‘Spent hours in butcher’s shop watching meat-cutting techniques; one of those guys had even lost a finger’: Honey Rose

The short story Irachikombu by Rahul Manappat, originally published in Mathrubhumi Weekly, has now been adapted into a cinematic narrative titled Rachel. The film is directed by debutant Anandhini Bala, while Abrid Shine serves as co-producer and co-writer. Combining themes of love, revenge, and inner conflict, the story has been brought vividly to life on screen. Actor Honey Rose, who plays the title role, shared her excitement about portraying Rachel.

“Hearing the story for the first time from director Anandhini Bala, I immediately connected with both the narrative and its backdrop. The beauty of the wilderness shines through the visuals, while the story traverses numerous intense life situations. I couldn’t imagine letting go of such a role,” Honey Rose explained.

For the film, hundreds of buffaloes were brought in from outside Kerala to create authentic scenes. During transportation, some of the animals became aggressive, yet the team managed to proceed with filming successfully.

Honey Rose described Rachel as the most challenging role in her 20-year career. “Rachel is a meat cutter, and it’s a dangerous task. She chops meat on wood with a heavy knife, which is not easy for anyone inexperienced. To portray the character convincingly, I spent time observing professionals at a butcher’s shop—their techniques, interactions, and movements. A professional meat cutter supervised the shoot, correcting even the smallest errors. One of the guys who came to train didn’t have one finger!” she added.

The film, releasing in multiple languages, features an ensemble cast including Baburaj, Roshan Basheer, Chandu Salimkumar, Radhika Radhakrishnan, Jaffer Idukki, and Vineeth Thattil. The film will hit theatres worldwide on December 6.