Fahadh Faasil’s Karate Chandran Begins 140-Day Shoot
Fahadh Faasil's Karate Chandran has begun its 140-day shoot in Kottayam for Bhavana Studios, with Roy directing and a large Malayalam ensemble.
Fahadh Faasil’s next Malayalam outing, Karate Chandran, has moved from announcement to action. The Bhavana Studios production began filming in Kottayam with a pooja ceremony and the traditional switch-on, confirming that one of the more talked-about titles in the Malayalam slate is now officially on floors.
A debut that arrives with experience
The film hands Roy his first directorial credit. He has previously worked as a co-director in the orbit of filmmaker Dileesh Pothan, with Maheshinte Prathikaaram among that experience. That background matters: Roy is not an outside name learning the ropes, but someone already familiar with the rhythm and demands of this production circle.
Producers Dileesh Pothan, Fahadh Faasil and Syam Pushkaran are backing the project under the Bhavana Studios banner. The trio have collaborated on a string of notable Malayalam projects, and their involvement gives Karate Chandran an in-built creative shorthand that often translates into confident cinema.
An ensemble built for texture
Fahadh leads a cast that brings together performers with very different screen energies. The list includes Vijayaraghavan, Johny Antony, Sudheesh, Renji Panicker, Gokul Suresh, Suresh Krishna, Spadikam George, Manohari Joy, Jaya Kurup and Manjushree Nair.
While character details remain under wraps, the breadth of the cast suggests the story will not rest on a single lead. For viewers, that is an early signal of a film designed around relationships, community and ensemble interplay rather than a one-hero arc.
Story, screenplay and dialogues are jointly credited to S. Hareesh and Vinoy Thomas. Pairing two distinct writing voices with a first-time director is an ambitious move, and one that could give the film its own texture as more details emerge.
The technical bench is quietly strong
The crew reads like a who’s-who of Malayalam cinema’s dependable names:
- Cinematography: Rakesh Haridas
- Editing: Kiran Das
- Music: Justin Varghese, known for Ajagajantharam and Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira
- Production design: Vivek Kalathil
- Costumes: Mashar Hamsa
- Makeup: Ronex Xavier
None of these appointments are cosmetic. Each name suggests a production that is putting craft departments in experienced hands, which is often where Malayalam films quietly win their credibility.
Why the 140-day schedule is the headline
The makers have locked a 140-day shooting schedule across Kottayam and its surrounding areas. That is a substantial stretch by any standard, and it signals that Karate Chandran is not being hurried to a date. A long schedule allows for location-based shooting, performance time and the kind of detail work that gets sacrificed when a film is chasing a calendar.
No release date has been announced yet, which is consistent with that approach. The priority, for now, is clearly on production quality rather than marketing momentum.
What to watch next
The announcement of the title had already generated curiosity, and the start of filming turns that curiosity into something more concrete. The next details worth looking for are the first official stills, any character reveals, and eventually the film’s release plan. For now, the story is simple: a star-led ensemble, a new director with the right apprenticeship, and a production house with a point of view have started building something over the next 140 days.
Source: Filmfare
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