Date:20/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/20/stories/2007042012480400.htm

Kerala

Politicians in dream roles

George Jacob

KOTTAYAM: Chief Minister C.K. Padmanabhan, Leader of the Opposition P.C. George, Tourism Minister V.N. Vasavan... sounds strange? The dream merchants are at it again. On Thursday, it was the turn of leaders from various political parties to come together to live their parts in a Malayalam movie. This time round, they were playing themselves, but in their `dream roles.'

The shooting began early morning at the Thirunakkara grounds for the movie `K.K. Road,' directed by Simon. The first shot was of `Chief Minister' C.K. Padmanabhan, played by the BJP leader himself, delivering his inaugural speech at the `Tourism Week celebrations.'

On the dais were P.C. George, MLA, who plays the role of the Leader of the Opposition, and V.N. Vasavan, MLA , who plays Minister for Tourism. Other politicians in the film include T.N. Prathapan, MLA, who plays a Board chairman and T.N. Pradeep Kumar, Congress (S) leader, who dons the role of the Inspector General of Police. This is not all. The producers have roped in M.K. Muneer, IUML leader, who has lent his voice as playback singer. Cine actors Babu Antony and Vijayraghavan too play key roles in the film.

Interestingly, the movie was launched on New Year day in 2006 at the ancestral residence of the then Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who lit the lamp. However, it faced a rough patch last year and the shooting was resumed only recently, said the producers.

Politicians' tryst with tinseldom is not new to Kerala, though the flow in the opposite direction was not so impressive. The latest in the list was CPI leader and Lok Sabha MP who plays a key role in the Malayalam movie `Daivathinte Vall' (God's Sword).