Sajeed A’s feature film debut Vadakkan, a paranormal thriller, references a painting, Landscape with Charon Crossing the Styx by Flemish Northern Renaissance artist Joachim Patinir. Attributed to have been painted in the first quarter of the 16th century, it depicts, a soul’s journey to afterlife — heaven or hell. Vadakkan culminates in a similar journey that the lead character, paranormal investigator Raman Perumalayan’s soul undertakes. It is the kind of film that one has to pay close attention to because it is not a simple horror film with typical thrills, chills and sound effects. Which, by the way, there is plenty of in the film.
The cliches are absent — no white sari-clad woman ‘ghost’, Satan or devil. The story is rooted in Kerala, set in a relatable milieu. The ‘demonic’ or malevolent presence is the spirit of a theyyam performer, Kunjambu, who was wrongfully killed a few centuries ago. With theyyam’s ties to spirit or ancestor worship, we are left wondering if Raman is a descendant of Kunjambu.
“The Indian audience is used to horror films that derive from the Abrahamic tradition where Satan or the devil is the source of evil. We have rooted Vadakkan in Kerala, connected to the Malayali,” says Sajeed His fascination for all things ancient, especially theyyam led to using the ritualistic form as a storytelling tool or rather, what he calls, the backbone of the film.
From left; actors Shruthy Menon, Kishore and Merin Philip in the film
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The action pivots on a series of murders on the sets of a reality show and Helsinki-based Raman, essayed by Kannada actor Kishore, who comes to the fictional island Brahamgiri. The premise might seem predictable but the twist is the treatment and how the plot unfolds. The story is not the simple haunting-and-killing kind. A few horror movie tropes — found footage, the players splitting up, jump scares — have been used effectively, and are not overdone.
Picking the theme and the milieu, Sajeed reveals, was deliberate. He says how horror or paranormal films are also a reflection of a society’s or people’s preoccupations and trauma.
“For instance a number of Korean horror films are set in schools because of the authoritarianism in education and what it does to people. Similarly, this film explores the theme of decaying social fabric,” he says. The politics of caste comes into the narrative. Most theyyam performers belong to marginalised communities and tribes.
Raman belonging to a ‘low’ caste was a hindrance in his relationship with his childhood sweetheart, Megha Nambiar (Shruti Menon) — a reality that plays out everyday in India where ‘honour killings’ are not shocking anymore.
A television producer and filmmaker, Sajeed started his career with MTV India, where he directed some of the channel’s popular shows and promos such as Most Wanted, LoveLine, and Fully Faltoo among others apart from music videos. Girls Night Out, a horror reality show, directed by him won the Best Reality Show at the Asian Television Awards, Singapore (2011). He has directed shows for Disney Hotstar, National Geographic, Discovery and Channel V.
The genesis of the film lay in an experience, a ‘paranormal manifestation’ on the sets of Girls Night Out; the late paranormal investigator Gaurav Tiwari identified it. That incident gave Sajeed the idea. “I thought of whether I could develop it into a short film, with theyyam. However, that plan went into cold storage until after the pandemic when I met writer R Unni.” The premise of the story piqued the writer’s interest enough for him to come on board as co-writer.
“The project was stuck and then, just like that, in the blink of an eye the draft was ready.” After more than 10 years in cold storage the film was on its way!
The search for Raman Perumalayan led him to Kishore who was, almost, instantly onboard. “When we were on the lookout for Raman, we looked at Malayalam actors too but it led us to Kishore. He was shooting in Chennai when I first spoke to him over a Zoom call. He wanted to meet in person, which we did in Chennai. Connecting with Kishore was important!” Then came the others — Shruthy, Merin Philip, Mukil, Garggi Ananthan, Kalesh Ramanand etc.
The technicians who have worked on the film reads like a who’s who of cinema starting with Japanese cinematographer Keiko Nakahara, who shot films such as Mary Kom and Tanhaji; sound designer is Resul Pookutty, music is by Bijibal and Pakistani singer and songwriter Zebunnisa Bangash. Sooraj ES is the editor.
Referring to his reality TV experience, he says, “I have filmed in real, haunted locations [Girls Night Out] and we have had to pack up mid-shoot from those. There could be a logical explanation, the possibility of a scientific explanation. And a spooky storyas well!” One of the layers of Vadakkan, Sajeed refers to, is the psychological, a la Manichithrathazhu, a movie he also likes. For instance we don’t know whether Megha has been possessed by an ‘evil spirit’ or if it is psychological. This film is the first in a trilogy, which will also explore Kunjambu’s life, Sajeed reveals.
The movie has done rounds of film festivals around the globe where it met praise and recognition. It has clinched multiple accolades at film festivals including the Gala Screening Selection at Fantastic Pavilion at Cannes, Best Supernatural Thriller award at the Fright Night Film Festival in the US and Best Feature Film at the RED Movie Awards, Autumn Edition, REIMS, France.
Besides these, Vadakkan was an official selection at Germany’s Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFFF) and the Echelon Studios International Film Festival in Los Angeles last year. The film was also screened at the Marché du Film at the Cannes Film Festival as part of the Gala screenings at the Fantastic Pavilion. It was again an official selection at the Abruzzo Horror Film Festival in L’Aquila, Italy, and at the 78th Festival Internazionale del Cinema di Salerno.
Vadakkan did well abroad, especially in the dedicated, genre film festivals, in this case horror/supernatural. “The concept is relatively new in India, but not so abroad. The movie was among the seven at the Gala Screening Selection at Fantastic Pavilion at Cannes. It was well-received.”
The film will be dubbed in Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Hindi.
Vadakkan is playing in theatres.
Published – March 24, 2025 03:18 pm IST
The Hindu MetroPlus
