Story

There is a sense of antcipation and suppressed excitement at the location of V.M Vinu's "Bus Conductor'. The quiet environs of a large house in Ottapalam are abuzz with hetic activity as the unit makes the preprations for the shooting.

The location has just been shifted from a nearby road site to a huge old house. The director is immersed in the script  as he gulps down lemon tea. Cinematographer Sanjeev Shankar takes a walk around, listening to some Hindi golden oldies on his mobile. The number of onlookers is increasing by the minute.

Almost an hor later, the unit is all set for the shoot. Mammootty, the film's hero, a sports a day's stubble as he walks into the set. He again areated magic at the box office with 'Rajamanikyam'. In his  new avatar as Sulthanveetil Zakkir Hussain, affectionately called 'Kunjakka', he is the conductor of a bus that he owns.

"This film narrates the touching life of Kunjakka who has to shoulder a lot of responsibilities. Social issues have also been dealt with in this family drama", says V.M Vinu, who is again teaming up with script writer T.A Rasaaq and Mammootty after the success of 'Vesham'.

Says Mammootty, "Kunjakka is almost an intrvert who keeps all his worries to himself. Hw has seen many ups and downs and he lives for his family".

Innocent plays his brother-in-law, "who is bent up on making more money". The whole hosehold is in attendance as Innocent's son Najeeb, played by Jayasurya, is leaving for the Gulf. The real famil members pose for a group photo.

Mamata Mohandas, who acted in 'Mayookham', enacts Kunjakka's sister who suffers from a heart ailment. "My character in the film is that of an educated Muslim girl who is very close to her brother", says Mamta. Kunjakka's happiness knows no bunds when an engineer agrees to marry her. Niyas, the hero of'Kshanakkathu/, which is best remembered for its melodious songs, dons the role of the engineer. Nikitha, heroine of 'Kaiyethum Doorathu', and Bhavana, also have plum roles in the film.

The film is about the emotional turmiol of a man who is burdened by his responsibilities", says Rasaaq. The problem of bus employees seldom get a compassionate hearing and that also been dealt with in the movie. The bus, aptly named 'Mythri', considering the film's thrust on society, is almost another character in the mivie, he explains.

After his jaunty ride as Rajamanikyam and the, now famous, Thiruvananthapuram dialect, was difficult for Mammootty to become Kunjakka who speaks with a typical North Kerala drawl?

"Experience and a persons innate talent help one to adjust", quips Mammootty. 'Bus Conductor' is being produced under the banner of Vaisakha movies. Lyrics by Gireesh Puthenchery has been set to music by M.Jayachandran. 'Bus Conductor' will hit the cinema halls this Christmas.

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