Critic’s Choice: ‘C U Soon’ now on the big screen

A prominent news-channel on the internet has referred to Fahadh Faasil as ‘Irrfan of the South’. It’s like calling Rajinikanth the Amitabh Bachchan of the South or conversely Amitabh Bachchan as Rajinikanth of the North. It also displays that acute chauvinism which most North Indian entertainment outlets suffer from.

Years ago, they addressed Kamal Haasan as the Naseeruddin Shah of the South. I guess this was for his transformative abilities on screen. But why wasn’t the brilliant Naseer called the Kamal Haasan of the North? Or better still, why should any two actors be compared? Do we compare Beethoven to Mozart? Or Michelle Obama to Hillary Clinton?

It is an Indian peculiarity to slot and compare talents. Even by the weird yardsticks of likeness in the Indian entertainment industry, calling Fahadh Faasil the Irrfan of the South is a low-blow. In fact, it is an insult to both the legendary actors. Irrfan’s personality or work cannot be compared with Fahadh’s in any way. They function in different geopolitical and emotional spaces.

Fahadh’s performances in Maheshinte Prathikaaram, Varathan, Njan Prakashan and Kumbalangi Nights display a subtle and spectacular range not to be found in any other actor in the South, barring Nivin Pauly. He can play practically anything. As we can see in the trailer of the soon-to-be-released Maalik which takes on the thorny issue of the communal divide.

Modestly Fahadh tells me, “There are just a very few things I can do. It’s always a permutation and combination of travel within myself. Grey to white. White to black. There are so many things I wish I could have done. But thank you for looking at my work so closely. I guess I’ve been fortunate to do the work that I want to do. This has only been possible because I am a producer on most of my starrers.”

The great Malayalam actor never had his plate so full before. He shot and completed two back-to-back films Irul and Joji which were released within two weeks of one another on the digital platform, and a third film Maalik for movie theatres. Then there was C U Soon which was released digitally towards the beginning of the lockdown. “It’s just a coincidence that so many films have come one after another,” says Fahadh, adding it isn’t easy shooting during the lockdown.

He is bathed in encomiums for playing the Shakespearean hero in Joji. Without hesitation he admits something went wrong with Irul. “It didn’t work out the way we had planned it. So many things went wrong. I admit it didn’t turn out the way we had planned. But a section of the target audience still liked it.”

Fahadh feels the digital and theatrical platforms are not mutually inclusive. “Joji and Irul were made specially for the OTT platform. They wouldn’t have worked so well in movie theatres. My next release Maalik which is about state-border politics is designed especially for the movie theatres. I believe the OTT platform and theatre business have separate identities, separate lives.”

In fact, Fahadh is planning a version of C U Soon for the big screen. “It will be made on a different scale, a much bigger canvas and it will be shot on outdoor locations. The digital version of C U Soon was shot entirely indoors.”

Fahadh who admits he follows no time-line in his real life is now all set to co-star with Kamal Haasan. “Yes, it’s true. I am working with him (Kamal Haasan) for the first time in a film titled Vikram. I’ve been asked not to speak about my role or the film. But no, I am not playing the villain.”