English (2013 Film)
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''English: An Autumn in London'' is a 2013 Indian
Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of ...
-language satire film written by Ajayan Venugopalan and directed by Shyamaprasad. The film stars
Jayasurya Jayasurya (born 31 August 1978) is an Indian actor, film producer, playback singer, and impressionist who works in Malayalam films. He has appeared in more than 100 films and has won several awards, including a National Film Awards, National Fi ...
,
Nivin Pauly Nivin Pauly (born 11 October 1984) is an Indian actor and producer who works predominantly in Malayalam films. He is the recipient of two Kerala State Film Awards, three Filmfare Awards South, two Kerala Film Critics Association Awards, and ...
,
Mukesh Mukesh is an epithet for the Hindu god Shiva, and literally means "conqueror of the Muka demon". It is commonly used as a male given name in India. People with the name Mukesh include: * Mukesh (singer) (1923–1976), Indian playback singer from ...
, Nadhiya and Remya Nambeesan in lead roles. The film is produced by Binu Dev under the banner of Navarang Screens. The film revolves around the lives of several
Malayalees The Malayali people (; also spelt Malayalee and sometimes known by the demonym Keralite) are a Dravidian ethnolinguistic group originating from the present-day state of Kerala and Union Territory of Lakshadweep in India, occupying its south ...
living in London.


Plot

The lives of five characters from diverse backgrounds whose passage to the U.K. and its aftermath are dealt with in the film. Jayasurya plays Shankaran, a
Kathakali ''Kathakali'' (International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: Kathakaḷi ) is a traditional form of Indian Classical Dance, and one of the most complex forms of Theatre of India, Indian theatre. It is a play of verses. These vers ...
artiste-turned-waiter who is an illegal immigrant. Nivin Pauly dons the role of Sibin, an IT executive with a roving eye. Mukesh plays Joy, a middle-class corner store owner with an extended family in London and all its concomitant problems and advantages. Nadia Moidu plays Saraswathy, a Tamil Brahmin. Married to a doctor, she has been in the U.K, for more than 20 years. Remya Nambeesan plays Gauri, a young married woman from a rustic background who arrives in London.


Cast

*
Jayasurya Jayasurya (born 31 August 1978) is an Indian actor, film producer, playback singer, and impressionist who works in Malayalam films. He has appeared in more than 100 films and has won several awards, including a National Film Awards, National Fi ...
as Shankaran *
Nivin Pauly Nivin Pauly (born 11 October 1984) is an Indian actor and producer who works predominantly in Malayalam films. He is the recipient of two Kerala State Film Awards, three Filmfare Awards South, two Kerala Film Critics Association Awards, and ...
as Sibin *
Mukesh Mukesh is an epithet for the Hindu god Shiva, and literally means "conqueror of the Muka demon". It is commonly used as a male given name in India. People with the name Mukesh include: * Mukesh (singer) (1923–1976), Indian playback singer from ...
as Joy * Nadhiya as Saraswathy * Remya Nambeesan as Gauri Rajesh/Ammu * Sona Nair as Sally, Joy's wife * Murali Menon as Dr. Ram, Saraswathy's husband * Sinu Pillai as Rajesh, Sibin's friend * Josekutty Valiyakallumkal as Siju, Shankaran's friend * Vijayalekshmi as Sruthi, Saraswathy's friend * Varada Sethu as Meghana Scariah * Manoj Shiva * Viji Varghese * Baldwin Simon * Mujeeb * Rincy BinuDev as Haseena.


Production


Development

Ajayan and Shyamaprasad met during the screening of '' Elektra'' in
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
. The two got talking and they decided to work on a movie together. Shyamaprasad chose to direct Ajayan Venugopalan's story after many thoughts and preparations. Ajayan Venugopalan, a Malayali techie based in
New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
had already earned fame in the industry as the script writer and co-director of the popular sitcom '' Akkara Kazhchakal'' based on the life of Malayalis in the United States. ''English'' is his first attempt in a mainstream
Malayalam film Malayalam cinema, also referred to as Mollywood, is a segment of Indian cinema dedicated to producing films in the Malayalam language, primarily spoken in Kerala and the Lakshadweep islands. It encompasses both the mainstream film industry ...
. The director also used the short-story titled 'Chila Theerumanangal' (ചില തീരുമാനങ്ങള്‍) by Nirmala Thomas, a writer based in Canada, as one of the source narrative.


Casting

The film was announced to star Jayasurya, Nivin Pauly, Nadia Moidu, Remya Nambeesan, Mukesh, and Sona Nair. Incidentally, earlier this year during the 100th-day celebration of '' Beautiful'' in
Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram ( ), also known as Trivandrum, is the Capital city, capital city of the Indian state of Kerala. As of 2011, the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation had a population of 957,730 over an area of 214.86 sq. km, making it the ...
,
Jayasurya Jayasurya (born 31 August 1978) is an Indian actor, film producer, playback singer, and impressionist who works in Malayalam films. He has appeared in more than 100 films and has won several awards, including a National Film Awards, National Fi ...
had suggested his aspiration to work with the director, and to consider him for a role for the latter's next and Shyamaprasad promptly replied that he would call the actor when he has a role that is apt for him. The time had finally come when Shyamaprasad called to say that he wanted Jayasurya to do a character in ''English''. The actor had earlier said that he has always harboured a wish to work with Shyamaprasad because of what he has heard of the director from his co-stars. Shyamaprasad is known for moulding his characters so well, motivating the actors and giving them the strongest platform to perform. Jayasurya also had said it could be the actor in Shyamaprasad that helps him give such importance even to the minute nuances. Jayasurya was chosen to play the character of a Kathakali artiste who absconds while touring in England. Living as an illegal immigrant becomes too difficult for him as he is in constant fear of being caught. The mental ordeal adds more layers to the character which Jayasurya plays. Nadia Moidu was chosen to play a prominent role in the film.
Nivin Pauly Nivin Pauly (born 11 October 1984) is an Indian actor and producer who works predominantly in Malayalam films. He is the recipient of two Kerala State Film Awards, three Filmfare Awards South, two Kerala Film Critics Association Awards, and ...
was chosen to play another leading role after his performance in the 2012 film ''
Thattathin Marayathu ''Thattathin Marayathu'' () is a 2012 Indian Malayalam-language romantic comedy film written and directed by Vineeth Sreenivasan, starring Nivin Pauly and Isha Talwar. The supporting cast includes Aju Varghese, Manoj K. Jayan, Sunny Wayne, Sre ...
''. ''Akkara Kazhchakal'' fame Josekutty Valiyakallumkal who played the character of George Thekkinmootil in the popular sitcom was chosen to play a supporting role in the film, due to the connection of him and the scriptwriter from the sitcom.


Filming

The puja of the film was held on 16 September 2012 at
Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram ( ), also known as Trivandrum, is the Capital city, capital city of the Indian state of Kerala. As of 2011, the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation had a population of 957,730 over an area of 214.86 sq. km, making it the ...
in which all the cast and crew attended. Shooting started on 17 October 2012 in
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
. The director of photography is Udayan Ambaadi. Actor Murali Menon went to London early before the shoot for the pre-production work. The film is the second Malayalam film to have scenes shot by the Helicam; a remote controlled mini-helicopter captures aerial shots with the help of a video camera. Sync sound, which means the actors will record the dialogues during the shoot itself, was used in the film. This was to add to the realistic feel of the film. Initially, the film was to be shot in the United States but due to logistical problems that cropped up, ''English'' was transported to the U.K. A few changes were made in the script after the location was fixed.
Basildon Basildon ( ) is a town in Borough of Basildon, the borough of the same name, in the county of Essex, England. It had a recorded population of 115,955 at the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 census. In 1931, the town had a population of 1,159. ...
was also a primary location in which the shoot had begun in. The whole film was shot during the autumn of the year 2012. Shyamaprasad who was in the UK for his masters (in Hull University) during the late 1980s says, "The dark underbelly of London was haunting and cajoled me with ideas for a movie." Kerala has not been shown in the movie at all.


Soundtrack

The soundtrack for the film was launched on 21 May 2013 at an event hosted in
Kochi Kochi ( , ), List of renamed Indian cities and states#Kerala, formerly known as Cochin ( ), is a major port city along the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea. It is part of the Ernakulam district, district of Ernakulam in the ...
. The album, released by
Mathrubhumi ''Mathrubhumi'' is a Malayalam newspaper that is published from Kerala, India. It was founded by K. P. Kesava Menon, an active volunteer in the Indian freedom struggle against the British. The word "Mathrubhumi" translates to 'mother land'. ...
Music contains five songs composed by Rex Vijayan and penned by Shibu Chakravarthy and Engandiyoor Chandrasekharan. For the first time ever, American clarinet player and music composer Shankar Tucker collaborates for a Malayalam song in ''English''. The song "Aakashamey" is rendered by singer-actor Rohan Kymal, with Shankar playing the clarinet in it. "Scored by Rex Vijayan, the music was composed and sent to Rohan and Tucker. Then we interacted via Skype to fine-tune it. It has come out very well. This song is the anthem of the film," says filmmaker Shyamaprasad. According to the director, "The film's music has a multicultural flavour. And a unique mixing of fusion adds to its charm. Rex Vijayan, the composer, takes you to the world of music that is unheard of."


Reception

Jisha G. Nair of ''
Malayala Manorama '' Manorama'' is a morning newspaper in Malayalam published from Kottayam, Kerala, India by the Malayala Manorama Company Limited. Currently headed by Mammen Mathew, it was first published as a weekly on 14 March 1888, and currently has a rea ...
'' rated the film 3 in a scale of 5 and said, "If you love to watch films that have different shades of life, ''English'', directed by Shyamaprasad is an apt choice." The critic added, "The director has done a brave attempt to entertain the mass. The songs, humour and satire will appeal to a large group of audience. This may be the first time Shyamaprasad has come out from his typical style of film making to entertain the viewers. Yet he has marked his signature in the film without compromising much." The critic was all praise for the film's script, music, cinematography and acting by all the lead performers.


References

{{Shyamaprasad 2010s Malayalam-language films Indian drama films Films shot in the United Kingdom Films shot in London Films directed by Shyamaprasad Films scored by Rex Vijayan 2013 drama films 2013 films Films set in London