Kannur Squad writer talks about why the success of Mammootty starrer feels personal

Mammotty, the popular Malayalam star has had a successful and productive year. While his latest released Kaathal The Core opened to critical acclaim, Mammootty’s previous release Kannur Squad was a massive box office success. Now film’s co-writer and director Roby Varghese Raj’s brother Rony David Raj has opened up about his personal association with the veteran actor, much before their collaboration on Kannur Squad, talking about why their film’s success feels particularly personal. 

Mammootty worked in Rony David Raj's father's production 34 years ago

Speaking to Film Companion, Rony David Raj reminisced about how Mammotty worked in a film produced by the writer’s father in 1989. The film was titled Mahayanam, and Rony’s father faced a lot of financial difficulties throughout the production.

Rony David Raj elaborated, “My father, who was a theatre owner, did not know how to plan a film shoot at all. It was shot on different schedules. Mammootty sir did Mrugaya (1989) and Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (1989) in between the schedule breaks of our film.”

Feel like I have gotten an Oscar: Rony David Raj

Rony added that he and his brother were merely 8 and 4 years old at the time. Eventually, Rony’s family faced a very tough time as the film production went over budget and ballooned to nearly 3 times the original budget. By the time the shoot was finally over, their family had to shut down the theatre and eventually sell their house.

Rony further spoke about this being why the success of Kannur Squad means a lot to the brothers. But it's not only about having done a successful film with Mammootty, says Rony. “I feel like I have gotten an Oscar right now. More than the fact that Mammukka himself played the lead in our film, the fact that our parents are well and alive to see this day makes this moment special. We got to celebrate this victory when our parents are still around. And nothing can beat that feeling."