A major pan-Indian action film produced by Royal Cinemas is underway in Kerala, signalling an ambitious push to bring Malayalam cinema to a broader global audience. Directed by Abhinav Sivan in his first independent feature, the big‑budget production is already attracting attention for its technical ambition and international collaboration.
pan-India action film reaches international scale
The film will be released in six languages — Malayalam, English, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Tamil — underlining its pan‑India, and potentially global, ambitions. Producers say the project blends high‑end stunt work with India’s traditional martial arts to create action sequences rarely seen in Indian cinema.
Shivajith, known for his physical commitment to roles, leads the cast in what reports describe as the most significant part of his career to date. Early indications suggest the script gives equal weight to action and emotional storytelling, aiming to deliver both spectacle and character depth.
Key technical personnel include director of photography Rupesh Shaji, editor Saiju Sreedharan and composer Nesar Ahmed. The production has engaged Hollywood stunt director Andrew Stehlin, whose credits include major international franchises, to design and oversee the film’s action set pieces. P V Shivakumar, a guru known for his work on films such as Veeram and ARM, serves as the film’s martial arts coordinator, bringing Kalaripayattu‑inspired choreography to the fight sequences.
Producers emphasise that the film is being built as a visual event rather than a routine release. With international and local technical teams working together, the aim is to deliver stunts and sound design that meet global standards. Sound designers P M Satheesh and Manoj M Goswami are among those on board, while production design is led by Ranjith Kothari and costume design by Donna Marian Joseph.
The creative team includes writers Lukman Oothal and Majid Yordan. Other crew credits reported are make‑up by Ranjith Ambadi, casting direction by Bharat Gopinathan and publicity by Drip Wave Collective, with Athir Diljit listed as the production PR. The producers have said that the film’s title and further details will be revealed in due course.
Industry observers note two elements that make the project noteworthy: first, the decision to shoot with the confident intention of a multi‑language release, which reflects an increasingly common strategy among South Indian productions; second, the deliberate fusion of Hollywood‑style stunts with indigenous martial arts, which could offer a distinctive visual identity in international markets.
If the film achieves the technical standards promised by its team, it could further raise the profile of Malayalam cinema and demonstrate the commercial potential of culturally specific storytelling supported by global production values. For the lead actor Shivajith, the project represents a career milestone and the opportunity to reach audiences well beyond Kerala.
With filming underway and key creative personnel confirmed, attention will now turn to marketing plans and the release schedule. Producers have kept the release date under wraps while continuing to confirm the project’s multilingual rollout. The film is positioned not only as a significant release for Malayalam cinema, but as a global action event designed to compete on an international stage.
Key Takeaways:
- Debut director Abhinav Sivan is directing a big‑budget pan-India action film produced by C H Mohammed under Royal Cinemas.
- The film, starring Shivajith in what reports call his biggest role, will release in Malayalam, English, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Tamil.
- International stunt director Andrew Stehlin and martial arts coordinator P V Shivakumar bring Hollywood and traditional Kalaripayattu action together.
- The production aims to position Malayalam cinema on the global stage with advanced technical work and large-scale action set pieces.
