''The day Jilla releases will be another Onam''- Mohanlal

With the much awaited Jilla releasing this weekend, actor Mohanlal, who plays the lead alongside Vijay, shares his thoughts on the movie, Ilayathalapathy and his recent blockbuster, Drishyam.

On taking up Jilla…

The first reason is Vijay, for sure. Then comes the production house, Super Good Films. Why would I say no to an offer by a producer as reputed as RB Choudary?

Lastly, but most importantly, director Neason. He didn’t give up until I heard the script. I did and obviously loved it. I have a very strong character in the movie.

You are playing Vijay’s father in the movie. Aren’t you concerned about your image?

I play a typical Madurai man, fearless and heroic. The age would be an issue here, I guess.

You both have a large fan base. Will Jilla satisfy all of them?

Definitely. Vijay has a good fan base in Kerala too. I assure that this film will be a perfect Pongal entertainer.

Your take on the fans in Tamil Nadu and Kerala…

A strong relationship, emotional connect and tradition binds both Kerala and Tamil people. This relationship is 2000 years old. There’s no force strong enough to break this bond. That is the reason why Tamil films run successfully in Kerala and vice versa.
 

On the success of Drishyam…

Drishyam has an impactful content. It struck me deep the moment I heard it. There’s no heroism in the movie, but the characters are strong. The film is also being planned to be made in Tamil and Telugu.

Ilayathalapathy Vijay…

The most amazing fact is that, he achieved superstardom at a very young age. But, the best part is that he is so grounded for a superstar. One should learn to be punctual, disciplined and work hard like him. His dedicated fans are his awards for his good qualities. We weren’t very close when we started the project. But now, we visit each others’ homes on a regular basis.
 

Did you watch Jilla? How is it?

My wife and I watched the movie recently. Everyone loved the Sivanum Shakthiyum Serndha Massuda song. Most of all, my wife, who generally keeps things to herself, said she loved the movie.

About the Kerala release…

I’m releasing Jilla in more than 300 screens in Kerala. The day Jilla releases will be another Onam.