One of Malayalam cinema’s most anticipated collaborations is finally official. Filmmaker Madhu C Narayanan, whose acclaimed debut Kumbalangi Nights continues to be regarded as a modern classic, is set to direct Naslen in his long-awaited second feature.
The project was officially unveiled on Monday through a social media video shared by producer Ananthu S, featuring himself alongside Madhu and Naslen. While the makers confirmed that shooting will begin soon, they chose to keep further details, including the title, cast and plot, under wraps.
Madhu C Narayanan finally announces his next
The untitled film will be jointly produced by Dr Ananthu Productions and Madhu’s own banner, Silent Cat Films. The project also marks the maiden production venture of Silent Cat Films.
Producer Ananthu S, who is also the founder and CEO of Xylem Learning, entered film production with Athiradi, which he co-produced with Basil Joseph. His growing slate also includes the debut feature of the popular Malayalam digital collective Karikku, besides 40 Days of House Party, directed by debutant Shifina Babin Pakker, wife of Aavesham director Jithu Madhavan.
The announcement carries added significance as it marks Madhu’s return to filmmaking seven years after Kumbalangi Nights. Released in 2019, the coming-of-age drama won widespread critical acclaim for its nuanced writing, memorable performances and refreshing portrayal of relationships and masculinity, earning the filmmaker a devoted following and raising expectations for his sophomore effort.
Another exciting addition to Naslen’s packed slate
Although the official announcement came only now, the project has been quietly taking shape for some time. In February last year, Madhu had issued a casting call inviting women aged between 20 and 25 to audition for the female lead, with preference given to those fluent in the Kochi dialect. The announcement had fuelled speculation that the filmmaker was preparing for his next feature after years away from the director’s chair.
For Naslen, the collaboration is another major addition to an already packed lineup. The young actor was last seen in Abhinav Sunder Nayak’s Mollywood Times and has steadily emerged as one of Malayalam cinema’s most sought-after stars following the success of Premalu.
His upcoming projects include Amal Neerad’s Bachelor Party D’eux, Rohith V S’s Tiki Taka alongside Asif Ali, and Tharun Moorthy’s Torpedo. He is also set to make his Tamil debut with Jithu Madhavan’s upcoming film starring Suriya, which recently wrapped filming.
While the makers have revealed little beyond the announcement, the combination of Madhu C Narayanan and Naslen has already generated considerable excitement among Malayalam cinema fans. One is a filmmaker returning after a seven-year gap with only one, but hugely influential, feature to his credit. The other is an actor enjoying an impressive run at the box office and expanding his presence beyond Malayalam cinema.
With filming expected to commence soon, more details about the cast, crew and storyline are likely to be revealed in the coming months.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: filmfare.com
