Roshan Mathew and Shine Tom Chacko replace Asif Ali and Soubin Shahir in Aashiq Abu’s Neelavelicham

Director Aashiq Abu’s next film Neelavelicham has already undergone two rounds of cast changes since it was initially announced. The filmmaker had earlier revealed to OTTplay that Tovino Thomas and Asif Ali had replaced Prithviraj Sukumaran and Kunchacko Boban in the initial cast. With a month before the movie goes on floors, there have been further changes.

Asif has opted out of the film due to scheduling conflicts with his other films, and Roshan Mathew will now essay the character. Also, Soubin Shahir, who was part of the cast, has also dropped out to work on his directorial Othiram Kadakkam with Dulquer Salmaan. Shine Tom Chacko has now been roped in instead. Rima Kallingal will play the female protagonist in the movie.

Last week, Aashiq had put out a casting call for the movie, which will be set in 1964. In an earlier interview with us, the filmmaker said that the upcoming film titled Vaikom Muhammed Basheerinte Neelavelicham will be based on Basheer’s text but will be the creators’ version of it.

The film will also mark the fourth collaboration between Aashiq and Tovino, after Mayaanadhi, Virus and Naradan, which released earlier this month in theatres. On Tovino replacing Prithviraj in the film, Aashiq tells us, “As far as Prithviraj is concerned, he has a big project in Aadujeevitham and its schedules are unfortunately being delayed due to the pandemic. So, Tovino will be playing the role Prithviraj was initially cast in.”

Basheer’s novel was also the base for Malayalam’s first horror film Bhargavi Nilayam, which released in 1964 and had Madhu, Prem Nazir, Vijaya Nirmala and Adoor Bhasi as part of the cast. The upcoming film’s crew consists of cinematographer Girish Gangadharan, composers Bijibal and Rex Vijayan and editor Saiju Sreedharan. Filming is expected to commence by April mid in Kannur.

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