Just to see Mammootty up close I became a junior artiste: Naslen

Recently released Thanneermathan Dinangal is running into packed theatres garnering positive reviews from the audience and the critics alike. The audience particularly loved the performance of Naslen who played the humanities student who brags about his rich father. Naslen handled humour with natural flair and his witty counter dialogues in the movie are winning applause in the theatres. Many would-be stunned to know that this ‘boy’ who played a plus two humanities student in the movie is, in fact, a BTech student in real life.

BTech days

“Many times people have asked me with surprise whether I really am a BTech student. After completing my plus two, I enrolled for BTech. But, after two years I realized that BTech was not meant for me. So, I have discontinued it and am waiting to join for a degree course. Like it is said in the movie, intelligence is not the main factor. I am just an average student,” says Naslen.

Hardcore Mammootty fan

Naslen has always been passionate about movies and is an ardent fan of screen icon Mammootty. He acted as a junior artiste in the movie Madhuraraja as he wished to see Mammootty. Naslen says he was just one among the 600 junior artists who had acted in that movie. However, he is incredibly happy that he could see his idol. “Before acting in Thanneermathan Dinangal, I hadn’t acted even in a short film. I never did anything related to acting while in school or college. I came to know about the auditions through my friends in college,” reveals the actor.

Friendly crew

Naslen has only great things to say about actor Vineeth Sreenivasan who was his co-star in the film. “We call him Vineeth etta. It was so much fun working with him. He would tell stories, sing songs and even dance with us. Director Gireesh and screenwriter Dean too were like that. There are lots of humorous scenes and witty dialogues in the movie which were actually not in the screenplay. All those dialogues and scenes had come to their minds at those particular moments. The Director would explain things in a very simple manner. I must also credit producers Jomon and Shameer for their incredible support,” notes Naslen.

Mathew and Anaswara

The movie features a handful of newcomers who actually hail from Kochi and its nearby places. Kumbalangi Nights fame Mathew who plays a prominent role in the movie had joined the camp only a few days after it had started. “Initially he was a bit shy to talk to us. But after that, all of us became great friends. We had great fun singing songs and dancing and everything. All of us had soon become close friends. It was our friendship that got reflected in the movie. Anaswara too was a bit shy in the beginning. She joined a few days after the shoot had begun. But she soon came to us to talk and hadn’t stopped since then,” smiles Naslen.

Own story

Naslen admits he could very much relate to the story of the movie. He says he too had done most of the things that the characters do in the movie. “I felt as if it was my own story. I too had done small mischief and bunked classes. I used to frequent the small wayside shop outside our school during recess and was even suspended once,” reveals the youngster.

Naslen, a native of Kodungalloor, is currently enjoying the success of Thannermathan Dinangal and is excited that his character has been well received by the audience. He says he feels amazing when elders as old as his father come and appreciate him. This young actor is here to stay and has vowed to pursue his cinema dreams.