Shaji Kailas to recreate magic with Mammootty

Known as one of the most prolific directors of Malayalam, Shaji Kailas is teaming up with Mammootty in his next film. The director's last film, Ali Bhai, was a complete washout at the box office.

The Mammootty-Shaji Kailas team has produced several hits like The King, The Truth and Valyettan. Shaji ventured into feature films through the low budget movie News. It was Thalasthanam (featuring Sureshgopi as a hero seeking revenge for his brother's death) which made Shaji noticed by the masses. Then came another hit, again from team Ekalavyan, in which Sureshgopi played the role of Madhavan IPS, who fights the illegal drug trading done by the help of a Swamiji (played by Narendraprasad). But it was Commissioner, released in 1994, which catapulted Shaji to fame and gave Sureshgopi the name Super Star.

Shaji's movies are famous for their action and punch dialogues. After doing several movies of the same genre with Sureshgopi, Shaji teamed up with Mammootty and Mohanlal to produce some of the biggest hits in Malayalam films. With Mohanlal he did Narasimham, and Araam Thamburan which became major hits, but his later films with Mohanlal like Ali Bhai failed to impress the masses.