Chandy Oommen has a film in mind. Speaking on the Nadir Show YouTube channel, the Congress leader and son of former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy revealed that he wants to produce a biographical film on his father’s life — titled simply Oommen Chandy — and that there is one actor he believes is right for the role.
“Mammootty would be the best person to play Appa’s role,” Chandy Oommen said. “I have the desire to do this. It is something I genuinely want to make happen.”
He was careful to separate the wish from a confirmed project. “The question of who acts in it — let that wait for now. When it actually becomes a project that is going to happen, we can think about it then.” But his preference, stated clearly, is Mammootty.
Two Reasons Behind the Project
Chandy Oommen gave two specific motivations for wanting to make the film. The first is practical: proceeds would go toward funding his foundation and its charitable work. The second is legacy. “Let his heritage be recorded in history,” he said — framing the biopic not as a vanity project but as an act of documentation for a political life that shaped Kerala over several decades.
Oommen Chandy served as Kerala Chief Minister twice — from 2004 to 2006 and again from 2011 to 2016 — and was one of the most enduring figures in the state’s Congress politics. He passed away in July 2023. A biopic would trace a career that spanned nearly five decades in public life, from student politics to the Chief Minister’s office, including the Solar scam controversy that marked his final term and his reputation for accessibility that made him one of Kerala’s most people-facing politicians.
Chandy Oommen on Acting
The interview also produced a lighter moment. When asked if he would act in films if given a chance, Chandy Oommen’s answer was: “I can think about it. I haven’t ruled it out. A villain role would be fine. Someone has to call me though — I can only go if I’m invited.” When Nadir Shah immediately offered to make that call, Chandy Oommen agreed — then added, with characteristic self-awareness: “When you actually call, I’ll tell you I said it in a moment of enthusiasm.”
Why Mammootty Is the Name That Makes Sense
The Mammootty suggestion is not arbitrary. The actor has built one of Malayalam cinema’s most sustained records of playing real and historical figures with authority — from Muhammad Ali Jinnah in The Forgotten Army to various political and legal characters across a long career. His physical presence, age range, and ability to carry the weight of institutional dignity onscreen make him the natural fit for a role that would require projecting both political shrewdness and the particular warmth Oommen Chandy was known for.
Whether the project moves beyond Chandy Oommen’s stated desire into actual development will depend on finding a director and production structure. Nothing has been announced formally. But the intent is now public, the preferred casting is named, and the motivation — legacy preservation and charitable funding — gives the project a framework that goes beyond a son’s sentiment.
Leave a Reply