On World Cycle day, director Sathyan Anthikkad reminiscing on his cycle rides

THRISSUR: On World Cycle Day, director Sathyan Anthikkad reminiscing about cycle rides. He used to travel to nearby libraries in cycle in search of the books of favourite authors. Now, 57 films later, cycle is still a favourite vehicle of the director.

Yesterday, Minister of Agriculture V.S. Sunil Kumar and me went on a bicycle to attend a nearby function. Now, there is only bicycle of children at home. But its height is not correct. Still I ride in that and each ride across these roads rushes back memories into my mind, says Anthikkad.

My first vehicle was a hero bicycle given by my brother Mohanan. That was in the eighth grade. When my brother who was working bought a new bicycle, he gave me the old one. I took the cycle to the bicycle shop and modified it. I had already learned to ride a bicycle. There were rental bicycles. I bought a car six or seven years after I became a director. By then, many of my films were out. Still I used to travel on cycle in my village, continued the director.

Cycle is a character in many of my fims like 'Mazhavilkavadi', 'Thalayanamanthram', 'Manassinakkare'. Each film is an extension of the director's life. That's how cycle became a part of my movies, says Anthikkad.