'Mohanlal did that song brilliantly despite fever and cold; something changes in him the moment you say take’

The song “Govinda Govinda” from Priyadarshan’s 2001 film ‘Kakkakuyil’ continues to remain a favourite among Malayalis. With its catchy rhythm and Mohanlal’s energetic performance, the song went on to develop a strong fan base. Now, choreographer Prasanna Master has revealed some interesting details about what happened behind the scenes during its shoot.

Speaking on the ‘Portraits by Gaddafi’ podcast, Prasanna Master recalled how Mohanlal performed despite facing health issues during the filming.

“Mohanlal sir had a severe fever and dust allergy at the time. He was going through a lot of physical discomfort, but he never allowed that to affect his performance,” Prasanna Master said.

The choreographer also praised Mohanlal’s physical flexibility and strength. “When you look at his body structure, he may appear to be a big person. But he has incredible flexibility and strength that match his physique,” he said.

According to Prasanna Master, Mohanlal continued shooting even when he was physically exhausted. “There were times when he was extremely tired. But the moment he came in front of the camera, you could see a completely different Mohanlal,” he recalled.

“The moment you say ‘take’, something changes in him. He immediately gets into the character and gives everything to the performance,” Prasanna Master said.

He also revealed that Mohanlal took acupuncture treatment after completing the day’s shoot. “His dust allergy was causing him a lot of trouble, but he did not let it interfere with the song,” the choreographer said.

Prasanna Master further revealed that actress Shwetha Menon’s inclusion in the song was director Priyadarshan’s idea. “It was Priyadarshan sir’s suggestion to bring Shwetha Menon into the song. The entire song was filmed in around three days,” he said.