. So I try to give the same to the audience through my movies. I won’t say that I would stick on to slow motion forever. After 10 years I might get carried away with other techniques. But I confess that I am a big fan of the super slow motion movie ‘300’.

You are known for your versatile camera angles and shots. Do you think that Malayalam film industry has welcomed it as you deserve?

I would say that the industry has welcomed and appreciated it more than I deserve. If they have not, then I would not have had chances to do these many movies here.

Could you please share your ups and downs in this field?

Cinema is like every Friday everything changes. In such a field the blessing is that I always have a next film. So I don’t think that I have faced anything like ups and downs.  I don’t think that my movies are great. I can never watch my movies with the same thrill that I have while I watch other movies. When I watch mine I feel very unhappy, embarrassed and scared. I always feel that I have to improve a lot and learn more to do a good movie.

You are gifted with amazing sense of colour and fashion. What is the inspiration behind this?

Look at me, I am fat and huge, I usually don’t get clothes that fit me. So I am left with no much option. But I take pleasure in clothing characters. I try my best to clothe my characters holding strictly to the theme.

What are your new projects?

I have not thought about anything yet. Usually I take a break after every movie. So now I am enjoying and relaxing that break period.

Could you please share about your Tamil project with Surya?

Nothing has been finalized yet. The project is in its discussion stage.

As you are a hardcore fan of Quentin Tarantino, can Malayalam expect a movie like ‘Kill Bill’?

A story should be portrayed in a believable way to the audience. Even if it is a fantasy or a reality, audience should find it logical. So when I can present ‘Kill Bill’ kind of a movie in a believable way to my audience, for sure you can expect one like that. I always fantasy doing a chic action movie.

Would you like to comment on the issue between you and Raj Zacharias?

Raj is claiming that he has some proofs to withstand the allegations that he is throwing. I would request him to show the proofs soon.

Rapid Fire:

Role Model: No one as such

One word that describes Malayalam Film Industry: Survival of the fittest

Dream Hero / Heroine to work with: Nobody in particular

Your Style Icon: Quentin Tarantino

Direction \ Cinematography: Both are my passion

Photo Credits: Ashwin Koushan

Title -Anwar
Cast- Prithviraj, Mamta Mohandas
Lal, Prakash Raj, Salim Kumar

An interesting theme, edge-of-the-seat moments, unexpected twists in the plot, ample dose of religious messages, excellent choreography, crisp dialogues and soulful acting – Anwar is a breed apart from the rest of the Malayalam movies. Though Bollywood has attempted movies on terrorism before, this Amal Neerad’s directorial venture is a daring step in Malayalam.

If you are the kind of movie-goer who has just entertainment on your mind, then you will love this one. So for the benefit of such a movie-goer, let us talk about all the obvious things that make this movie click. To begin with, the dashing Prithviraj and his romantic interest the beautiful Mamta, together set the screen on fire with their presence, chic looks and mind-blowing dance moves. The songs are hummable and the fact that the leading pair crooned them lends more charm to the songs. There are action sequences that give you an adrenaline rush, shots taken with lot of technical finesse, a pace which gathers momentum as the movie proceeds and a supporting cast that has proved their mettle before. An introductory voice over by Mammooty, followed by the Coimbatore bomb explosion capture the viewer’s attention. But if you expect to run away from the morbid realities of life by watching this movie, think twice. Anwar sucks you into the brutal world of terrorism and leaves you with a heavy heart. So this movie is not all style and no substance.

A definite plus of the movie is the ideal characterization and acting prowess displayed by the star cast. Be it Mamta’s poise, Prithviraj’s intensity, Prakash Raj’s matter of factness or Salim Kumar’s nonchalance, the movie has packed in some stellar performances. Even a couple of scenes by Kukkoo Parameswaran was impressive. But what was hard to miss was Lal’s all pervading calmness. The kind of calmness possessed by a man who has been there and done that. The kind of calmness possessed by a man who has a lot of turbulence beneath it. Apart from enthralling the audience with SUV’s, well shot action sequences and all that jazz, the movie has a strong religious message. It tells the common man that not all Muslims are terrorists. And there is a message to the government and the cops too (as said by one of the characters in the movie) “every time an innocent Muslim gets arrested, the cops are creating a new recruit for the Jihad”! How true to an extent.

We at Kochivibe got to ask the hot and new face of the Malayalam film industry, Mamta Mohandas a few questions. The heartthrob who acted in the recent movie Anwar has been making headlines ever since her entry in the film industry in 2005. She has been lucky to work with some of the big names of the Malayalam movie business like Jayaram, Mammootty, Amal Neerad and just recently female fan’s favorite, Prithviraj. She sports a new look and it looks really good on her, fresh and modern would be the apt description.

Interview
KV: Great opening for Anwar, Prithviraj says it was a bigger opening than Enthiran in Kerala, how does it feel?
Mamta: As good as one can feel when a movie taken regionally makes it bigger here than a film which the whole world is talking about. The point is tat great opening means more viewership.. That’s good for the actors and the producer alike.

KV: Amal Neerad, The director is renowned for his bold new style of film making, defying convention. Anwar is supposed to be raw in your face filmmaking.. your thoughts on this change in malayalam Cinema.
Mamta: I have been associated with this change that Amal has brought about from his first movie Big B. Choosing to work with him again is clearly my way of expressing the fact that I love the way his movies create anticipation and restlessness in the audience to watch the film even before he’s done making it. An actor is imprinted in a viewers mind depending on how the director sees and presents him. Over here we have the added benefits of Amal being a great cameraman.

People look for too much perfection in an already visually perfect film and hence complain about his scripts. He chooses to do scripts which will complement the beauty of the film more than just telling a great story. This change should be embraced by film makers and audience alike. Its because of this reason that Tamil and Telugu industries which were once on par with us have moved up n flourished, now to finally compete with Bollywood films, when we are still sitting back watching everything, wasting time in criticism.

KV: Your new look is great, Is this part of an upcoming role?
Mamta: Just a great make over. Makes me feel reborn.. Not many noticed that I had it in Anwar’s last song Nhaan. But now having some highlights it looks even hotter. Will be using it in a film soon.

KV: Your tattoos look interesting.. Any significance worth mentioning, where did u get it?
Mamta: Its a tattoo which says ‘Om Sri ganeshaya namaha’ and it simply signifies my positivity in life. The design is mine and I got it done in New York last January.
God dwells inside me and not in any external force. Devotion is in my positive approach to life. If we need to fight a situation in life, its the strength of the mind which finds the solution. We seldom realize this.
A help that comes from outside too is purely invited by vibrations radiated from the self. Hence Ganesha is a celebration of that thinking.. Joyous n Happy!

KV: Your take on cinema on a whole, your approach to it and outlook.
Mamta: Nowadays Cinema is pure entertainment and fun. I’m still happy when I think about the day cinema chose me.. At the time I was quite clueless about how a films made and neither was I an avid watcher of films. Iv enjoyed my journey so far and the more I work, more I learn and it goes on. Never would I get rid of it.
Just as everything around us changes, cinema has and so has our audience. And this challenge makes it difficult for legends to b made anymore, no more movies and songs Which will become classics for the coming generations. Cinema has been but is now more a business. Make a film which will keep people gripped and will invite more to watch and make producers happy. That encourages more films to be made.. And its a chain reaction. I’m happy to be a part of that chain.. Lol.

KV: Any favorite directors and actors you want to work with?
Mamta: The list is long. In Malayalam.. Sathyan Anthikad was one director I craved to work with. I still feel like working with him. Then there’s Kamal sir, with whom I was to work but it Could not happen. Then its Lal Jose. Other names include Actors like Surya and Ranbir kapoor are the ones I adore the most.

KV: Are you getting on twitter, like many of your co-stars.
Mamta: Been tweeting since March. You may follow me on @mamtamohan

KV: Your Kinda cinema, Indian and International.
Mamta: Anything which has atleast 30Mins of new content which catches my attention could be called my kinda cinema be it Indian or international. No genre barriers.

KV: Bollywood aspirations
Mamta: I’m holding discussions for a Bollywood film at present.

KV: How’s the singing going?
Mamta: Rocking as ever.. I wonder how I get so many hits with such little effort in singing and its the other way around in acting with great efforts.. What a turn of event.. lol

KV: What is your kind of Music.
Mamta: I don’t like music.. Because I hate what it does to me. I go nuts! There’s nothing like great music.. Music is just great.

Thanks Mamta for taking your time in giving the interview.

You can also catch a video of an interview taken by SS Entertainment on Sunday the 24th at 7 pm on their channel.

Mamta's recent release Anwar