Malayalam cinema welcomes a new addition to its list of horror-comedies with the theatrical release of Sumathi Valavu today, starring Arjun Ashokan in the lead.
Directed by Vishnu Sasi Shankar and written by Abhilash Pillai, the highly anticipated film premiered in theatres across Kerala and other parts of India.
Combining elements of spine-chilling folklore, dark humour, and supernatural mystery, Sumathi Valavu is set in a fictionalised version of a real haunted location in Mylamoodu, Thiruvananthapuram.
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The legend behind the place is rooted in a tragic tale from the 1950s, the brutal murder of a pregnant woman named Sumathi by her lover. Locals believe that her restless spirit still haunts the area, which came to be known as “Sumathi Valavu.”
Over the years, the place developed an eerie reputation, not only due to the ghost stories but also because of criminal elements who allegedly used the fear surrounding the area to conduct shady activities undisturbed.
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The film takes this intriguing combination of local legend and real-world implications to build a fictional yet eerily plausible narrative.
At the heart of Sumathi Valavu is a group of people, played by an ensemble cast including Saiju Kurup, Balu Varghese, Sshivada, Deva Nandha, Malavika Manoj, Sidharth Bharathan, Gokul Suresh, and Lal, who encounter bizarre and supernatural happenings after entering the haunted premises.
The ghost, portrayed as a Tamil woman guarding the site for decades, becomes both a source of fear and an unlikely centrepiece of humour, making this film a fresh take on horror comedy in Malayalam cinema.
Arjun Ashokan, known for his memorable roles in Theeppori Benny and Romancham, steps into the horror-comedy genre with confidence. His comic timing.
Produced by Murali Kunnumpurath under Waterman Films LLP in association with Think Studios, the film was shot primarily in Palakkad. Cinematographer P. V. Shankar captures both the beauty and eeriness of Kerala’s rural arena. The music by Ranjin Raj complements the film’s genre-fluid tone.
