The
child actor, Sanoop Santhosh, gives a stunning debut performance in
the Mollywood hit film, ‘Philips and The Monkey Pen’
Photo by Suresh Napoothiri
“When
[superstar] Mohanlal Sir called me up, the hair on my arms stood up,”
says child actor Sanoop Santhosh. “He praised my acting and told me
that he would get me a role in his next film.”
As
Sanoop sits in the lobby of a five-star hotel in Kochi, a fan asks
for an autograph. With élan, the nine-year-old writes on the last
page of a notepad: ‘All the best with love and happiness’. And he
signs 'Sanoop', in a slanting manner, by the side of the inscription.
Sanoop
has given a stellar performance as student Ryan Philips in the hit
Mollywood film, ‘Philips And The Monkey Pen’. “There is a
feeling that it will reach 50 days,” says Sanoop.
Essentially,
the story is of a young boy, who has experiences that all children
face: a dislike of maths, a teacher who uses the cane, the
complicated interaction with parents, friends and classmates, a crush
on a girl and the passing of notes to her and receiving them.
However, thanks to the monkey pen, all his issues, especially those
in maths, are solved miraculously.
The
youngster is in the middle of a media storm: newspapers, magazines
and television channels are talking and writing about his stunning
debut.
Undoubtedly,
acting does come naturally to him. For many years he would accompany
his parents, Santhosh and Usha, to watch Sanusha, his elder sister,
by nine years, act in films. “So I did not feel nervous when I
bagged this role, after an audition,” says Sanoop. In fact, Sanusha
challenged him that if he could cry without using glycerine, she
would give him a top quality mobile phone. “Here it is,” he says,
pointing at a white Samsung mobile.
What
helped was the relaxed atmosphere on the set. “I thought that both
the [debut] directors, Rojin Thomas and Shanil Muhammed, would be
strict, but they were friendly and encouraging,” says Sanoop. “It
seemed as if we were on a picnic. They took all my improvisations and
put it in the film.”
Director
Rojin says that Sanoop is a born talent. “Before the shoot began he
was shy and reserved, but once he immersed himself in the character
of Ryan, he became smart and outgoing,” he says. “The success of
the film depended on Sanoop's performance and he delivered superbly.”
Sanoop
acted alongside stars Jayasurya and Remya Nambeesan, who play his
parents, and veteran actor Mukesh who is the school principal. “They
were all very helpful,” says Sanoop. “Jayasurya Sir was very
patient and explained to me how each scene should be done.”
Sanoop
enjoyed every aspect of the 42-day shoot except the last scene when
it was shot on Varkala Beach during the monsoon season. He was
sitting on a log facing the sea. Suddenly, a huge wave came and hit
the log as well as Sanoop. “I was swept off, but not very far,”
he says. “For a few minutes I was in shock.”
But
now his life is less a shock and more like a pleasant dream. “If I
get another good role like Ryan Philips, I will act again,” he
says. “My idol is Kamal Hassan. What a great actor he is.”
(Sunday Magazine, The New Indian Express, South India and Delhi)
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