Annan Thampi
After `Rajamanickyam' and `Chotta Mumbai' which carved a niche for its director Anwar Rasheed, this youngster is getting ready with this third film for this Vishu- `Annan Thampi'. This is the seventh movie produced by Marikkar Films, of which four featured Mammootty as the hero. The others like `Big B', `Nasrani' and `Raudram' all produced and distributed by Marikkar, did mange to bring in profits even though neither of them could attain the status of a super hit.
As the name implies, `Annan Thambi' is the story of twin brothers, Appu and Achu , who are born with a difference of 90 seconds. While Achu is vocally challenged, Appu is a tough boy who is non stop chat box. Mammootty dons the twin characters, after a couple of years from his earlier double role movie, 'Balram Vs Tharadas'. He is playing the role of a mute person for the first time in his acting career that spans over twenty five years. It was the search for a character that Mammoootty has not enacted before, that helped the creators to select this theme for the movie.
The twins, Appu and Achu are the sons of Ravunni, a popular ballet artist. The problem with them was that they never liked each other even as yearlings and the sibling rivalry worsened as they grew up. While Appu was a noisy child, Achu being dump was forced to remain a silent spectator, which increased the rivalry, between the two. Finally, their parents were forced to get the twins separated, Appu is sent to relatives in Pollachi at Tamil Nadu. He very soon develops his gang of friends who are the regular problem makers, always in the middle of one or other robustious activity. And in no time, Appu lands up as the henchman of a 'dada' in Pollachi
Achu, who stayed back with his parents now runs a drama troupe and is the main artist in the troupe. He is a humanitarian who is always ready to help people. Even though the two brothers grow up as enemies, their friends and all those around them wanted to see them united as loving brothers. One day Appu comes home to take on Achu, and the action and fun begins as ''havoc is on the air'' whenever they meet .The film goes on to tell the strength of blood relations as eventually, the two are forced to realize the strength of being together.
'Annan Thampi' is scripted by popular scenarist Benny P. Nayarambalam, who admits that that it was Mammootty himself who first suggested the possibility of such characters. This is the third movie for which Benny is writing for Mammootty , the earlier ones being 'Thommanum Makkalum' and 'Pothen Vava'.
`Anna Thampi' also features two heroines, one for each of the twins. Lakshmi Rai, who entered Mollywood with `Rock 'N Roll', plays Thenmozhi, Appu's lover, while Gopika is Lakshmi, Achchu's wife and a co- artist in his ballets. Janardhanan plays Ravunni. Also featuring in the cast are Harishree Ashokan, Suraj Venjaaramoodu, Kunjan, Manianpillai Raju, Siddhique, Mohan Jose, Anil Murali, Urmila Unni, Shivani and Rema Devi.
The music of the movie by Rahul Raj, set in the lines of Vayalar Sharath and Bichu Thirumala feature singers like Pradeep Palluruthy, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Jyotsna and Smitha Nishanth.
Lokanathan cranks the camera for this movie which was shot as a colourful entertainer, mostly in and around Pollachi.
`Anna Thampi' is planning to grace more than seventy centers, all across Kerala, as the biggest release for this Vishu.