Sajan, a prominent director who has delivered numerous hits in Malayalam cinema, recently shared a harrowing experience from the making of his film Thammil Thammil, starring Mammootty, Rahman and Shobhana. Known for directing memorable films like Chakkarayumma, Kandukandarinju, Geetham and Ennu Nadhante Nimmi, Sajan worked extensively with Mammootty and crafted several acclaimed projects that have left a lasting impact on the industry.

During the production of ‘Thammil Thammil’, an incident occurred that nearly ended in tragedy. The film, scripted by SN Swamy, initially had Mammootty, Rahman and Shobhana cast in lead roles. It was Swamy’s idea to approach Shobhana, who at the time was hesitant about film acting, preferring instead to focus on her passion for dance. However, after some persuasion by the production controller through Shanmugham, Shobhana agreed to join the cast.

The film’s music, composed by Kulathupuzha Ravi (also known as Ravindran), became immensely popular. One of the iconic songs, "Hrudiyam Oru Veenayayi…," was set to be filmed at the scenic Kovalam beach. Cameraman Anandakuttan, Rahman, Shobhana and the crew arrived at the location to capture the essence of the coastal landscape.

They waited by the rocks, hoping to time a scene with an incoming wave. However, the expected wave didn’t arrive, and after some time, Rahman suggested moving closer to the water. Sajan agreed, and the two actors ventured further onto the rocks. Suddenly, a powerful wave surged, sweeping both Rahman and Shobhana off balance. Within moments, they disappeared from sight.

The crew was thrown into panic as they rushed to help. When they reached the scene, they found Rahman’s shoe wedged between rocks, with Shobhana clutching onto him to avoid slipping further. The team managed to pull them to safety, narrowly avoiding what could have been a fatal accident.

The situation drew the attention of local fishermen, who chastised the crew for filming in a dangerous area known for treacherous waters that had claimed many lives. Sajan recalled with a shudder, "If they had fallen into the pit beneath the rocks, we might never have recovered their bodies. I still get goosebumps thinking about it."