After comedy, Priyadarshan-Mohanlal team up for horror

After teaming up for numerous slapstick comedies, Malayalam film industry's legendary duo of director Priyadarshan and actor Mohanlal is for a change working together on a horror thriller.

Titled "Gitanjali", the film is already on the floor and is being shot on the outskirts of the city.

"Yes, this is a different one and we are feeling it too. But as far as an actor is concerned, his job is to act and I am doing just that. Now that we have waited this long, its just a few months more," Mohanlal told IANS when asked about his expectations from the film.

Priyadarshan too admits that the film is certainly different from previous ventures.

"All what I have done is that I have taken four characters from the 'Manichitrathazhu' and the similarity ends there. I repeat, this is not a sequel to that," he said while trying to manage things for the next shot.

Directed by Fazil, 1993-release "Manichitrathazhu" won the National Film Award for best popular film providing wholesome entertainment. Shobhana won best actress National Award for her portrayal of Ganga in the movie.

"All along what I have done is that I have adapted stories for my films, so this time I decided that I will do something different. This is in fact a horror film and it tells the tale of a girl whose marriage is fixed and ahead of that she develops serious mental disorder. Like in 'Manichitrathazhu', where Mohanlal makes an entry at the stroke of intermission, here too, he is doctor Sunny Joseph, a psychiatrist."

Shobana appears in just one scene where she suggests cranky psychiatrist Joseph's name after learning about the problems faced by the girl, played by Keerthi, who is about to get married and develops complications.

The other two characters from "Manichitrathazhu" adapted for "Gitanjali" are Unnithan, played by veteran character artist-comedian Innocent, and film star-turned-legislator Ganesh Kumar, who has the screen name of Dasappan.

"There are four songs and to ease things up a bit for the audience, I have included a slice of humour," added Priyadarshan.

However, for the 56-year-old director, who is making his 86th film after starting his career in 1978, the only hindrance is incessant rain.

Looking worried, hoping to take a shot of Mohanlal before it starts pouring again, he said: "See, the continuity shot after this scene will be filmed only in August and it would be in the background of the sea, hence I have to be very careful because the sky would not be this overcast then."

The film is expected to go into post-production by the end of August and is slated for a release in October.

In 2011, the duo made a comeback of sorts when they did comedy "Arabyium, Ottakavum P. Madhavan Nairum", after a gap of eight years. It did good business at the box office.

The Priyadarshan-Mohanlal team churned out hits like "Boeing Boeing", "Thalavattam", "Vellanakalude Nadu", "Chithram", "Vandanam", "Kilukkam", "Mithunam" and "Thenmavin Kombath" and they are listed as the biggest earners in Malayalam filmdom.

Now all eyes are on "Gitanjali" -- whether it would re-create the same magic that the duo is known for.