It felt as though Pranav was waiting for a role like this: Rahul Sadasivan on ‘Dies Irae’

Thiruvananthapuram: Filmmaker Rahul Sadasivan, celebrated for his atmospheric horror dramas ‘Bhoothakaalam’ and ‘Bramayugam’, has returned with his latest film, ‘Dies Irae’, a title inspired by a 13th-century Latin hymn sung in remembrance of the dead, often described as the music of death.

Following the success of ‘Bhoothakaalam’, starring Shane Nigam and Revathy, and ‘Bramayugam’, which earned Mammootty the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor, Sadasivan continues his exploration of fear as a central emotional and cinematic theme.

Actor Pranav Mohanlal’s dual performance as both protagonist and antagonist in ‘Dies Irae’ has drawn widespread attention. The director revealed that he wrote the role of Indo-American character Rohan Shankar specifically with Pranav in mind.

“Since many people haven’t yet seen the film, I can’t reveal much about the plot or emotional depth of the characters,” said Rahul. “’Dies Irae’ was written for Pranav. He captured even the subtlest nuances of the role with great precision. He appears in two distinct looks — one clean-cut and one rugged — and his performance exceeded what I had imagined while writing. After seeing his earlier work, I felt he would be perfect for a layered role with shades of darkness. It truly felt as though Pranav had been waiting for a character like this.”

Subtitled ‘The Day of Wrath’, the story and screenplay are both penned by Sadasivan. The film, rich in suspense, mystery, and psychological tension, has been produced by Chakravarthy Ramachandra and S Sashikanth.

Sadasivan, who calls horror one of his favourite genres, said the idea for ‘Dies Irae’ originated even before ‘Bramayugam’.

“Everything I’ve read, seen, and experienced helped shape this film. A character from ‘Bhoothakaalam’ appears at the end of ‘Dies Irae’. Both stories unfold around the same time, and their worlds might intersect again. I ended the film in a way that leaves room for continuation,” he said.

The director added that his focus lies in taking the audience on an emotional journey with his stories and characters.

“Once the writing is done, I move on to the film’s other aspects. Viewers come from diverse age groups and backgrounds, and pleasing everyone is always a challenge. When we announced the title ‘Dies Irae’, many were curious about its meaning and mystery. It’s gratifying to see audiences embracing both the title and the film.

I don’t want people to think that just because I make horror films, I’m obsessed with dark themes. I don’t intend to direct horror exclusively. But after ‘Bhoothakaalam’ connected so deeply with audiences, I realised there were still many stories left to tell within the genre. That’s what brought me back to it.”

The narrative of ‘Dies Irae’ connects to the worlds of both ‘Bhoothakaalam’ and ‘Bramayugam’. Saiju Kurup’s character George from ‘Bhoothakaalam’ reappears in the new film, linking back to the haunted house storyline. Gibin Gopinath, who took leave from his police service to act, plays Madhusudhanan Potti, the last descendant of a family once believed to control spirits — a continuation of the ‘Bramayugam lineage’ of Kodumon Potti.

Filmed over 28 days in Kochi and Vadakara, ‘Dies Irae’ has been praised for its performances, particularly those of Pranav Mohanlal, Gibin Gopinath, and Jaya Kurup, and its chilling portrayal of supernatural presence.

Much of the original ‘Bramayugam’ team returned for this production, including art director Jotish Shankar, composer Christo Xavier, cinematographer Shehnad Jalal, editor Shafique Mohamed Ali, and makeup artist Ronex Xavier. Critics have noted that their combined craftsmanship gives the film its haunting visual power and emotional depth.