Bramayugam – This Mammootty-starrer shows how to get an experimental film right; Here’s why

However, the immense hype and massive audience rush came out as a big surprise for even the makers of Bramayugam, as it was touted to be a never-seen-before attempt which has been made in the black-and-white format. Well, it is safe to say that the Rahul Sadasivan directorial is indeed a masterclass in making experimental films. Here’s why...

Bramayugam was not made in the black-and-white format out of an impulse. From the recent interviews of Rahul Sadasivan and the rest of the team, it was revealed that the talented filmmaker conceived the project as a monochromatic visual experience, right from the beginning. Interestingly, the director pitched the period horror thriller to both the production banner Night Shift Studios and leading man Mammootty, as a black-and-white film.

The makers of Bramayugam opted to give a clear picture about the project and its genre right from the beginning of production. From the first-look poster featuring leading man Mammootty which was released in the black-and-white format, every single promotional material revealed exactly what the project stands for. The audience was slowly introduced to the world of Kudamon Potti and his crumbling mana with the brilliant teaser and trailer, and this move was eventually rewarded as the viewers knew what was in store.

Mammootty, who has played the most ‘evil’ character of his career in Bramayugam, never reminded us of his previous performances in negative roles, even for a second. We witnessed the barbarous side of the legendary Kudamon Potti every time the legend looked at the camera and smiled, showing his devilish teeth. Arjun Ashokan showcased the various shades of fear and survival instincts to near perfection.

Sidharth Bharathan, on the other hand, stood apart for me with his nuanced portrayal of his mysterious character. Not even once, I remember the boy who performed the ‘Maappu Tharaam Rakshassi’ song from Nammal on the big screens, 22 years ago.

Director Rahul Sadasivan and the team have indeed worked hard to create a perfect audio-visual experience for Malayalam cinema audiences and never took the black-and-white format for granted. Bramayugam succeeded in transporting the audience into Kudamon Potti’s mythical world, right from its opening scene. Not even once, the format or the execution felt unnecessary or outdated.

The creative choice of roping in famous writer TD Ramakrishnan to pen the dialogues was brilliant as it helped the director recreate the era to near perfection. Christo Xavier, the musician who set the screens on fire with his unique tunes, reportedly developed a unique musical instrument for the film. DOP Shehnad Jalal ISC and the production design team headed by Jothish Shankar magically transformed the much-familiar locations of Malayalam cinema – Varikkasseri Mana and Olappamanna Mana of Ottappalam, Palakkad - into Potti’s mysterious mansion.

With the extraordinary critical acclaim and box office success it has been receiving, Bramayugam shows us how to get an experimental film right in every way. This Mammootty-starrer is indeed a big inspiration for filmmakers and actors to keep taking risks, irrespective of their age or star status. Eagerly waiting to see what the megastar and director Rahul Sadasivan have in store for us in the future.