Malayalam vampire thriller 'HALF' to premiere at TIFF
New Delhi, August 7
The upcoming Malayalam vampire action thriller 'HALF' is set to make its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival this September.
The film has been selected in the festival's Midnight Madness section. The makers have also announced that Excel Entertainment, in association with AA Films, will present and distribute the Hindi version of the film across North India.
Directed by Samjad and written by Samjad and Praveen Viswanath, HALF stars Ranjith Sajeev, Aiswarya Raj, Abbas and Amala Paul in key roles. Produced by Anne Sajeev and Sajeev P.K. under the banner of Fragrant Nature Film Creations (FNFC), the film is based on the story of two half-blooded vampires and blends action, revenge and vampire mythology.
Farhan Akhtar, co-founder of Excel Entertainment, also spoke about what impressed him about the film.
"There's something raw and visceral in Samjad's presentation that really got my attention. It grabs you by the intestines and just doesn't let go. Absolutely thrilled to be on board and take this film to the audience," he said in a statement.
HALF marks the second collaboration between Fragrant Nature Film Creations and the team of Samjad and Praveen Viswanath after their 2024 mystery thriller Golam.
The film also features action choreographer Very Tri Yulisman, known for The Raid 2 and The Night Comes for Us. Lead actors Ranjith Sajeev and Aiswarya Raj trained for months to perform their own action scenes. According to the makers, the film has no slow-motion action sequences.
Shot over 117 days across Rajasthan, Kerala and Kazakhstan, HALF will release in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and Kannada. The makers are expected to announce the theatrical release date soon.
— ANI
Reader Comments
A vampire film shot across Rajasthan, Kerala, and Kazakhstan? This sounds so intriguing. And with a martial artist from The Raid handling action choreography, I genuinely think this could be a game changer. But when is it releasing in India already? Make the announcement soon! 😩🍿
As someone who first got hooked on Indian cinema through 'Golam,' this is exciting news. We live in Toronto and can't wait to see 'HALF' at the Midnight Madness screening. I love that Excel Entertainment is backing the Hindi release — more people need access to South Indian gems like this.
Nice to see more experimental genres being picked from regional cinema. With Amala Paul in the cast, definitely worth a watch. Though, I wonder about the "half-blooded vampires" concept — hope it isn't another muddled attempt. The previews have been top notch, so expecting the best.
Love that we're seeing more original concepts in Indian cinema! But honestly, I hope they don't westernize everything and lose the local flavor. The blend of Indian storytelling along with global action standards is what'll make this stand out. Rooting for Ranjith Sajeev and the whole cast. 💯
This is fantastic news for the entire Malayalam industry! Toronto Midnight Madness is a raucous, fun section where films click instantly. If it wins the audience there, the hype in India will be immense. Also, big shoutout to the actors who did their own stunts — that level of commitment deserves respect. 👏👏
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