Bellari Raja, the millionaire cattle trader, one of Mammootty’s ever-remembered character in Rajamanikyam, is still afresh in the minds of movie enthusiasts. The figure continues to roam around on social media as trolls and memes, even after thirteen years. It’s high time Raja made a comeback through another movie.
With the actor himself on board playing the role in the same name again, Bellari Raja is all set to start rolling soon. But, the movie has much to do than cattle rearing. It is venturing into a not so familiar sports item for Keralites and Malayalam cinema, Rugby.
“Bullfight has lots of significance in the movie. This is an area where the possibilities of graphics are explored, to avoid using real animals before the camera,” says Nass Nazar, producer of Bellari Raja. The film is directed by Shan Thulasi.
Set as a comedy thriller and sort of a fan movie, the film has a huge line-up of fresh faces along with veterans. “We are making an attempt to retain most of the popular elements the character was made famous for. Even, some of the dialogues are reproduced. Attention would be paid to every minute detail like the pomp with which he appears, his delivery of dialogues and costumes,” says the producer.
When it is raining sports movies in Malayalam, especially the ones on football, the film is a novel attempt to try something new. Real Rugby players and trainers will become part of the film which has one song and a long tournament sequence on the sport.
“We wanted something strikingly new. The idea of including Rugby came up that way. Training for actors would start next soon before the shooting begins in June. One team consists of seven players. Four professional players and three actors make one side. The actors, in the meantime, have to undergo professional training to learn the game. State team trainers are likely to join us soon. All arrangements are put in place in Thiruvananthapuram,” says Nass.
This is the director’s maiden movie and producer’s second. Nass had bankrolled one segment in the portmanteau movie Crossroad. Bithun is the screenwriter.
Bellari Raja would be shot extensively in Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Coimbatore and Goa. The cast also has Siddhique, Salim Kumar and Ganesh Kumar.
