Bramayugam

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Bramayugam
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRahul Sadasivan
Screenplay by
Story byRahul Sadasivan
Based onFolk horror and Sacred mysteries[1]
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyShehnad Jalal
Edited byShafique Mohammed Ali
Music byChristo Xavier[2]
Production
companies
Distributed by
  • Aan Mega Media (Kerala)
  • Sithara Entertainments (Andhra Pradesh) and (Telangana)
  • AP International (Rest of India)
  • Truth Global Films (Overseas)
Release date
  • 15 February 2024 (2024-02-15)
Running time
140 minutes[3]
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam[4]
Budget₹27.73 crore[5]
Box officeest.₹85 crore[6][7]

Bramayugam (transl. The Age of Madness) is a 2024 Indian Malayalam-language folk horror film written and directed by Rahul Sadasivan and jointly produced by Night Shift Studios and YNOT Studios. The film stars Mammootty, Sidharth Bharathan and Arjun Ashokan. The film contains elements of sacred mystery, mythical and folklore of Kerala.[8][9]

On August 2023, it was reported that Mammootty and Arjun Ashokan collborating for the first time for a horror thriller movie. The film was reportedly going to be directed by Rahul Sadasivan known for Red Rain (2013) and Bhoothakaalam (2022) and Tamil production house YNOT Studios known for Vikram Vedha (2017) and Mandela (2021) was going to be financing the project. The Principal photography began on 17 August 2023 and was shot across locations such as Ottapalam, Athirappilly and Kochi. The filming wrapped on 18 October 2023.[10]

Bramayugam was released on 15 February 2024 in black-and-white format. The film was a box-office success, grossing over ₹85 crore. It became the 5th highest grossing Malayalam film of the year. It received acclaim from critics and audiences, with praise for the cast performances, cinematography, sound design, background score, and production design.[11][12] The dubbed versions of the film in Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada was released on 23 February 2024.[13] The dubbed version found success in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.[14]

Plot

In 17th century Malabar, Thevan and Koran escape the clutches of the Portuguese slave trade in Ponnani and flee to the east. At night, they camp at the banks of the Bharatappuzha River, but Koran is killed by a Yakshi. Thevan runs away, discovering an abandoned mana in the morning. While stealing a coconut, he is apprehended by the house's cook. He is brought before the lord of the mana, Kodumon Potti, who asks his whereabouts and upon learning he is a "Paanan", requests him to sing a song.

He compliments Thevan on the song and insists that he stay the night, despite his desire to leave. The cook, while showing Thevan his room, discourages him from asking questions about the house or the Lord's background. Over the next few days, he discovers from the cook that the Potti is a descendant of Chudalan Potti, who was gifted a demon helper, a Chathan, by the goddess Varahi. His constant torture of the Chathan turned it lunatic, and it went on to kill Chudalan Potti and his family. Kodumon Potti eventually defeated the Chathan and chained him in the mansion's attic.

One day, Thevan sees the cook digging a grave in the backyard, presumably for himself. Terrified, he tries to leave, but is unable to. He then realizes that he has lost his memory and that he has been trapped in the manor for months. The cook tells Thevan that the grave is not meant for him, but for Kodumon; the Kodumon downstairs is in fact the Chathan in disguise, and he imprisoned the real Kodumon in the attic and drove him insane, leading to his eventual death. The only way that the cook and Thevan could escape the manor is by defeating the Chathan by dousing an ever-burning lamp located in a secret chamber in the granary, and then trapping it in a special chest.

During an argument, the cook steals the key to the chamber from the Chathan's waist. He opens the chamber and blows out the lamp, rendering the Chathan weak. Thevan and the cook set fire to the Chathan's disguised form, and the creature inside emerges. The cook, now revealed to be Kodumon's illicit son, attempts to put on the ring that will give him command over the Chathan and take over the mana, but is stopped by Thevan, who believes that the ring's power will corrupt him. The two start fighting while the fire destroys the manor and it collapses over them.

Thevan is shown walking away from the ruins of the mana but is attacked by the cook. During the struggle the cook realizes that he is not the real Thevan, but the Chathan in disguise. The real Thevan is then shown to have died as a result of the mana collapsing. Terrified, the cook runs away into the forest and comes across a Portuguese soldier while crossing a river. Thinking that it is one of the Chathan's tricks, he tries to attack the soldier but gets gunned down. A battalion of Portuguese soldiers emerge from the forest, cross the river, and march towards the now destroyed manor, while the Chathan is seen walking through the forest, wearing the ring.

Cast

Production

Development

On August 2023, it was reported that Mammootty and Arjun Ashokan collborating for the first time for a horror thriller movie. The film is directed by Rahul Sadasivan known for Red Rain (2013) and Bhoothakaalam (2022). Tamil production house YNOT Studios known for Vikram Vedha, Saala Khadoos and Mandela will be financing the project. Details of the remaining cast and crew were yet to be disclosed.[15][16] On 17 August 2023, Mammootty shared a poster featuring a haunted mansion and revealed that the shooting for the film had begun.[17]

Titled Bramayugam the film which falls under the genre of horror thriller was launched on the occasion of Chingam 1. S. Sashikanth of YNOT Studios partnered with Chakravarthy Ramachandra to launch a production house exclusively for horror films, Night Shift Studios, debuting with Bramayugam. The film is scripted by Rahul Sadasivan and Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award-winning novelist T. D. Ramakrishnan is penning the dialogues. At the launch of the film, Sadasivan noted that the story is "rooted in the dark ages of Kerala".[18] The film is planned to be released across five Indian languages simultaneously.[19]

Shehnad Jalal was announced as the cinematographer and Christo Xavier as the music director, while Jothish Shankar worked on the film as a production designer.[20]

Sadasivan revealed that he wrote Bramayugam before Bhoothakalam during the COVID lockdown, and it took him eight months to complete it. T. D. Ramakrishnan helped him develop the script and make the dialogue nuanced to fit the period the story is set in. As the film is set in the 17th century and being a period film, he conceived it in black-and-white format.[21]

Casting

Cast members announced during the film's launch included Arjun Ashokan, Sidharth Bharathan and Amalda Liz.[19] Reportedly, Mammootty takes on the role of the antagonist, who allocated 30 days to the film, while Arjun Ashokan portrays the protagonist with 60 days allocated for the film.[22] On September 2023, Makers revealed a special first look poster of Mammootty on his birthday and as per reports he will be playing a character who practices black magic in the film.[23]

Filming

Principal photography for the project began on 17 August 2023, coinciding with the first day of the Kerala New Year.[19] The shoot started at Kochi's MJI Studios with a customary pooja ceremony.[24] The film was shot across various cities in Kerala including Ottapalam, Athirapally and Kochi.[25] Mammootty finished shooting his portions by 16 September.[26] The filming wrapped on 18 October 2023.[27]

Marketing

The first look of Mammootty from Bramayugam was released on the actor's birthday, featuring a sinister monochrome image.[28] The teaser was released on 11 January 2024.[29] The trailer of the film was released on 10 February 2024, at a grand event held in Abu Dhabi.[30]

Release

Theatrical

The film theatrically released on 15 February 2024 in Black and White format.[31]

Home media

The film premiered on SonyLIV from 15 March 2024.[32]

Reception

Critical response

Akshay P R of DTNext rated 4/5 and wrote,"Director Rahul Sadasivan is yet again exploring the haunted mansion theme but is quite different from his previous film 'Bhoothakalam' as it was more of dealing with our own past, but Bramayugam (The Age of Madness) is more of a black and white film, in the horror-thriller genre to explore the power pattern in history."[33] Nikhil Sebastian of Pinkvilla rated 4/5 and verdicted,"Bramayugam stands out as a cinematic gem that transcends the typical horror genre. With a captivating blend of mystery, drama, and the rich mythical folklore of Kerala, it offers a compelling narrative that captivates audiences".[34] Sanjith Sidhardhan of OTTplay rated 3.5/5 and reviewed,"Mammootty’s Bramayugam benefits richly from its engaging screenplay, cinematography and performances, which makes the viewer forget that it’s a black-and-white film and lets you enjoy the magic of cinema."[35]

Reviewing for The News Minute, Sukanya Shaji stated,"The heart of this monochrome horror thriller is, of course, Mammootty. Even as Potti makes your stomach churn in disgust, Mammootty makes you want to clap for his versatility as a performer. Arjun Asokan and Sidharth Bharathan perhaps have more screen time than Mammootty, and make good use of it, though some scenes make you think that the characters could have benefitted from the experienced craft of more seasoned actors."[36] The New Indian Express' Vignesh Madhu rated 3.5/5 and reviewed, "While Bhoothakaalam saw Rahul expertly handling psychology and supernatural elements, he blends folklore and horror in Bramayugam to create a terrifying atmosphere where almost every moment is an event.[37] Nirmal Jovial from The Week rated 4/5 and verdicted,"Bramayugam has a major reliance on visual storytelling, but its memorability isn't derived from visual gimmicks or jump scares. Instead, it's the intricate world-building orchestrated by Sadasivan, with significant support from Ramakrishnan, within a confined yet evocative setting, that truly captivated this reviewer."[38]

Firstpost rated 3/5 and reviewed,"What really drives the film home is the performance by the lead actors. Mammootty is going all out with his out of box choices because this is probably the most sinister, and terrifying character that I have seen him portray. Everything about this film is experiential. Starting from the dark insides of the theaters to the sound and music in the film. It is ethereal how the beautifully all aspects of the film come together to achieve this feat.[39] Janani K of India Today rated the film 3/5 and said, "‘Bramayugam’, with an intriguing story, gifts you an immersive experience. And Mammootty strikes yet again".[40] Deccan Herald's Arun Antony rated 4/5 and reviewed,"Arjun Ashokan surprises as the paanan but Siddharth Bharathan stands out as the cook. Overall ‘Bramayugam’ makes a lasting impression and anyone who is a fan of ‘Tumbbad’ should watch it".[41] Anna Mathews of Times of India rated 3.5/5 and wrote,"The script,the direction and art direction cultivates the eerieness and makes the film scary. But the story with bits of class politics and religious philosophy sometimes lacks a flow and does not makes things very clear."[42] Reviewing for Onmanorama, Swathi P Ajith wrote,"The film seamlessly merges horror, thriller, and folktale elements, with horror subtly woven into the shadows and sounds. Rather than relying on jump scares, the movie crafts a claustrophobic atmosphere, gradually building a sense of terror."[43] Analysing the movie for Onmanorama, Sajesh Mohan wrote about the power politics depicted in the movie,"Rahul's 'Bramayugam' and Jijo's 'My Dear Kuttichathan' depict the manipulation tactics of power-hungry people who ensnare gods and demigods like Chathan, Karinkali, Yakshi, etc., exploiting their vulnerabilities to instil fear and exert control over fellow beings."[44]

Box office

The film collected ₹3 crore in Kerala on its opening day and grossed over ₹32 crore (US$4.0 million) globally in the first weekend.[45] In six days film collection is stands at ₹37.39 crore (US$4.7 million).[46] In the next three days crossed ₹46 crore (US$5.8 million) at the box office.[47] On eleventh day, the film entered the ₹50 crore (US$6.3 million) club.[48] [49] The Times of India reported that the worldwide collection is ₹52.2 crore (US$6.5 million) and overseas collection is stands at ₹24 crore (US$3.0 million) in fifteen days.[50]

Music

Main article: Bramayugam (soundtrack)

The music for the film was composed by Christo Xavier. Din Nath Puthenchery, Ammu, and Maria Alex have penned the lyrics.[51][52]

References

  1. ^ "In the dimly lit corridors of Kerala's dark ages, 'Bramayugam' unfolds a tale that resonates with ancient folklore and supernatural mystique". 15 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Christo Xavier: After listening to the OST of 'Bramayugam'".
  3. ^ "Bramayugam The movie has a running time of 140 minutes".
  4. ^ "Released in 5 Indian languages including Malayalam". 17 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Mammootty's 'Bramayugam' reveals budget of Rs 27.73 crore". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  6. ^ "Bramayugam final box office collections: Mammootty's film surpasses Rs 85 crore". The Free Press Journal. Archived from the original on 12 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Small market, big collection: Box office earnings of recent Malayalam flicks touch record Rs 550 cr". OnManorama. 8 April 2024. Archived from the original on 12 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  8. ^ Praveen, S. R. (15 February 2024). "'Bramayugam. But this film is designed as a fantasy, mystery tale with a few mildly scary moments thrown in". The Hindu. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  9. ^ "'Bramayugam' Mammootty's miraculous run continues with the bleakest Indian horror film in years, a take-no-prisoners tirade against humanity". 21 February 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  10. ^ "It's a wrap for the filming of Mammootty horror-thriller film 'Bramayugam'". 19 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Bramayugam movie review: A terrific and terrifying Mammootty leads Malayalam's 'horror cinema peaked here' moment". 15 February 2024. Archived from the original on 15 February 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Bramayugam X reviews: Mammootty gives a standout performance". 15 February 2024. Archived from the original on 15 February 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  13. ^ "Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada versions of Mammootty's 'Bramayugam' to arrive on THIS date!". The Times of India. 21 February 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  14. ^ "Mammootty's 'Bramayugam' Impact Telugu Region".
  15. ^ "Mammootty to play Arjun Ashokan's villain in Rahul Sadasivan's upcoming horror thriller". OTTPlay. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  16. ^ "Is Mammootty playing a villain in 'Bhoothakaalam' director's next?". The Times of India. 9 August 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
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  21. ^ "I could never conceive 'Bramayugam' in colour: Director Rahul Sadasivan". Onmanorama. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  22. ^ Daily, Keralakaumudi (7 August 2023). "Mammootty villain in Arjun Ashokan's new movie". Kerala Kaumudi. Archived from the original on 7 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  23. ^ "'Bramayugam' first look: Mammootty challenges himself yet again". Onmanorama. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
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  25. ^ FC, Team (19 October 2023). "It's a wrap for the filming of Mammootty horror-thriller film Bramayugam". www.filmcompanion.in. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  26. ^ "Mammootty wraps up shooting for 'Bramayugam'". The Hindu. 16 September 2023. Archived from the original on 24 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
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  28. ^ Bureau, The Hindu (7 September 2023). "Mammootty's first look from 'Bramayugam' out". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  29. ^ Web Desk (11 January 2024). ""അതിഥിയെ കാത്ത് മനയിൽ ഭീതി പടർത്തി മമ്മൂട്ടി"; 'ഭ്രമയുഗം' ടീസർ…". Newscoopz.in. Archived from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
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  35. ^ "Bramayugam movie review: Does Mammootty's black and white experiment have the magic to extend his winning run? You'd be surprised". www.ottplay.com. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  36. ^ Shaji, Sukanya (6 February 2024). "Bramayugam review: Mammootty's monochrome horror thriller explores how power corrupts". The News Minute. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
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  39. ^ "Bramayugam movie review: Mammootty in his most sinister role ever brings to life real horror of oppression". Firstpost. 16 February 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
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  41. ^ Antony, Arun. "'Bramayugam' movie review: Mammootty is sinister in this enigmatic tale of demons, dominance and death". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  42. ^ "Bramayugam Movie Review: Mammootty excels in this chilling folklorish fantasy". The Times of India. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  43. ^ P Ajith, Swathi (15 February 2024). "'Bramayugam': Mammootty's tour de force anchors this gripping monochrome horror | Movie Review". Onmanorama. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  44. ^ Mohan, Sajesh (26 February 2024). "'Bramayugam' and 'My Dear Kuttichathan': Depicting the struggle of gods and demigods for freedom from humans". Onmanorama. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  45. ^ "Bramayugam box office collections: Mammootty led film Scares a 32 crore Weekend Worldwide". Pinkvilla. 19 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  46. ^ "Bramayugam At Worldwide Box Office (After 6 Days): Mammootty's Horror Thriller Earns More Internationally Than In India!". Koimoi. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
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  48. ^ "Bramayugam Box Office Collection Day 11: Mammootty Starrer Continues To Shine After Crossing Rs 50 Crore". Times Now. 26 February 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  49. ^ "Bramayugam Box Office (Worldwide): It's Now 2nd Malayalam Film Of 2024 To Cross The 50 Crore Milestone!". Koimoi. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
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  51. ^ "Mammootty-starrer Bramayugam's Soundtrack Sets The Tone For An Eerie Tale". News18. 27 January 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  52. ^ "Bramayugam soundtrack gets a release date; Mammootty drops a major update". OTTPlay. Retrieved 20 February 2024.

External links

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