Maya Bazaar: Mammooty's Saving Grace

After Parunthu, which got a mixed response from audiences (maybe because of the negative role of the superstar as a cut-throat money lender) and consequently failed to take off, Mammooty is pinning all his hopes on his upcoming family entertainer Maya Bazaar, scheduled to release for Ramzan on October 1 or 2.

The shooting for Maya Bazaar, directed by Thomas Sebastian, has already started at Pollachi and is going on in full swing. Mammooty has given bulk dates and would wrap up the entire shoot in 40 days. The film will start its post-production work in the first week of September.

In the film written by T.A Razak, Mammooty plays the role of 'Akkiri' Ramesh who buys old cars, dismantles them and sells the spare parts, operating out of Maya Bazaar, the market where spare parts are sold. Rajan P. Dev will play the role of his father, while Salim Kumar and Sooraj Venjaranmoodu will be his friends.

Maya Bazaar has some new faces. Sheela of Elavattam fame will be one of the heroines. Another actress in an important role in the movie is Tisca Chopra, who has acted in Taare Zameen Par and Hyderabad Blues 2; Manoj Pillai is the cameraman; Rahul Raj is the music director. Maya Bazaar is produced by Saji S. Mangalath.

Mammooty's other most-talked-about project is Pazhassi Raja, a historical film about Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja, popularly known as the Lion of Kerala, who was a king in the 18th century from the Kottayam royal family. The film is being directed by Hariharan and Mammooty plays the title role.