Santhosh Pandit draws Techies to Nedumangad..!

>> THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  Sakthi Cinema in Nedumangad has been witnessing a rare phenomenon for the past one week. While the local people throng other theatres to watch the Vijay-starrer ‘Velayutham’, youths from the city arrive in large numbers at the Sakthi cinema to watch a rather unknown film.

The local people wonder why an unfamiliar actor is welcomed with thunderous claps and howls, the usual fan frenzy associated with a megastar film. A few in Nedumangad know that the film is ‘Krishnanum Radhayum’ of ‘alien star’ Santhosh Pandit which is attracting city youths to this countryside theatre, which is the only theatre in Thiruvananthapuram screening the widely-discussed film.

The film, which gained popularity owing to negative publicity through YouTube, is more familiar to netizens. That may be the reason why the theatre is seeing the flow of city youths, especially techies, to watch the film. While the film is being screened in other major cities in the state amidst dance and fun, the city youth have to travel 20 km to enjoy, rather, make fun of, the self-styled superstar of Mollywood.

However, the film is not doing well in Nedumangad, according to the manager of Sakthi cinema, Manoj. “The gross collection is just ` 3,500. Local people are ignoring it. But, surprisingly, youths from the city, especially Kazhakkoottam area, are coming in groups to watch the film. Most of them are techies,” he says.  “But they do not seem to watch the film. They howl, use abusive words against the hero and enjoy,” he smiles.

“The maximum collection was on Friday and Sunday,” he adds.  ‘Krishnanum Radhayum’ will be screened this week too. “The film will be have four shows till Thursday,” he adds.

Apart from acting, Santhosh did direction, script-writing, editing, music direction, lyrics and playback singing for the film. The unworthy, negative publicity he gained from YouTube proved good for Santhosh as more and more youths are vying to get the ticket.

“The climax is the highlight of the film. It is difficult to comprehend the expression of hero at the time of his wife’s death,” says a comment posted on the discussion forum ‘forumkerala.com.’

The post in the pseudonym ‘Gangster’ says, “there were only 20 people in the Sakthi threatre during the show. All danced with the song ‘Oh Priyee’”. He hopes Santhosh Pandit won’t attempt a film again in future.

(Courtesy:  The New Indian Express )