From Kerala to Ladakh in one film: Jayasurya's ‘Operation Tral’ wraps up
Malayalam cinema's most ambitious pan-Indian outing crossed a milestone and the celebration video proves this one's special.
The shoot of ‘Operation Tral’, the high-stakes investigative thriller starring Jayasurya and directed by Ratheesh Vega, has officially wrapped.
Marking the occasion, the makers dropped a warm, celebratory pack-up party video that's already got film buffs talking. Producer Joby George Thadathil, of Goodwill Entertainments, summed up the mood on set with a simple but telling line, "every cinema just happens."
That understated remark hides how massive this production actually was. Principal photography spanned an eye-popping range of locations from Kerala and Coimbatore to New Delhi, Kullu, Manali, Mussoorie, and the breathtaking terrains of Ladakh. Few Malayalam films have attempted a canvas this wide, and that scale is exactly the point.
Goodwill Entertainments, the banner behind box-office and critical hits like ‘Kishkindha Kaandam’, ‘Romancham’, ‘Kasaba’, and ‘Abrahaminte Santhathikal’, is clearly not playing it safe with this one.
‘Operation Tral’ is being mounted on a big budget, with an unmistakable ambition to push Malayalam cinema onto the pan-Indian map. The film is gearing up for a simultaneous worldwide release in five languages, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi.
At the heart of it all is Jayasurya, an actor known for slipping into genre-defying roles across Indian cinema. ‘Operation Tral’ draws from the real-life encounter between the Indian Armed Forces and terrorists in Tral, Jammu and Kashmir, blending national-intelligence intrigue with adrenaline-charged action and an emotional patriotic core.
The film, written and directed by Ratheesh Vega, who has also composed its songs and background score carries a cast stacked with talent: Ritika Singh, Kavya Shetty, Anson Paul, Nandalal Krishnamurthy, Vinay Rai, Siddique, Sai Kumar, Murali Sharma, and Sirajudheen.
The first-look poster, unveiled recently, has stirred anticipation for what's up to be one of the year's most-watched Malayalam releases.
Also Read: ‘Operation Tral’ first look out: Jayasurya leads Kashmir-based thriller
Behind the camera, the technical lineup is just as formidable: cinematography by Najos, editing by Shafeeq VB, project design by Noble Jacob, and production design by Sajeesh Thamarassery.
With the shoot now a wrap and post-production set to begin, all eyes are on when ‘Operation Tral’ will make its grand five-language landing and whether it can deliver on its promise of taking Malayalam cinema truly pan-Indian.