'Mohanlal is full of energy'

Arun Vaidyanathan, the director of the Tamil film Achamundu Achamundu, is ready with his first Malayalam film, Peruchazhi.

The Onam release is a laugh riot and will have Mohanlal playing a politician.

The film was extensively shot in the United States.

In this interview with rediff.com, the filmmaker talks about Peruchazhi.

What does the title Peruchazhi signify?

The title means a bandicoot. It is a political satire with plenty of humour, romance and action.

A bandicoot has some curious instincts. We will never know where it has come from and where it goes, but the bandicoot will have what it wants in the process.

Jagannathan, Mohanlal’s character in the film, is pretty much like that. He will do anything to win.

What is the storyline?

Peruchazhi is about a feud between Jagannathan and another politician, Francis Kunjappan, played by Mukesh.

Things get more interesting when the action shifts to the United States. That’s all I can reveal right now about the story.

Who are the other characters in Peruchazhi?

Baburaj plays Jabbar Pottakkuzhy and Aju Varghese is Varkey. The heroine, Ragini Nandwani, is a girl settled in the USA.

How was it working with Mohanlal?

He is full of energy and gives you tremendous confidence. He has the ability to spread positive energy all around.

There is lot of warmth in the way he talks to others.

What was your experience shooting in the United States?

Once you go there, everything is planned and organised. But every detail must be written in the script before the shooting begins.

That is the plus or minus of shooting there. It was fun.