Sadayam was the most complicated script I’d worked on: Sibi Malayil, Director
‘MT sir was one of the best screenplay writers in Malayalam and his scripts were looked up with respect by everyone. The specialty of his script were its details, whether the emotions or the backdrop of the story. Also, the dialogues would be in their finest form and for a director, there would be amazing visual possibilities. All his scripts – the plot points, the dialogues – are like a textbook for writers.
As a director, I found his Sadayam (1992 film, with Mohanlal in the lead) a very challenging script, because it had a particular non-linear narrative, told through the perspective of different characters. I hadn’t worked on such a complicated script before and it rightly went on to win the National Award for Best Screenplay.
I started readed his works as a teenager, so he was an iconic figure. And while he didn’t carry any airs, he had an aura about him. When he would come on sets, I would be very nervous about his thoughts on how I was directing his screenplay. But he was totally non-interfering.
As a person, he was a good listener. He was reticent in his words and sometimes, he would answer a question with a smile.
My favourite film written by him is Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha and book is Randam Ozham, both of which took legendary figures – legendary warrior Chandu in the former and Bheema in the latter- and gave them a different perspective and shades from what we have traditionally seen, showing his brilliance as a writer.’
The depth of emotions makes his stories timeless: Adarsh Sukumaran, Scriptwriter
‘Looking back, what first sparked the idea of being a scriptwriter in me was MT’s words in a magazine that said that the script is to cinema what a thali is to a wedding. As a 12-year-old, this inspired me to want to be a writer and weave stories.
His Randamoozham is the only book that I have read in one sitting. The rollercoaster of emotions that he conveys through his characters is amazing. His writing is cinematic; it’s like we can see each scene frame by frame.
I love the depth of emotions that he brings to his characters. This is what makes audiences identify with them and makes stories timeless. This is how a work becomes a piece of art, rather than just a commercial project.
Earlier this year, I was fortunate enough to attend a function at which MT sir was present. I couldn’t meet him personally, but I thought, ‘What a legend! What aura!’
My favourite film scripts include Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha, Mammootty-starrer Uttharam, which is probably one of the best thrillers in Malayalam, Mohanlal’s Thazhvaram and Sibi Malayil sir’s Sadayam; no amount of tears can ease the pain of that one.’
