Not Aliyamma; team Gaganachari takes on a new challenge with zombies in Arun Chandu's 'Vala'

Young and visionary filmmaker Arun Chandu, who brought a refreshing wave to Malayalam cinema with the sci-fi mockumentary "Gaganachari", is back with yet another unique cinematic venture, "Vala". This time, the director delves into a world filled with zombies, marking a new milestone for the Malayalam film industry.

The first-look poster of "Vala", featuring striking visuals of red muscle-like structures erupting from the earth has already piqued curiosity. Adding to the anticipation, an intriguing announcement video featuring Gokul Suresh and Aju Varghese was released recently. The video hints at a blend of humour and horror as zombies are introduced into Malayalam cinema, creating a palpable excitement among audiences.

Fans and cinephiles are actively discussing whether "Vala" is a continuation of the "Gaganachari" storyline or the beginning of an entirely new cinematic universe. The film's poster, captioned, "Are we living in a simulation? The apocalypse is here. The dead are rising, and survival is the only option," has sparked numerous speculations and in-depth analyses on social media.

For the uninitiated, zombies in the realm of science fiction are typically humans or other beings that continue to exist even after death, often infecting those they attack. While Hollywood and other international industries have extensively explored the zombie genre, Indian cinema, especially Malayalam, has only seen a few ventures into this territory. "Vala" positions itself to be a groundbreaking addition to this genre and is set to hit theatres in 2025.

The film brings together an ensemble cast, including Gokul Suresh and Aju Varghese, alongside familiar faces from "Gaganachari" such as Anarkali Marakkar, K.B. Ganesh Kumar, John Kaippallil, and Arjun Nandakumar. Notably, "Vala" marks the first time Gokul Suresh and Madhav Suresh, sons of actor Suresh Gopi, will share the screen, with Madhav Suresh and Bhagath Manuel also playing significant roles.

"Vala" is produced by Underdog Entertainments in collaboration with Letters Entertainments. The script is co-written by Tyler Durden and Arun Chandu. The technical team features some of the best in the industry, with Surjit S. Pai handling cinematography, Shankar Sharma composing music, and C.J. Achu managing editing. Other contributors include RG Wayanadan (makeup), Bucy Baby John (costumes), Meraki (VFX), and Sankaran A.S. and K.C. Sidharthan (sound design). Vishnu Sujathan (final mix), Vineesh Nakulan (creative designer), Prashanth Narayanan (production controller).