Latest news with #MathrubhumiInternationalFestivalofLetters
News18
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Mohanlal Once Slept In Serial Killer ‘Ripper' Chandran's Cell
Mohanlal's Sadayam prison scenes were shot in a real cell with a dark past — it once held serial killer 'Ripper' Chandran. When Sadayam released in 1992, it cemented Mohanlal's reputation for taking on complex and intense roles. Directed by Sibi Malayil and written by Jnanpith awardee M.T. Vasudevan Nair, the psychological drama became one of Malayalam cinema's most striking portrayals of a man on death row. However, behind the scenes, the production carried an unsettling real-life connection to a notorious criminal case. For authenticity, key sequences were filmed inside the historic Kannur Central Jail. In the film, Mohanlal played Sathyanathan, a convict sentenced to death for killing two girls and two men. The cell chosen for his character had once housed 'Ripper" Chandran, a convicted serial killer who was executed there. Mohanlal revealed that the rope used in a hanging scene was not a prop but the same one employed in an actual execution 13 years earlier. 'The film was shot in Kannur Central Jail, and the room I stayed in during the shoot was once occupied by Ripper Chandran, who was on death row. Before him, a man named Balakrishnan had stayed there. The speciality of Kannur Central Jail is that two people can be hanged at the same time. An official even said the rope placed around my neck for the scene had actually been used to hang someone 13 years earlier. I don't know how many actors have had such an experience," he said during the 2020 Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters. The film's intensity left a strong impact on viewers, with Mohanlal recalling how some struggled to watch it. 'After the film was released, many people called me and told me not to act in such movies. They said they couldn't bear to watch it. Such was the feeling the film delivered. Many powerful scenes were later deleted, which made it even more intense in its original form," he noted. Sadayam, which also featured Maathu, Thilakan, Nedumudi Venu, KPAC Lalitha, Janardhanan, Sreenivasan, and Murali, earned national recognition for its writing. M.T. Vasudevan Nair was honoured with the National Film Award for Best Screenplay. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
When Mohanlal was lodged in the same cell where notorious serial killer ‘Ripper' Chandran was once incarcerated: ‘Many people called me and told me not to…'
While it is nearly impossible to select the best performance by Mohanlal or even create a definitive list of his finest works, considering there are so many, any attempt in that regard won't be complete without including his portrayal of the lead character in Sadayam (1992). Directed by veteran filmmaker Sibi Malayil and penned by Jnanpith awardee MT Vasudevan Nair, Sadayam is widely regarded as one of the most impactful psychological dramas the Malayalam film industry has ever created, and Mohanlal's chilling performance as Sathyanathan is considered by many to be one of his finest to date. As Sathyanathan, a convict awaiting capital punishment for murdering two girls and two men, Mohanlal delivered a masterful portrayal, bringing out the many layers and nuances of the character with remarkable precision, thus setting a benchmark for both his contemporaries and successors to aspire to. Notably, the scenes set in prison were shot at the actual Kannur Central Jail to ensure authenticity and rawness. However, the extent to which Sibi Malayil, MT Vasudevan Nair and Mohanlal committed to the project is quite fascinating. Intriguingly, the cell where Mohanlal's character was depicted to be lodged was the same one where notorious serial killer 'Ripper' Chandran was once incarcerated. Adding to the chilling atmosphere, the rope used in the scene where Sathyanathan is about to be hanged was a real one that had previously been employed for an actual execution. 'After the film was released, many people called me and told me not to act in such movies. They said they couldn't bear to watch it. Such was the feeling the film delivered. Many powerful scenes were later deleted, which made it even more intense in its original form,' Mohanlal shared during a session at the 2020 edition of Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters. He continued, 'The film was shot in Kannur Central Jail, and the room I stayed in during the shoot was once occupied by Ripper Chandran, who was on death row. Before him, a man named Balakrishnan had stayed there. The speciality of Kannur Central Jail is that two people can be hanged at the same time. An official even said the rope placed around my neck for the scene had actually been used to hang someone 13 years earlier. I don't know how many actors have had such an experience.' Also starring Maathu, Thilakan, Nedumudi Venu, KPAC Lalitha, Janardhanan, Sreenivasan and Murali in key roles, MT Vasudevan Nair won the National Film Award for Best Screenplay for Sadayam.
