'Sunil Dutt had bought rights of the novel'; Madhu reveals why Chemmeen wasn't made in Bollywood

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Veteran actor Madhu has revealed that Thakazhi’s celebrated novel Chemmeen was first considered for a Hindi adaptation. However, the project was shelved amid fears that its release could trigger communal tensions between Hindus and Muslims.

“Bollywood actor, producer and director Sunil Dutt had bought the rights of the novel to make the film. If they hadn’t abandoned the project, Sunil Dutt would have been walking through the seashore singing songs as Karuthamma’s lover…” Madhu laughed.

He was speaking to Kerala Kaumudi during the 60th anniversary celebrations of Chemmeen, a film that became a wonder in the history of Indian cinema.

Q. What did you feel when you were invited to play Pareekutty in the film?

I was very happy. If I were to list my ten favourite films I acted in, Chemmeen would definitely be one. It was the Pareekutty inside me that came before the camera. Just two days ago, Sheela had called me, and most of our talk was about Chemmeen.

Q. Later, Pareekutty came to be seen as a symbol of dejected lovers?

Pareekutty is not a dejected lover. For him, simply loving Karuthamma was enough.

Q. It’s said that director Ramu Kariat was not happy at first with Manna Dey’s pronunciation in the song “Manasa Maine…”?

The word Varoo was mispronounced by the singer, which worried us initially. But once the film was released, we realised the strength of the song lay in its melody. It went on to become one of the finest songs in Malayalam, thanks to the brilliance of music director Salil Chowdhury.

Q. The film received national recognition, including the President’s Gold Medal, right?

The very moment Thakazhi decided to write Chemmeen was a blessed one. Long before the film came out, the novel had already been translated into many world languages. When the movie was finally released, it carried the status of an international film. Some of the best technicians in India worked behind the scenes to make it what it became.