It seems director Fazil who has made some very popular films both in the Malayalam and Tamil film industries, is now turning his focus into acting. He is playing an important role in the film Lucifer, the directorial debut of actor Prithviraj, and also in Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham, directed by Priyadarshan. Both films have Mohanlal playing the lead.
Fazil has in fact played small roles especially in his own movies in the past. He appears as the friend of Mohanlal in the movie Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu, in a short but significant role. He is seen as a passerby in the Tamil and Malayalam version of Ente Sooryaputhrikku, with Amala in the lead.
He has made landmark movies in his career that began with the movie Manjil Virinja Pookkal, that launched him as a director and Mohanlal the actor. The movie, quite unlike the love stories seen till date, between a married but abused woman and another man, was quickly accepted by Malayalis. Fazil then went on to make popular films like Ente Mamattkuttiyammakku, centred on a child (Baby Shalini) and the easy love between a couple, Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu that showed the rare theme of a relationship between a grand-mom (Padmini) and her grand-daughter (Nadhiya Moidu), Manivathoorile Aayiram Sivarathrikal that was about inter-caste love.
Quite a few of his movies including Ente Mamattikuttiyammakku, centred on children – movies such as Poovinu Puthiya Poonthennal and Pappayude Swantham Appoos. He also continued his attempts on the changing ways of portraying love, with movies like Aniyathipravu, Harikrishnans and Living Together. But his most appreciated movie till date is perhaps the award winning Manichitrathazhu, which saw Shobana play a woman suffering from split personality. Fazil’s movies are also famous for its music – along with Mohanlal’s and his own launch, he introduced Jerry Amaldev to Malayalam film industry.
His new acting choices perhaps come from friendship - with Mohanlal playing the lead in both the movies. Mohanlal and Mammootty – both turning popular with the director – have played the lead in most of Fazil’s movies.
(Content provided by Digital Native)