‘After Mohanlal, Nivin is the only actor who can...,’ says Akhil Sathyan

Director Akhil Sathyan has drawn a striking comparison between Nivin Pauly and Mohanlal, stating that after the legendary actor, Nivin is the only leading star capable of handling humour with the same natural composure.

Speaking to Club FM, Akhil, who recently directed Nivin Pauly in Sarvam Maya, praised the actor’s unique comic sensibility. The film, which also features Nivin in the lead role, continues to receive a strong audience response, following the success of Akhil’s earlier film Pachuvum Athbhuthavilakkum starring Fahadh Faasil.

“Nivin’s greatest strength is his childlike innocence,” Akhil said. “After Lal sir, I have only seen that quality in Nivin. After Mohanlal, Nivin is the only actor who can perform humour in this manner.”

The director revealed that Nivin went beyond the written script in Sarvam Maya, elevating the character through his own creative input. “Nivin performed at a level higher than what I had written. He suggested changing the comic rhythm, and from the very first shot, he gave me a version of Prabhendu that I had not imagined. He carried that character consistently throughout the film,” Akhil noted.

Akhil also credited Nivin for playing a pivotal role in launching his career as a director. “Nivin was the first star who ever called me to make a film. If that call had not come, I might not have directed a movie so soon,” he said.

He added that the story of Pachuvum Athbhuthavilakkum originally emerged from that conversation and was initially written with Nivin in mind. “The script was completed for Nivin, but at the final stage, the lead role went to Fahadh Faasil,” Akhil explained.