The region remained unexplored until recently as the dialect here is different from what’s spoken in the other parts of the State.
Published May 01, 2023 | 1:48 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 10, 2023 | 4:48 PM
Malayalam films shot in Kasaragod. (Twitter)
Malayalam films haven’t explored Kasaragod district located in the northern part of Kerala bordering Karnataka. It’s mostly because the dialect here is different from what’s spoken in the other parts of the State.
But films like Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum (The Mainour and The Witness, 2017) and Thinkalazhcha Nischayam (Monday is the Engagement, 2021) have popularised this unexplored region among movie lovers.
As a result, more flicks have been shot in the region in recent times and surprisingly, they evoked warm responses from both audiences and critics alike, especially for their content and execution.
Most of the Malayalam movies are shot in the Palakkad district as the stories revolve around the high-class society.
A poster of ‘Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum’. (Twitter)
But now, the trend seems to have changed as more filmmakers are heading to Kozhikode, Kannur, Kasaragod and other unexplored areas of the State for shootings.
Even scriptwriters are coming up with realistic plots because of which the directors are evincing to travel to new locations, even in cities.
Kumbalangi Nights (2019) is one such example. Similarly, new films with new content and locations are a welcome change.
Meanwhile, producer M Renjith’s recent remark that “the easy availability of drugs in Kasaragod is prompting the filmmakers to hold film shootings in the region” evoked strong protests from those who filmed their projects in the district. Following the criticism, the producer rendered an apology on social media.
Against this backdrop, let’s take a quick look at the movies shot in Kasaragod in the recent past:
A poster of ‘Thinkalazhcha Nischayam’. (Twitter)
Directed by Dileesh Pothan, Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum dealt with a young couple — Prasad (Suraj Venjaramoodu) and Sreeja (Nimisha Sajayan) — who shifts to Kasaragod from Alappuzha.
Their efforts to retrieve Sreeja’s gold chain from a thief (Fahadh Faasil) were shot in the rough terrains of Kasaragod.
Directed by Senna Hegde, Thinkalazhcha Nischayam’s story is set in Kasaragod. The film premiered on Sony LIV during the lockdown period.
It won the hearts of the audience, all thanks to the realistic plot and the dialogues (written in the local dialect).
1744 White Alto (2022) is again directed by Senna Hegde and shot in Kasaragod.
A poster of ‘Nna Thaan Case Kodu’. (Twitter)
Nna Thaan Case Kodu (Sue Me Then, 2022) directed by Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval was entirely shot in the Kasaragod district as the story was set in the region.
Kunchako Boban delivered his career-best performance in it. It showcased the festivals, middle-class people, political parties, and judiciary system in a satirical tone and went on to become a phenomenal success upon its release.
Ratheesh was instrumental in highlighting all the small elements in this terrain. In his debut film Android Kunjappan, the director was appreciated for the interesting plot and for using the local dialect of Kannur, another northern district.
Kumari (2022) is another movie that was shot in Kasargaod. Directed by Nirmal Sahadev, the movie featured Aishwarya Lekshmi and Shine Tom Chacko in major roles.
The horror fantasy was enjoyed by a set of audience. However, it wasn’t a hit at the box office.
A poster of ‘Madanolsavam’ movie. (Twitter)
Madanolsavam is the recent movie to be shot in Kasaragod. It stars Suraj Venjaramoodu and Babu Antony in pivotal roles (as Madanan).
Suraj is a common man, while Babu Antony is a politician. The story revolves around elections and dummy/rebel candidates.
Directed by Sudheesh Gopinath, Madanolsavam is a hilarious ride and captures Kasaragod’s beauty in its true sense.
It is written by Ratheesh Balakrishna Poduval. Released for Vishu, it is still having a good run at the box office.
Ajayante Randam Moshanam (Ajayan’s Second Theft) is another movie being shot in Kasaragod. Touted to be a big-budget movie, it portrays Tovino Thomas in triple roles.
Tovino recently said he had an “epic” and “larger than life” experience being part of the flick. He spent 110 days in Kasaragod for the shoot and appreciated the residents for their never-ending support and love.
Debutant director Jithin Laal revealed that he faced hardships for more than five years which helped him in filming Ajayante Randam Moshanam.
A poster of ‘Adrishya Jalakangal’. (Twitter)
Adrishya Jalakangal (Invisible Widows) directed by Dr Biju Kumar Damodaran is being shot in Kasaragod and Kannur. It is an anti-war film set in an imaginary space. The team worked for over two months to erect the sets.
The script deals with a socially-driven topic and touches on many different aspects and elements of society related to war.
Adrishya Jalakangal stars Tovino Thomas in the lead role besides Nimisha Sajayan and Indrans. It is jointly produced by Ellanar Films, Mythri Movie Makers and Tovino Thomas Productions.
Asif Ali-starrer Kasargold, a high-octane thriller based on gold smuggling, is also being shot in Kasaragod. Its plot revolves around a group of friends and their greed for gold.
It is directed by Mridul Nair. The makers recently released a lyrical video that’s trending online.
