Lelam is one of the hit movies in Malayalam. Lelam, released in 1997, was one of the notable successes of Suresh Gopi's career.
The film directed by Joshi with script by Ranji Panicker has many fans even today.
The character of Chakochi in Anakkat in the film is one of the best roles of Suresh Gopi's career.
But there are reports that Suresh Gopi was not the hero during the writing stage of this film.
Suresh Gopi and Soman were not the characters that Ranji Panicker had in mind during the writing stage of the film. But it was two other people.
Mammootty was supposed to be Chakochi in Anakkat. Thilakan was supposed to be Eepachan in Anakat.
The Mammootty-Thilakan combination was supposed to come in the auction. Joshi himself said this in an earlier interview-
“Lelem was written by Ranji Panicker for Mammootty. He didn't have a date. I said Suresh Gopi is enough. MG Soman's character in Lelam was written for Tilak.
Tilak did not come due to technical reasons. I said, let's call MG Soman. Soman has done brilliantly”, says Joshi.
Meanwhile, the film was released on October 18, 1997. The film was a huge box office hit.
Meanwhile, there were reports in 2019 that the second part of the auction may be directed by Nidin Ranji Panicker. But after that, Kaval was made with Nidin Suresh Gopi as the hero.
