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Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Alappuzha Gymkhana star Sandeep Pradeep on performing the body-swap sequences in Padakkalam
Malayalam actor Sandeep Pradeep is enjoying the attention he is receiving for Padakkalam in addition to the success of his most recent movie, Alappuzha Gymkhana. Many people have praised his portrayal of Jithin in this fantasy thriller as a complex and enjoyable performance. The Falimy star talked about his experience working on the body swap scenes in the film in an exclusive interview. Watch Malayalam's latest flicks such as Alappuzha Gymkhana, Maranamass and more on OTTplay Premium Sandeep underlined that his impressive act was made possible by the performances of his fellow actors. "We were familiar with these characters from reading the script, but during filming, all of their eccentricities were revealed. When the performances started, we were able to understand each character better," he stated. The rising star continued by saying that both Sharaf U Dheen and Suraj Venjaramoodu had incorporated their unique styles into their roles. "If I portrayed the body swap moments in my own way, there was a potential I would make mistakes. So all I did was do my best to replicate what they accomplished in a convincing way," he continued. Effective communication, both on and off screen, greatly improved their performances, the Padinettam Padi actor added. After making a decent run in theatres, the fantasy thriller is now getting further recognition after making its digital debut this week on JioHotstar. Sandeep said that his top goal is to stay in the industry because he does not now have the luxury of screening the scripts that are presented to him. The actor stated that he could not be adamant about portraying a specific character or acting in a specific genre. He went on to say that he hopes to be in quality films that will not let the viewers down. Sandeep is currently working on Kishkindha Kaandam-fame Dinjith Ayyathan's next directorial. He is currently in talks for a couple other projects, which are likely to be revealed shortly.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Criticism refines the actor in us: Sandeep Pradeep
Actor Sandeep Pradeep has had an eventful year so far, playing prominent roles in Alappuzha Gymkhana and Padakkalam, both of which earned him critical acclaim. The Falimy actor, who is currently filming Kishkindakandam fame Dinjith Ayyathan's new project, speaks to us about his films, evolving fanbase, and future prospects. Excerpts: 'There was a strong sense of team work behind Padakkalam' Padakkalam was Manu's (director Manu Swaraj ) first film. He had previously worked on Minnal Murali, so he had experience in the fantasy genre. He's also a comic geek, and the way he presented the story — with excitement and confidence —really impressed me. The content itself was something fresh and unexplored. I was struck by how, as a newcomer, he chose to tackle such a challenging genre. Manu had a clear vision for his film. There was a strong sense of teamwork behind the project, and I believe it's that collaborative spirit that helped elevate the film. 'Off-screen chemistry helped our performances' Falimy was a breakthrough for me as an actor, and I got to share the screen with Jagadeesh ettan. Now, working with Suraj ettan (Suraj Venjaramoodu) and Sharfikka (Sharafudheen), I truly appreciate how welcoming they are toward newcomers. It's hard to perform well if your co-actors don't create a comfortable working environment. If I were to be acting 20 years from now, I hope to treat newcomers with the same warmth they've shown me. This film also demanded a strong off-screen chemistry and communication between us, which really helped our performances. 'Khalid was upfront about the hardwork required' Khalid Rahman approached me for Alappuzha Gymkhana about a month after Falimy was released. He told me upfront that the role would be physically demanding — I'd likely be beaten up a lot — and that I should only commit if I was ready for it. I was already a big fan of his work, so I immediately agreed. It wasn't just me; everyone involved gave their 100% to the project. 'Had to balance my weight and build a boxer's build' My character in Alappuzha Gymkhana competes in the 65kg boxing category. I was informed early on that there would be a weighing scene, so I needed to maintain exactly 65kg. I was already at that weight, but I didn't have the physique of a boxer. The real challenge was maintaining the weight while building a boxer's frame. Our coaches played a crucial role in helping us achieve that balance. 'A good film is one that satisfies me personally irrespective of its success' Even when I first started dreaming of a film career, my motto was to never settle for just what comes my way. We need to actively seek what we truly want — only then can we reach our goals. Of course, I want to do good films. Before I had a Wikipedia page, I used to joke with friends that when I do have one, it should list a lot of kidilam (awesome) films. If we accept every offer without discernment, a misstep could define our careers. For me, a good film is one that satisfies me personally — not necessarily a box office hit. The film should make me happy, no matter its result. 'I value honest criticism ' My closest friends and family are honest critics of my work. They know me well — my personality and behaviour — so, sometimes, they'll point out when my real-life traits seep into my characters. That's why I always try to shed those traits when acting. I believe criticism helps refine us, and I'm always open to it. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Padakkalam OTT Release Date: When and where to watch Suraj Venjaramoodu & Sharaf U Dheen's fantasy film online
Padakkalam OTT Release Date: Get ready to enter a world where reality bends, professors swap bodies, and ancient board games unleash chaos. Padakkalam, the latest Malayalam fantasy caper, is all set to make its digital debut on JioHotstar starting June 10, 2025. After a low-key theatrical run in early May, this surreal comedy-drama is finding a second life on streaming. When the chalkboard turns into a battleground At first glance, Padakkalam looks like your average campus drama: two professors, one chair, and a college full of students who'd rather gossip than attend lectures. But beneath that seemingly grounded setting lies a wild, almost cartoonish narrative twist: body-swapping sorcery. Ranjith and Shaji, both professors at a college that doesn't seem to have HR protocols, are vying for the head-of-department post. While students naturally side with the affable Ranjith, the job goes to Shaji. Things take a turn for the bizarre when Shaji, now HOD, starts behaving erratically like… unsettlingly strange. He's not the man they knew. Turns out, he quite literally isn't. Enter Jithin, a student who notices the sudden personality change. And through a bit of snooping, a few skipped lectures, and a stolen board game, he uncovers the truth: Ranjith has used black magic, courtesy of an ancient Pachisi set, to switch bodies with Shaji. As absurd as it sounds, the tone of the film embraces it with full conviction. Once Jithin and his gang of misfit friends get their hands on the mystical board game, they set in motion a series of mishaps that spiral out of control, turning their sleepy college into a chaotic playground for the supernatural. What follows is a frantic attempt to reverse the curse, put people back in their rightful bodies, and restore sanity before final exams and reputations go up in smoke. A cast that carries the crazy Suraj Venjaramoodu plays Ranjith with Sharaf U Dheen as the unfortunate Shaji. Niranjana Anoop plays a student caught between chaos and curiosity. The supporting roles, especially Sandeep Pradeep (from Falimy), Arun Ajikumar, and the Saaf Bros, provide comic relief that doesn't feel forced. Directed by Manu Swaraj and co-written by Swaraj and Nithin C Babu, Padakkalam leans hard into the absurd. This Rajesh Murugesan musical is cinematographed by Anu Moothedath and edited by Nidhin Raj Arol.
The Hindu
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Jiiva teams up with ‘Falimy'-maker Nithish Sahadev; film goes on floors
Tamil actor Jiiva has teamed up with Malayalam director Nithish Sahadev of Falimy fame for an upcoming film. Tentatively called Jiiva 45, the film went on floors with a pooja ceremony on Friday (May 9). Jiiva shared pictures from the pooja ceremony on his Instagram handle to announce the news. The cast of Jiiva 45 features Thambi Ramaiah and Prathana Nathan (of Love Today fame) among others. Details regarding the plot of the film remains unknown. With music scored by Vishnu Vijay, the upcoming film has a screenplay written by Nithish and Sanjo Joseph. Kannan Ravi is producing the film under his Kannan Ravi Groups banner. Other details regarding the crew of the film are awaited. Notably, Nithish, who found his big break with the Basil Joseph-starrer Falimy, was set to collaborate with superstar Mammootty for an upcoming film. Nithish, while sharing the pooja stills of Jiiva 45, clarified in the captions that he will start working on the Mammootty-starrer after Jiiva 45.
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Are family dramas losing their charm in Malayalam cinema? Thrillers and action films steal the spotlight
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) Malayalam cinema, once known for its strong storytelling style, especially in drama genres, has taken a huge deviation in recent times. The majority of the films that have turned out to be successes are either thrillers or highly entertaining comedy-drama films like 'Premalu'. Now, a big question arises. Has the Malayali audience lost touch with enjoying a good family drama movie on the big screens? Or should such films be played safe by releasing on OTT? 'Thudarum's success Let's start with the most recent example, the Mohanlal starrer 'Thudarum'. The film was promoted as a family drama movie, and it's a known fact that for the same reason, the hype for the movie, even though having Mohanlal and Shobana in the lead, was less compared to the action thriller film 'Empuraan'. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Mulheres acima dos 40: Anvisa libera mineral que estica as rugas Beleza Feminina Clique aqui Undo Thudarum | Song - Kondattam Slowly, after the first show, the initial reviews started pouring in, calling it a 'Drishyam-level' thriller movie. Now the magic happened! The occupancy rates have started soaring along with the box office collections. Keeping the mind that the movie is genuinely good and is receiving magnificent reviews from the audiences, isn't it also true that the interest of the audiences, even the fans, was ignited because the early reviews suggested that it was a thriller rather than a family drama movie? (Picture Courtesy: Facebook) ''Thudarum' comes under family drama' - Tharun Moorthy Tharun Moorthy, during his promotional interviews, had confirmed that 'Thudarum' is a family drama movie and the audience shouldn't expect anything else from it. Talking to 'The Cue', the director said, 'But what I am worried about is that we have already fixed a genre for the movie. This comes under family drama. When audiences start deducing a different genre for the movie, I get tense.' He further said, 'When we define a genre and make a movie accordingly, if anything comes beyond that, I cannot accept it—that's my nature.' This was indeed a tactic by the talented director to make the audience keep their hype level in check before watching the movie. 'Home', 'Falimy', and more A few years back, several family drama movies performed well at the box office and had also received good responses from the audiences once they hit OTT. One such film was the Indrans starrer 'Home'. The Basil Joseph starrer 'Falimy', 'Ponman', and even 'Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil' can also be classified under family movies. But are they all dependent on one factor- comedy or even thrill, not the pure emotions that classic family movies like 'Valsalyam', or even 'Kireedam', exuded? (Picture Courtesy: Facebook) 'Audiences know which film they should go and watch in theatres' - 'ARM' director Jithin Laal In an exclusive chat with the Tovino Thomas starrer 'ARM' director Jithin Laal, he said that the perspectives and tastes of the audience have changed over time, especially after Covid. 'Audiences know which film they should go and watch in theatres. They need entertainment, and the filmmakers also have an idea of what to deliver to the audiences,' said Jithin during the interview. No matter what the genre is, according to the director, audiences are in theatres for pure entertainment. 'They need their money's worth. Entertainment is the main aspect they look for when they are paying money to watch a movie in theatres. Right after a movie's trailer is released, they decide whether they should watch the movie in theatres or wait for it's OTT release.' Theatre experience matters, can family dramas cater to that? Like what Christopher Nolan said in a media interaction, 'People will always love the feeling of coming together to watch a great story,' watching a movie in a theatre is a combined experience. Earlier, a good story was enough to cater to the needs of a person who watches a movie in the theatre, now it has transformed to another level, they need a wholesome experience from a movie. As long as a movie, no matter whether it is a family drama or a thriller or even a horror film, just like what Jithin Laal said, the majority of the audiences are in for pure entertainment and nothing else.
