Throughout his career, Nadirshah has showcased versatility across various areas, including mimicry, acting, music composition, singing, and directing. Now, with his sixth directorial venture, "Once Upon a Time in Kochi," nearing release, excitement is palpable. Adding to the anticipation is the script, written by Raffi, featuring Raffi's son, Mubeen Raffi, in the lead role.

The movie 'Once Upon a Time in Kochi' is releasing. What are your expectations?

Once Upon a Time in Kochi is a semi-thriller film coupled with situational comedies. The film is trying to tell the story of some incidents that happen at night in cities. I chose Kochi to tell this story because it is a city I know. Mubeen Raffi, son of director Raffi, is playing the lead role in this movie. Arjun Ashokan, Shine Tom Chacko, Malavika Menon, and Devika Sanjay are also in the film. I hope that the audience will accept the movie.

How did Raffi reach out to Nadirshah?

He didn't approach me; I went to him. Upon learning from my associate director about Rafikka's story featuring his son as the protagonist, I made the decision to reach out. After hearing just a one-liner of the plot, I was immediately drawn in. Because of my faith in him, there was no need to think about anything else. Rafikka has crafted a story that appeals to all types of audiences.

Does the continuous release of Malayalam movies pose a challenge for the success of smaller films?

There's a wide-open space for storytelling across various genres in Malayalam. The success of films like "Premalu" illustrates this point vividly; despite lacking marquee names, it resonated strongly with audiences, becoming a blockbuster hit. Ticket sales aren't solely determined by budget or star power. While there's certainly anticipation for releases featuring big stars, audiences are equally enthusiastic about good movies.