Aakasha Gopuram
After his recent debacles in commercial cinema, Mohanlal is finally coming up with a role that will once again portray his versatile skills to enliven the characters to perfection. K P Kumaran's 'Aakasha Gopuram' will be a milestone in the actor's career as he plays Albert Samson, an character built on the famous classic `Master Builder' by Norwegian playwright Henrik Johan Ibsen. The film with a unique theme of romance, lust and greed is made as a tribute to Ibsen in his death centenary year.
`Aakasha Gopuram', set in an imaginary town tells the story of Albert Samson (Mohanlal), a middle-aged architect who is ready to sacrifice anything for art. Though, he has pulled up his way to fame, his determination only on his career success for fended Samson and his family from leading a meaningful life.
Samson in his early years has struggled much to reach up to his ambitions. Then, he worked with his employer Abraham Thomas, who supported him in his endeavors. Samson started building churches and after a while, easily climbed lanes of glory, when he attempted building villas. He even exploited Abraham, his former employer, to reach the top, which in turn has made the later, his assistant. Samson managed to marry Alice, the daughter of a British Duke but with the death of her parents and her children, she ceased sympathizing with Samson and started leading a frustrated life. Samson also very soon realized that just like his own life, not every thing was good in the houses that he had built, along the years. Thomas, now dying, wanted his son Alex to have more independence in the firm but Samson fearing the caliber of the younger generation of architects refuses to allow Alex either to design original houses or to leave the firm.
Samson's life takes a new turn as Hilda Varghese, a spirited young woman who has idolized Samson for years, comes up to claim the `kingdom' that Samson has offered her when she was just a girl of twelve. This promise was made when Samson built a large church in her hometown, ten years before and climbed to the top of its tower during its dedication ceremony. And now Hilda sincerely has come to collect her kingdom. To fulfill her wish and for making a perfect architecture for self satisfaction, Samson begins to built a tower -a big one, poised to reach the sky - 'Aakashagopuram'.
'Aakashagopuram' also has a rare distinction that it is one of the few international co-productions made in Malayalam. National and international award winning director K P Kumaran, returns to big screen after a gap of 6 year with the film.
"I had been trying to do this film for the last ten years. I did even plan the film against an Indian milieu, to be shot at Simla, Ooty and Moonar , but it never materialized. It was then the British company under Taizoon F. Khorakkiwala came forward to support the production. It was really a dream come true for me'', says Kumaran whose famous filmography includes Thotram, Athithi, Neram Pularumbol, Rugmini and Kattile Pattu among others. `Master Builder' is a powerful psychological play written by Ibsen in his later years. The play even has some surrealistic elements. "I have tried to retain the basic character of the play, and the film is an adaptation of the play", adds the renowned director.
Newcomer Nithya makes her debut performance as Hilda. Shweta Menon plays Alice while late Bharath Gopi plays Abraham Thomas in the film. Also in the cast are Sreenivasan, Manoj K Jayan and Geethu Mohandas in supporting roles.
The best of talent from India and UK have come together to create this engaging classic. The movie is shot entirely in various locations in UK by cinematographer Santosh C Thundiyil (Krish, Pinjar, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai fame). Sabu Cyril is the production designer of th