2018: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Fahadh Faasil unveil title of film based on heroes of Kerala Floods

Malayalam director Jude Anthany Joseph’s dream project based on the 2018 Kerala Floods has got a title. The movie, titled 2018, was announced through the social media pages of superstars Prithviraj Sukumaran and Fahadh Faasil.

Fans have been waiting with bated breath ever since actors from the movie – Tovino Thomas, Kunchacko Boban, Vineeth Sreenivasan and Asif Ali – shared the poster of an announcement with the images of Prithviraj and Fahadh. Many had speculated it would be a dream project with the two stars, while there were also others who rightly guessed that the announcement was about Jude’s upcoming big budget venture, which is a multi-starrer. The actors shared the poster with the caption, "The story of the brave Keralites who fought together the flood that drenched the state in 2018."

The film, which has Jude’s dream project for over four years now, is now in its final lap of filming. The team had shot across 200 locations for the movie over 100 days. Apart from several pivotal locations in Kerala that had been affected by floods or were focal points for heroes during the natural disaster that struck the State four years ago, the team had also shot in Thirunelveli and Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad.

2018, which is jointly produced by Kavya Films and Prime Productions, also has Lal, Narain, Aparna Balamurali, Tanvi Ram and several leading actors in the Malayalam industry as part of its cast comprising 125 artistes.

Jude took to his social media page on Wednesday to thank producer Anto Joseph for making his dream a reality and also introducing him to producing Venu Kunnappilly, who decided to fund the movie when many others pulled out.

The director, who had previously helmed Sara’s and Ohm Shaanti Oshaana, had shot a few portions of 2403FT before the pandemic but had to suspend filming. The project was then revived in 2022, with the team officially kicking off production – this time with a revised cast and crew as well as a storyline. 2018 is currently expected to hit theatres in the first quarter of 2023.