Incidentally, Gopi won the National Award as best actor for his performance in Jayaraj's Kaliyattam. Before leaving for Hyderbad to join Jayaraj for rehearsals, he spoke to Shobha Warrier about how challenging the role of a playwright considering euthanasia will be, and how he plans to get into the mind of a man spending his last hours on earth.
Jayaraj said you were the first actor who gave the kind of importance his script deserved. What attracted you to it?
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It was the challenging role that attracted me. The character definitely needed a performer. He is bedridden and undergoing terrible pain, both physically and emotionally. He is about to die. As you know, the film is about euthanasia, and he will breathe his last whenever the doctors act. He just has to give them the green signal.
Just before death, he spends time with his family, friends, a kathakali performer from Kerala who brings with him a letter from his childhood love, and a world-renowned actor. When I read the script, I thought of the actor meeting these people and what could go through his mind. These emotions will attract any actor.
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We will do a series of rehearsals. That should make me ready for the 10-hour shooting process. Once the director says, action, it has to be pure histrionics, something not many have done before.
Do you think the shooting is going to be like performing in a play?
Yes, it's almost like a one-act play.
Do you feel happy about such a role coming your way?
I would say I'm lucky. When Jayaraj showed me the script, he told me it was a challenging role. He also told me he wanted it made in 10 hours. I took that as another challenge. Any actor will be happy when a director thrusts so much responsibility on him and has so much confidence in his ability.
Are you excited?
At present, excited is not the word to express my feeling. I am blank now. When I reach Hyderabad, I will have a preliminary discussion with Jayaraj. By the evening of December 13, I am sure I will be mentally, physically and emotionally placed to take on the role. The process of rehearsals will have a chemical effect. I am sure adrenalin levels will be at a peak by the time we start shooting on December 17.
Do you approve of mercy killing?
Yes. I have seen pain. I can feel the pain of those who undergo it. Pain gets transferred to those who see someone suffering. Sometimes, I feel that more than the person undergoing pain, it is their dear ones who feel it more emotionally. Euthanasia is a noble solution.