Thilakan was one of the finest actors of the Malayalam film industry. Thilakan carved for himself an enviable position among actors in his film career with a rare versatility and genius. As a character, he kept a clear track record in his life and had more enemies than friends. His son Shammi Thakalan talks about the effort taken to make Thilakan act in ‘Spadikam’ as Chacko Master. Shammi opened his mind in an interview given to an online media on the incidents that happened behind the acting of Thilakan in ‘Spadikam’.

Thilakan was not in good terms with Spadikam’s director Bhadran. A scuffle broke out between the two on the location site of ‘Edanazhikyil Oru Kalochha’. Years later Bhadran came to meet Thilakan when he was lying at Madras Medical Mission Hospital after undergoing a bypass surgery. Bhadran came there to talk about Spadikam. Only a few were permitted to meet Thilakan as he was taking rest after the surgery. Shammi was with Thilakan in the hospital to take care of him. Shammi, who was standing in the verandah saw Bhadran coming and he soon ran to his father and told him in his ears that Bhadran is coming. Thilakan told Shammi not to permit him to enter the room. Shammi decided to stop him from entering the room as it would affect his father’s health. He tactfully told Bhadran about infection problems and sent him from there. Bhadran, who came to the hospital many times to meet Thilakan, was disappointed each time.

Once when he came he told Shammi about Spadikam. In another visit, he told Shammi that there is no one else to do the character Chacko Master. He also told Shammi that there was pressure on him to give this role to another actor. But Bhadran was of the opinion that Thilakan himself should do the character to get perfection of the role.

Shammi presented the subject to Thilakan when he was in a good mood. Thilakan later agreed to do the role and met Bhadran. If Bhadran had met Thilakan on the first day he came, the latter would not have agreed to do the role. But it is sad that director Bhadran had not mentioned this anywhere on my effort taken to make him do that role, he said.