Classmates was a small Onam release, competing with films starring Mohanlal, Mammootty, Suresh Gopi and Dileep. Surprisingly, while Mammootty and Gopi's films bombed, and Mohanlal's film did just average business, the 'small' film created history at the box office. Released with no fanfare, the film's success came through word of mouth raves.
Director Lal Jose began his career with Meesa Madhavan, a hit comedy on the lines of Laurel and Hardy. After the not-so-successful Pattalam with Mammootty came the daring Chanthupottu, about a cross-dresser. And the subsequent Achanurangatha Veedu is widely rated as one of the best films of 2005.
Jose spoke to Shobha Warrier about Classmates, nostalgia and Achanurangatha Veedu. Here are some excerpts:
What was the inspiration behind making a film on college life? Were you just nostalgic?
The truth is that I wanted my first film to be about my college life, and this is the first idea that came to my mind.
Then why did it take so long for you to make this film?
I only had the milieu and a few characters in my mind, not a proper story to string those characters together. When I got a proper story, I decided to make it into a film.
Design: Uday Kuckian
Advertisement
Classmates was a small Onam release, competing with films starring Mohanlal, Mammootty, Suresh Gopi and Dileep. Surprisingly, while Mammootty and Gopi's films bombed, and Mohanlal's film did just average business, the 'small' film created history at the box office. Released with no fanfare, the film's success came through word of mouth raves.