"Vadakkan" makes history with first audio trailer, bringing pride to Malayalam cinema

"Vadakkan", directed by Sajeed A., has garnered widespread attention with the launch of its groundbreaking audio trailer, marking a first in Malayalam cinema. At a recent event, the film's audio trailer was unveiled by music director Bijibal and producer Jaideep Singh. The creative team behind the film expressed great expectations for this innovative initiative, hoping to secure the audience's unwavering support.  

Addressing the media post-launch, Bijibal remarked, "Sound plays a pivotal role in this film, which is why we prioritised its release through an audio trailer. The objective is to pique curiosity around the film’s sound design and its intricate elements. This idea, conceptualised by Resul Pookutty, Sajeed, and I mark a significant step forward. Being a first in Malayalam cinema, we hope it garners considerable attention." Producer Jaideep Singh and singer Bhadra Rajin also spoke during the event, expressing their optimism about the film's potential.  

"Vadakkan", a unique cinematic experience, has already earned accolades at international film festivals. The film premiered at the 78th Festival Internazionale Del Cinema Di Salerno (Salerno International Film Festival) and had an exclusive, invite-only market screening at Cannes Film Festival's Marché du Film 2024, where it gained recognition in the Fantastic Pavilion category for horror and fantasy films. Selected as one of the top seven films in this category, "Vadakkan" stood out during a gala screening attended by celebrities, Hollywood and Bollywood actors, and horror cinema enthusiasts.  

The film also won Best Supernatural Film at the renowned Fright Night Festival in the United States. Featuring luminaries like Resul Pookutty, Bijibal, and cinematographer Keiko Nakahara, it is the only Malayalam film to achieve such milestones in this genre.  

Produced by Jaideep Singh and Bhavya Nidhi Sharma under the Offbeet Studios banner, with co-producer Kanupriya Gupta, "Vadakkan" draws inspiration from Dravidian Puranas and ancient folklore. Combining traditional storytelling with state-of-the-art digital technology, it delivers a visual and auditory feast. 

"Although grounded in the cultural landscape of Kerala, the technical sophistication of "Vadakkan" rivals Hollywood standards. We are confident it will captivate audiences both in India and globally," said producers Jaydeep Singh and Bhavya Nidhi Sharma.  

Offbeet Studios, a venture of Offbeet Media Group known for creating the US Premier League Cricket and platform 101India.com, has stepped into Malayalam cinema with "Vadakkan" as their inaugural project. Their previous achievements, including the NFT exhibition Myths and Memes co-hosted with Papaya Café in Kochi, underscore their commitment to creativity and innovation.  

"Vadakkan", a supernatural thriller rooted in the folklore of North Malabar, stars Kishore and Shruthy Menon in lead roles. With a script and dialogues by Unni R., and music composed by Bijibal, the film boasts impressive creative contributions. Zebunnisa Bangash, a globally renowned Pakistani singer, lends her voice to a track penned by Bollywood lyricist Shellee.  

Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty and Japanese cinematographer Keiko Nakahara have lent their expertise, elevating the project's aesthetic quality. The film's VFX was executed by top CGI teams from India and abroad, ensuring a cutting-edge visual experience.  
Having already won hearts at esteemed international film festivals, "Vadakkan", presented in Malayalam and dubbed in Kannada, is gearing up for its much-anticipated release in Kerala.  

Apart from Kishore and Shruthy Menon, the movie stars Merin Philip,
Kalesh Ramanand, Sirajudheen Nazar, Maala Parvathi, Gargi Anandan, Meenakshi Unnikrishnan, Aryan Kathuria, Ravi Venkatraman, Greeshma Alex 

Director of Photography - Keiko Nakahara JSC, Sound Design - Resul Pookutty CAS MPSE  and Arunav Dutta, Re-Recording Mixers - Resul Pookutty CAS MPSE & Robin Kutty, Teaser Soundscape - Resul Pookutty & Bijibal, Writer - Unni R,  Editor - Sooraj ES, Music Composer - Bijibal, Lyrics  - B.K. Harinarayanan, Shellee, MC Couper, Production Designer - M Bava, Costume Designer -Khyati Lakhotia & Arun Manohar, Makeup - Narasimha Swamy, Hair Stylist - Unnimol and Chandrika, Action Director - Mafia Sasi and Ashraf Gurukul, Executive Producers - Sleeba Varghese & Susil Thomas
Production Controller - Sinjo Ottathyckal, Choreography - Madhu Gopinath, Vaikom Sajeev, Line Producers - Frankie Film & TV OY and All Time Filmy, VFX - Frost FX (Estonia), IVFX, Coconut Bunch Creations & Greymatter (India), Additional Cinematography - Finnish DP Linus Otsamo,
Colorist - Andreas Brückl
DI Studio - PRIME FOCUS LTD., Marketing and Promotions - Shivakumar Raghav, Public Relations -  Athira Diljith, Digital Marketing - Obscura Entertainments, Poster Design - Yellowtooths, Audio Label - Offbeet Music, Stills - Sreejith Chettipady, Kerala Distribution - Dream Big Films.