Kalidas Jayaram begins new innings as hero with Tamil film

Kalidas Jayaram is not new to cinema.

A National Award-winner with two Malayalam films as a child actor, the son of Malayalam actors Jayaram and Parvathy, Kalidas stands on the threshold of a new innings as hero. The chubby lad of Kochu Kochu Sandoshangal and Ente Veedu Appuvinteyum, has grown into a lean and handsome young man.

Tamil film Meen Kuzhambbum Mann Paanayum, releasing on November 11 in India, marks his debut as hero.

In this family entertainer directed by debutant Amudeshwar, Kalidas plays Karthik, a happy go lucky teenager growing up in Malaysia. Karthik lives with his father, Annamalai, played by Prabhu. This is Prabhu’s 200th film.

Annamalai runs a hotel — Meen Kuzhambbum Mann Paanayum.

Kalidas says that the story is about the father-son bond. Ashna Zaveri is paired opposite him. Kamal Haasan plays a cameo. “It’s a fun film with humour woven into it and something that is my forte,” says Kalidas, whose mimicry show at a film awards function last year was testimony to his father’s genes.

However, his other Tamil film, Oru Pakka Kathai, directed by Balaji Dharanidharan (of Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom fame), and incidentally the first film that he signed (but awaiting release), threw up challenges.

“I was facing the camera after several years. Before filming began I went through a training workshop under actor Somu [of Joker fame].”

While Kalidas cannot reveal anything about his role in Oru Pakka Kathai, he assures that it is a different kind of film not seen in Tamil cinema in recent times.

“Today’s audience is open to new ideas and will like it, I think.”

Can a chat with Kalidas be complete without looking back on his two Malayalam films — Sathyan Anthikad’s Kochu Kochu Santoshangal and Sibi Malayil’s Ente Veedu Appuvinteyum?

He remembers being carried around by Anthikad and with dad around (Jayaram played his on-screen father), the experience was more a family outing.

“Ente Veedu Appuvinteyum was challenging in terms of acting and storytelling,” reminisces Kalidas who played Vasu, a little boy going through an emotional turmoil after his mother delivers his younger brother.

“This was a situation I could not relate to, but Sibi uncle made it easy for me by enacting the scenes.”

Kalidas won the national award for this film. “I am lucky to have worked with two legendary directors early on in life.”

While the two films sowed seeds for his acting dreams, his parents were clear that he completed his degree before entering films.

The Visual Communication graduate now goes back to his roots in Malayalam cinema with Abrid Shine’s new film, Poomaram. Shooting is on at Ernakulam and Kalidas plays a college student in this campus story.

“It’s a new experience working with Abrid Shine whose working style and film-making is different. The team is taking it slow and I am enjoying this phase.”

Kalidas hopes to work in a film again with his father. “He is a jolly man who can find a light moment even in the most difficult situations.”

Meen Kuzhambum Mann Paanayum is produced by R.G. Dusshyanth, Sivaji Ganesan’s grandson. The supporting cast includes Urvashi, Pooja Kumar and M.S. Bhaskar. D. Imman has composed music. J. Laxman is the cinematographer.