Kammattam star Sudev Nair on shooting the series in record 11 days: ‘It is possible only in Malayalam’ | Exclusive

In an exclusive chat with OTTplay, Kammattam star Sudev Nair speaks about how it is possible to shoot within such a short schedule only in Malayalam, how his role changed on the very first day & more

Sudev Nair in Kammattam, with director Shan Thulasidharan

Sudev Nair, who began his acting career with a Hollywood film, has made a mark across south industries and even in Hindi cinema. The actor, who was once tagged as the ‘handsome villain’, leads the upcoming Malayalam series, Kammattam (Zee5 via OTTplay Premium), which has the distinction of completing its shoot within 11 days. Ahead of Kammattam’s OTT release, OTTplay caught up with Sudev, who spoke about how it is possible to shoot within a short schedule like Kammattam only in Malayalam, how his role in the series changed on the very first day, and which roles are a complete no-no for him.

You play the lead role in the cop series. How did the project materialise and you become part of the project?

Director Shan Thulasidharan approached me for the series. I liked the script. But the main challenge was to shoot it in 11 days’ time. How to do it? After meeting Shan, I asked him in detail about his plan. He was well-prepared with plan A, B, what to do if it rains and all. Locations were also nearby. They were all difficult locations, but somehow they scouted and found those. You will understand Shan’s conviction, his sincerity when you talk to him. And I was convinced and became a part of it.

Was your character changed after you came on board?

Initially, it was a small-scale screenplay but as it developed, it became more pan-Indian. They had approached someone else, but they wanted someone with a pan-Indian face and that’s how it came to me. At first, the lead character was an aged person, out-and-out alcoholic, lonely with troubles in personal life but has a brilliant mind. It was a little bit in the dark zone. I also gained some weight, and prepared for the role. But on the first day, when I came up in that elderly appearance, Shan felt we were purposefully playing down my personality. And instead we thought of making the character dynamic, young. And we changed the genre on the first day itself.

How was working with director Shan and the rest of the cast, including actor-filmmaker Jeo Baby

When I first met Shan, I understood his capabilities as a director. If only I have trust in the director, I would commit to the project. And once committed, I fully follow the director’s vision. No discussions and all, will do as per their instructions. I trust the director’s vision. Shan was very talented and could make decisions also very fast. He has clear ideas on how, when to shoot. Everything was planned, and in case of emergencies or an interesting idea, he could immediately accommodate it. He is a director with a good future. Jins, who played the constable, is also a talented actor. Directors Jeo Baby and Ajay Vasudev were also part of the cast. Shan said that directors would never complain since we shot on a tight schedule. There were difficult scenes and also physically demanding.

The entire series was shot in 11 days across 40 locations. How was that experience?

Though it was only 11 days, the number of hours was more to compensate for that. On an average, we shot for 16-18 hours a day. On 2-3 days, we shot for a full 24 hours. From morning to the next morning, we filmed. That is how we managed, and all this is possible only in the Malayalam film industry. That cooperation you will get from technicians and crew. All are hard-working and will do it relentlessly, that too without any complaints. The 24-hour shoot was planned according to the location logistics. In between it rained and all, but there were contingency plans in place. But we did not have other options. There are specific locations in Kottayam, I don’t know how they found those places.

When compared to other industries, the working hours are more in the Malayalam cinema. The restrictions are more here as our budgets won't be that big. My training is here, and it is there in our systems. When we do student films also, it would be like this only. So I come from a mindset that this (shooting) is like a marathon.

Recently, Kerala Crime Files Season 2 was released and won much appreciation. Since this is also a cop thriller, are you concerned about comparisons?

Don’t have concerns as such. I have yet to watch the series. In Malayalam, we know how to make good crime thrillers and the audience also likes it. It is a popular genre, and if we bring a different type of subject and it is good content, people will like it.

You have also done negative roles and was even tagged as a 'handsome villain'. You have moved on to more positive lead roles now. How do you choose your projects?

When I started off, I could not be choosy, did whatever came my way. Then I started becoming choosy, and avoided roles that I had already done. Some characters are very similar, so there is nothing new for me to do. In negative roles, I don't want to do characters such as rapists. It affects me also. I avoid creepy roles. But when you do negative characters, there will be many quirks or twists. But ultimately, the character should be engaging.

Upcoming projects?

There is a Malayalam film Udumbanchola Vision, which stars Mathew Thomas and Sreenath Bhasi. There is also a Telugu film with Pawan Kalyan.

FAQs

Q. What is kammattam?

A. Kammattam is a Zee5 Original Malayalam series, starring Sudev Nair in the lead role of a cop.

Q. Where to watch Kammattam on OTT?

A. Kammattam releases on Zee5 via OTTplay Premium on September 4, 2025.

Q. Which are the best Malayalam web series?

A. Kerala Crime Files Season 2 and The Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang are among the best Malayalam series of 2025

Share