Asif Ali: When Abrid Shine narrated Mahaveeryar to me, I was worried if we could pull it off in Malayalam

While director Abrid Shine had completed the shoot of Mahaveeryar almost a year ago, the makers released its first look poster only a few days ago, and it promises to be a novel experience for the viewers as well as the team of the Nivin Pauly and Asif Ali-starrer.

The team unveiled the first look poster of the film at a press meet in Kochi on Friday that was attended by renowned writer M Mukundan, director Abrid Shine and actors Asif Ali and Shanvi Srivastava. While Nivin, who is also the film’s producer, couldn’t attend the film as he was busy with the shoot of Ram’s Tamil film, he did send his greetings to the team via a virtual message.

Mukundan, who has written the story of the film, shared that Mahaveeryar was a mix of reality and fantasy and addresses several pertinent issues in a different manner. Asif seconded this, and said, “Mahaveeryar is the type of film that both of us haven’t attempted before. When Shine chettan gave me the references for Mukundan sir’s story, I was initially scared about how we can make such a film in Malayalam. He’s put in so much effort behind it and so when it is made, he wanted to be novel in terms of storytelling and making.”

The first look poster revealed Nivin dressed as an ascetic while Asif adorned the garbs of a king or a warrior. Shanvi’s character poster was also revealed at the event. Asif also said, “I have had the character’s photos for over a year on my phone and in many instances wanted to share it. But now that it’s out, I am really excited about the movie.”

The movie, which was shot in Rajasthan and Kerala, marks the first collaboration between Asif and Nivin in over a decade. “Both of us arrived in the industry around the same time and it gives me great joy to work in his production. After OTTs, Malayalam cinema has got a pan-Indian reach and Mahaveeryar is a movie that deserves massive success,” concluded the actor, who is next gearing up for the release of Sibi Malayil’s Kothth.

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