Rajiv Menon ’s 2000 romantic drama Kandukondain Kandukondain, starring Mammootty , Aishwarya Rai , Tabu, Ajith Kumar , and Abbas, remains one of the most celebrated Tamil films of its time. While the AR Rahman soundtrack became an instant classic, the film also won acclaim for its layered performances. Recently, director Rajiv Menon opened up about the casting of Mammootty as Major Bala, one of the film’s most memorable characters.
Finding the right actor for Major Bala
In a conversation with Sudhir Srinivasan, Rajiv Menon revealed that the toughest casting decision was for the role of Major Bala, a war veteran with a tragic past. “The beauty of that character is that he is an alcoholic and a war veteran who lost a leg. But back then, some leading actors rejected the role, openly saying they did not want to play a man with one leg,” the director recalled.