Thiruvananthapuram, February 24 – In a political season dominated by optics and messaging, it is rare for Kerala's biggest screen icon to start asking questions instead of being questioned.
This is precisely what happened when Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner and Malayalam cinema's enduring superstar, Mohanlal, sat down to interview Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at Cliff House, the Chief Minister's official residence.
The teaser of the interview is set to be released on Tuesday evening across social media and television platforms, with the full version to follow on leading channels.
For decades, it has been Mohanlal who has been the subject of probing questions about cinema, craft, fame, and public life.
This time, the roles were reversed.
The actor reportedly spent two days in Thiruvananthapuram for the project.
The first day was dedicated to discussions about the themes to be covered, and the interview took place the following day.
The conversation reportedly covers the Chief Minister's personal journey, political evolution, and the government's record in office.
The optics are compelling.
A Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner interviewing a sitting Chief Minister on the eve of an election inevitably invites political interpretations.
The Opposition has already accused the government of intensifying its public relations efforts as the state heads to the polls.
The presence of one of Kerala's most popular cultural figures is bound to amplify this debate.
This is not entirely unprecedented.
Mohanlal had previously conducted a similar interview with former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
Photographs of Mohanlal and Pinarayi Vijayan together at Cliff House have already gone viral, fueling anticipation.
Whether the interview reshapes political narratives or remains a high-profile media moment, one thing is certain: when the superstar asks the questions, Kerala watches.
Incidentally, last year, Mohanlal was also interviewed by State Culture and Films Minister Saji Cherian, when the superstar was the chief guest at a cultural event organised in Cherian's constituency in Chengannur.