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Malayalam Cinema News Updated Nov 7, 2025

Anushka Shetty as Nila in 'Kathanar': First Look Reveals Timeless Beauty

The makers of 'Kathanar' have released the first look of Anushka Shetty as her character Nila. This exciting reveal came on the actress's birthday, delighting fans across social media. The film promises to bring groundbreaking technology never before used in Indian cinema. With a star-studded cast and innovative production methods, 'Kathanar' is generating significant buzz in the film industry.

Anushka Shetty's look as Nila in 'Kathanar' released

Chennai, Nov 7

The makers of director Rojin Thomas's upcoming horror fantasy thriller 'Kathanar', featuring actors Jayasurya and Anushka Shetty in the lead, on Friday released the first look poster of actress Anushka Shetty in the film, much to the delight of fans and film buffs.

The makers also went on to disclose that the actress played a character called Nila in the film on the occasion of the actress' birthday on November 7.

Taking to its social media timelines, the production house Sree Gokulam Movies, which is producing the film, wrote, "Not the tale you know, but the one rewritten by time.! A timeless beauty.. Happy Birthday, dear #AnushkaShetty. The face of our Nila &… #Kathanar #Kathanarthewildsorcerer."

It may be recalled that the makers had also revealed the fear-inducing look of actor Jayasurya in the film on the occasion of his birthday in August this year.

The film, which was first announced in 2023, has triggered huge interest among fans and film buffs for a number of reasons.

One of the reasons why the project has caught the attention of fans is that the makers of the film have claimed that the film would bring technology never before used in Indian cinema.

At the time of the launch of the film, the makers put out a lengthy post through their official movie handle on Instagram. The post read, "KATHANAR movie brings technology never before used in Indian cinema. The pre-production work of 'Kathanar', a film using Virtual production technology aided by sophisticated workflows like Tech-Viz, Stunt-Viz & Post-Viz has begun. Asset creation process like full body 3D scans using 200DSLR camera photogrammetry rig and Vicon based infrared biped motion capture have already been initiated."

The makers had further said, "Hollywood films 'Jungle Book' and 'Lion King' were the pioneers in using these technology before 'Kathanar'. Now, we are grateful to have an opportunity to bring these technologies used in international cinema to Malayalam cinema through 'Kathanar'. 'Kathanar' will be a global cinema that will integrate the technocrats in our country. The preproduction & principal photography of 'Kathanar' will be completed in a year and will be released in seven languages."

Until now, the makers have disclosed the looks of actors Prabhu Deva, Anushka Shetty and Jayasurya in the film.

Directed by Rojin Thomas, 'Kathanar' is being produced by Gokulam Gopalan and is being co produced by VC Praveen and Baiju Gopalan.

Written by R Ramanand, the film has cinematography by Neil D'Cunha and music by Rahul Subrahmanian.

— IANS

Reader Comments

Rohit P

The technology aspect sounds impressive, but I hope they don't get too carried away with VFX and forget the story. Malayalam cinema is known for strong narratives - hope this maintains that tradition while embracing new tech.

Arjun K

Jayasurya + Anushka Shetty + Prabhu Deva in one film? This is like a pan-Indian dream cast! 🎬 The seven-language release strategy shows they're thinking big. Hope it delivers on the hype!

Sarah B

As someone who follows international cinema, it's exciting to see Indian filmmakers adopting Hollywood-level technology. The photogrammetry rig and motion capture mention shows they're serious about quality. Hope this sets a new standard!

Vikram M

The character name 'Nila' (meaning moon in many Indian languages) is intriguing. Wonder if there's some celestial connection to her role. Anushka has that ethereal quality perfect for fantasy roles. Excited for this! 🌙

Kavya N

Releasing in seven languages is ambitious! Hope the dubbing and cultural adaptation is done well. Sometimes regional nuances get lost in pan-Indian films. But with Sree Gokulam Movies backing it, quality should be assured. 🤞

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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