Poet and lyricist Rafeeq Ahamed is writing the songs for Asthikkari, a new Malayalam film set among the early tribal communities of the deep forests of north Kerala and Karnataka. Sakhi Satya plays the title character, and shooting is set to begin at the end of November.
Film: Asthikkari
Story, screenplay and direction: Sainu Chavakkadan
Producer: Salomi Johny
Co-producers: Chalachithra Cafe, Firsting Media, Vinitha Ramesh
Lead: Sakhi Satya
Lyrics: Rafeeq Ahamed
Music: Sony Sai
Background score: Sai Balan
Cinematography: Ranjith Punnapra
Shoot: From end of November, in Idukki, Mysuru and Wayanad
Rafeeq Ahamed's words for a forest story
Rafeeq Ahamed is a six-time winner of the Kerala State Film Award for Best Lyrics, and his poetry has won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award. Asthikkari gives him unusual material: a period when forests and hills were the only homes people knew.
Sony Sai composes the songs, and Sai Balan handles the background score.
The world of the film
According to the makers, the film looks at an age when people found pleasure in fear, lust, hunger and power, and when the strong made slaves of others. Sakhi Satya plays Asthikkari, the central character, and other Malayalam actors, yet to be named, are also part of the cast.
Producer Salomi Johny has said the film will be shot in Idukki, Mysuru and Wayanad.
Sainu Chavakkadan's next
Sainu Chavakkadan writes and directs. His earlier films include Aalkkoottathil Oruvan (2020) and Aarodu Parayan Aaru Kelkkan (2023).
Ranjith Punnapra is the cinematographer, Gautham Sarath edits, and Dragon Jirosh choreographs the action.
