Malayalam director Shivprasad started his commercial cinema with the 2025 film ‘Maamnamas’, produced by Tavino Thomas. The dark comedy thriller stood out for his unconventional story. In a clear chat with indiatoday.in, the debut director opened about how his latest Malayalam film – Basil Joseph and a dressed actors are characteristic – came into life.

After working on the first emotionally acute, style-bound projects, he revealed that he was waiting for something different to be different.

“I had worked in different styles before my debut, but most of them were seriously or emotionally operated. Therefore, I did not find the right fit for a traditional film in the Malayalam industry. I was waiting for some unique, some offbeat. When Siju (Sunny), the author of the film also approached the Maranamas,” Directors.

He further stated that the idea was so compelling that it naturally inspired him to cooperate with actor-producer Tovino Thomas.

“When Towino and I started discussing the script and potential casting, Basil Joseph’s name came up. We were not sure he would agree, but he came on board and it became one of our best decisions,” he said, praising Basil’s unique comic timing.

See the trailer of ‘Maranamas’ here:

Remantled for many short films, Shivprasad continued, “He brings a different wavelength of humor, and we were clear from the beginning that it was not a hero-centered film. It is a dress story where each character is equally important.”

He said, “That’s what excite me – the idea himself demanded such characters.”

The director initially imagined the film as a dark style piece, but as it developed, it moved to a more experimental tone. “It began as a dark comedy, but finally, the film became a mixture of styles with tonal shifts, especially in the second half,” he explained.

Speaking about the artists, including Suresh Krishna, Rajesh Madhavan, Anishma and others, the filmmaker thanked the team’s chemistry. He said, “There was a great sense of humor among all the actors, there was a big difference. Their input was important in shaping the comedic tone,” he said. “Each character took a thread of dark humor (laughing), which actually worked in favor of the film, and helped me pull it.”

He also confirmed that it was his own decision to cast Siju in the film. “He had experience in similar roles, and I knew he could bring the right energy,” he said enthusiastically.

On April 10, ‘Maamnamas’ hit theaters. Reviewing the film today, India said, “It tries to end on a high. However, due to one-many of the subplots, the audience gets tired by the time they reach the climax, which is set in a dumpyard, which is a handful for a fun moments.

‘Maamnamas’ is currently streaming on Soniliv.