Yugapurushan, the film based on the vision of Sree Narayana Guru, the mystic and social reformer of Kerala, started at Ottapalam on Wednesday. After the pooja at Varikkaassery Mana, the first shot was taken. The pooja started at 9 a.m. Mammootty, Navya Nair, Kalabhavan Mani, Saikumar, Thalai Vasal Vijai, Kaithapram Damodaran Namboodiri, Producer A.V. Anoop, Director R. Sukumaran, Ottapalam and M.L.A A.M. Hamsa attended the function. Niece of Social reformer Ayyankali Ponnamma lighted the lamp.
In the second shot Mammooty enacted the role of K.C. Kuttan, a revolutionary who lived and supported the guru’s principles and teachings in the same period. Mohanlal dons the character of Swamy Vivekananda while Babu Antony is in the role of Ayyankali, a Harijan leader in Kerala. Navya Nair is cast in the role of a Brahmin lady named Savithri Antharjanam, who loves and marries a ‘pulayan’ named Koran. Thalaivasal Vijay will don the role of Sree Narayana Guru in his seventies.
The movie will also present historic personalities like Mahatma Gandhi, Tagore, Chattambi Swamikal, poet Kumaranasan, T.K. Madhavan, Ayyankaali and Mannathu Padmanabhan. Also in the cast are Jagathy Sreekumar, Kalabhavan Mani, Saikumar, Siddique, Devan, Saiju Kurup, Sukumari and Shobha Mohan.
Director said, The film is not to meant to describe the complete life of Sree Narayana Guru, but to portray how the vision of Guru changed the history of the society. Thus the new generation can understand the significance of Guru’s vision. The movie also aims to break the notion that Sree Narayana Guru belonged to a particular segment in the society. Unlike common entertainment film, Yugapurushan will guide the forthcoming generations.
Other locations are Kannur, Cherthala, Mysore and Srilanka. The film would be released in connection with the Guru Jayanthi celebrations in September. The estimated cost of the film is five crore. Earlier films of R. Sukumaran are Padamudra and Rajasilpi. The script of Yugapurushan is by R. Sukumaran and lyrics by Kaithapram Damodaran Namboodiri. Music is by Mohan Sithara and Camera by Ramachandra Babu. Banner of the film is AVM Productions.