Flashback Friday: Filmmaker Vinayan reminisces working with Mammootty for ‘Rakshasa Rajavu’

Mollywood filmmaker Vinayan recollects the days of his directorial ‘Rakshasa Rajavu’ and how he managed to helm two Mamoootty-starrers in a short span of time. Vinayan’s directorial ‘Dada Sahib’ which featured Mammootty in a double role hit the screens in December 2000. Soon after the release, Vinayan went on to direct his next, ‘Karimadikuttan’, in which Kalabhavan Mani essayed the lead. While filming the last portion of ‘Karimadikuttan’, Vinayan thought of collaborating with Mammootty again for his next.
The director recently shared a note, in which he revealed the reason behind directing two Mammootty starrers in a short span. The brutal Aluva Murder case that was making quite a buzz at the time became an inspiration for the movie ‘Rakshasa Rajavu’.
And after wrapping the shoot of ‘Karimadikuttan’, Vinayan decided to collaborate with Mammootty for ‘Rakshasa Rajavu’. Both ‘Karimadikkuttan’ and ‘Rakshasa Rajavu’ were released in the same month - in August 2001. ‘Karimadikkuttan’ was released in the first week and ‘Rakshasa Rajavu’ on the last day of the month.
Walking down the memory lane, the director revealed the reason behind directing Mammootty for his two adjacent projects. The filmmaker also added that he had less time for the pre-production, but it was Mammootty’s encouragement, which helped him in making all the preparations in no time.
The director has also shared a picture from the set of ‘Rakshasa Rajavu’.

Interestingly, both Mammootty starrers and ‘Karimadikkuttan’ emerged as hits at the box -office.
Meanwhile, Vinayan’s last directorial was ‘Aakashagang 2’, a sequel to the 1999 movie. The director has recently announced his next, ‘Pathonbatham Noottandu’, a historic drama based on Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker, the fiery Ezhava chieftain.