Rahul Sadasivan

Kerala's red rain phenomenon gave Rahul Sadasivan the premise for his first feature, the science fiction film Red Rain (2013), made shortly after his course at the London Film Academy. It found admirers among genre fans, though not a wide audience. Born in Palakkad, Kerala, he went to school at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kanjikode, and after studying filmmaking in London completed a master's degree in animation and VFX at the University of South Wales. His work as a Malayalam filmmaker and screenwriter is rooted in folk horror. Nine years passed before Bhoothakaalam (2022), a horror film released directly on SonyLIV, which brought him national attention for its atmosphere and themes. Bramayugam (2024), his third film, was a large-scale period horror made by Night Shift Studios, a company set up specifically for horror and thriller features. Shot entirely in black and white, with Mammootty in a negative role, it was well received by critics and succeeded at the box office, and Mammootty won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for his performance. Odiyan: The Age of Illusion is the project he is now writing and directing.