Actor-director Anoop Menon has clarified that his upcoming directorial venture starring Mohanlal is still very much in development and will commence filming only next year. He confirmed the update in a recent interview with an online media outlet, addressing speculation that the project had been shelved.
The yet-to-be-titled film, announced earlier this year, had drawn attention after Mohanlal deleted the social media post about the collaboration. “It will happen only next year,” Anoop said, citing logistical changes. “First of all, the production company has changed. Secondly, a major sequence has to be shot at the Durga Puja in Kolkata. So, it will be possible only next year. It will be shot for 20 days at that festival. It’s an action fight sequence to be shot in the midst of that. There is a desire to shoot it authentically.”
Announced in February, the untitled film was described by Mohanlal as "a dramatic journey traversing love, longing, and music," with a stellar team backing it. Music director Hesham Abdul Wahab is attached to the project and has already confirmed that the score will involve significant experimentation and at least six months of preparation.
Responding to audience expectations that the film will present Mohanlal in a vintage avatar, relaxed, sporting a mundu, and with a romantic sidetrack, Anoop confirmed, “Of course. It has all that. It has five songs. It has three fights. It is that kind of film. It's a script work in progress. It's a big film with a big budget. I’m still working on it. It’s under construction. It will be completed next year. Lalettan also said that let’s take time and do it. Let it happen in its most brilliant space, he said.” Apart from Kolkata, the upcoming film is planned to be shot across Thiruvananthapuram and Shillong.
This will mark Anoop's third film as director, following King Fish (2022) and Padma (2022). Notably, he made his screenwriting debut with Mohanlal’s Pakal Nakshatrangal (2008) and has shared screen space with the actor in several films, including Rock N’ Roll (2007), Pranayam (2011), Grandmaster (2012), Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol (2017), Velipadinte Pusthakam (2017) and Big Brother (2020).
