In an earlier interview with Sudhir Srinivasan, Menon said that casting the role of Major Bala was the hardest part of the film.

The role many actors rejected

The character of Major Bala was written as a war veteran who had lost one leg and struggled with alcohol problems. Because of this, several top actors at that time did not want to play the role. Menon said many actors openly refused because they did not want to play a character with a physical disability, even though the role was very important in the story. "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," Major Bala.

Why Mammootty chose the role

Finally, the role was given to Mammootty. The actor accepted it without any hesitation. According to Menon, Mammootty never saw the character's disability as a negative thing.

His performance showed the quiet pain and emotions of Major Bala. In the film, the character silently loves Meenakshi, played by Aishwarya Rai. Many of their scenes became very powerful because the emotions were shown through expressions rather than long dialogues.

About Kandukondain Kandukondain

Kandukondain Kandukondain is a Tamil romantic musical film released in 2000. It was directed and co-written by Rajiv Menon. The story is inspired by Jane Austen's 1811 novel Sense and Sensibility.

After facing several delays, the film was finally released in Tamil Nadu on May 5, 2000. It performed well at the box office and was appreciated by audiences. The producers also released subtitled versions in other countries, helping the film reach a global audience. The movie went on to win a National Film Award and two Filmfare Awards South. It was also screened at several international film festivals.