Sarkeet director Thamar KV: 'Asif Ali as Ameer will leave you teary-eyed' | Exclusive

Asif Ali's next film, Sarkeet, is all set to hit the big screen on May 8. This is director Thamar KV's sophomore project following his acclaimed debut film, 1001 Nunakal. In an interview with OTTplay, Thamar discussed why he chose Asif Ali to play the film's protagonist, Ameer, and how his films explore common issues that cut beyond geographical boundaries. 

Fan of Asif Ali's performances? Stream Thalavan, Rekhachithram, and more on OTTplay Premium 

'Asif Ali is irreplaceable as Ameer'

Asif's decision to work on this project at the height of his career pleased Thamar. The movie's trailer, which had recently been released, had already attracted the attention of his fans, who are hoping for another outstanding performance from the Thalavan star fo llowing the huge success of Rekhachithram.  

According to the director, Asif's popularity among families is very high, and he anticipates that this will help the movie. "Though we had an image of how Ameer was supposed to be, Asif gave life to him with his subtle yet compelling performance," he stated. Thamar went on to say that he had heard from people that the trailer's portions where Asif was shown crying moved them. According to Thamar, there are multiple scenes in this movie that would make the audience cry.

The young filmmaker also shared that he auditioned over 700 kids for the role played by Orhan Hyder. He added that the film's warm depiction of friendship, parenthood, and family ties will undoubtedly win over the viewers in theatre. Sarkeet, which also stars Deepak Parambol and Divya Prabha in lead roles, was shot in the UAE.

'1001 Nunakal's direct OTT release proved helpful'

Thamar's debut film, 1001 Nunakal had a direct OTT release on Sony LIV in 2022. After its release, the movie got positive reviews. "I think the direct OTT release helped the film receive more praise. 1001 Nunakal primarily featured newcomers, and I wasn't sure if movie had any elements that would draw big crowds to theatres," he remarked. The director continued by saying that the post-Covid era was the ideal time for the film's multilingual release. 

Also Read: Delve into Asif Ali's cinematic gems on OTT before Sarkeet releases