Pak-born model plays hero in Malayalam film

Thiruvananthapuram: A Malayalam film that tells the story of a cricketer from Pakistan who comes to India searching his ancestral roots will hit screen by March. The movie, ‘Mazhavillinattam Vare’ (Upto the rim of the rainbow), directed by renowned lyricist Kaithapram Damodraran Namboothiri, has Pakistan-born model and album singer Abbas Hassan in the lead role of a young cricketer. The director`s original plan was to cast Pakistan cricketer Muhammed Asif in the lead role. That idea was reversed after Asif faced match fixing controversy at home. Indian cricketers Sreesanth, Syed Kirmani and Robin Sigh also make guest appearances in the film, which has been shot mostly in Kannur and Thalassery in north Kerala. The music for the film is done by Kaithapram`s son Deepankuaran, who is making his debut. "Pakistan-born model Abbas Hassan, who now lives in London, is doing the role of the protagonist, Yasin, and Malayalam artist Archana Kavi is essaying the role of the heroine Rabia," Deepankuran told PTI. "It is Abbas`s first movie. A sports and music-oriented film, it has 20-minute-long visualisation of a cricket match and seven songs. It also explores the beauty of Kerala`s hinter lands," he said. The songs are rendered by top singers like K J Yesudas, Udit Narayanan, K S Chitra and Madhu Balakrishnan. PTI