Thiruvananthapuram, Sept 16
The unit of director Sajjad's eagerly awaited Malayalam film 'Half', a big-budget venture being shot across India and abroad, has now wrapped up its Rajasthan schedule in Jaisalmer, marking a major milestone in production.
The film, its makers claim, is Malayalam cinema's first-ever vampire action movie.
Directed and scripted by Sajjad, who earned acclaim with his earlier hit 'Golam', the film is being produced under the banner of Fragrant Nature Films by Ann Sajeev and Sajeev.
The Jaisalmer shoot, which spanned nearly 120 days, began in late April. However, the escalating Indo-Pak tensions at the time briefly disrupted filming. Once the situation eased, the team resumed work and successfully completed the schedule, the director said.
The next schedule will begin on September 18 in Vandiperiyar and nearby locations in Kerala, lasting around two weeks. With this, the India portion will be completed.
The final phase will be shot overseas, with month-long schedules planned in Russia and Paris during the winter months of December and January, which are considered favorable for filming.
The film stars Ranjith Sajeev, noted for roles in 'Mike', 'Golam' and 'Khalb UK OK', alongside Aishwarya of 'Officer on Duty', 'UK OK' fame as the female lead.
The supporting cast includes Sudheesh, Manikandan (Boys fame), and Srikanth Murali from Malayalam, while Bollywood actor Rocky Mahajan and artistes from Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada industries add a pan-Indian appeal.
Internationally renowned Indonesian action choreographer Verittri Yulisman, known for 'Raid 2' and 'The Night Comes for Us', is handling the action sequences.
With high-octane stunts at its core, 'Half' is being positioned as one of Malayalam cinema’s most ambitious action projects.
The technical crew includes Mithun Mukund (music), Appu Prabhakar (cinematography), Mahesh Bhuvanand (editing), Mohandas (art direction), Dhanya Balakrishnan (costume design), and Narasimha Swami (makeup). Chief associate director is Rajesh Kumar, with Jibin Joy as associate director.
With top-tier talent on and off screen, 'Half' promises to deliver a groundbreaking cinematic experience blending action, horror, and pan-Indian scale.
— IANS
Reader Comments
120 days in Rajasthan! That's some serious dedication. The desert backdrop will be perfect for a vampire film. Hope the tension at the border didn't cause too much trouble for the team. Safety first!
Ranjith Sajeev is such an underrated actor. After Mike and Golam, he deserves this big break. Hope this film puts him in the national spotlight. Malayalam cinema needs more pan-India projects like this!
International action choreographer from Indonesia? That's impressive! The action sequences should be world-class. Hope they don't lose the Malayalam cinema soul while going for global appeal.
Shooting in Russia and Paris during winter? That sounds challenging but visually spectacular. Hope the budget is well-utilized. Malayalam cinema has been producing such quality content lately! ðŸ‘
While I appreciate the ambition, I hope the story doesn't get lost in all the action and international locations. Malayalam cinema is known for strong narratives, not just spectacle. Fingers crossed! 🤞
So proud to see Malayalam films expanding their horizons! From Jaisalmer to Paris - what a journey. Hope this inspires more regional cinema to think big and compete on global scale.
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