Ellam Sheriyakum preview: All you need to know about the Asif Ali and Rajisha Vijayan film

The rise of the new age of Malayalam cinema has slowed down this past year because of the global pandemic. Several projects that went into post-production, even before the pandemic took over, have been delayed indefinitely. Ellam Sheriyakum falls into the category of films that were filmed during the pandemic in the hopes of a theatrical release when things would go back to at least a semblance of normality.

Who are the filmmakers?

The film is directed by Jibu Jacob who came to prominence after his hit directorial debut, Vellimoonga starring Biju Menon as the lead. The 2014 film was a surprise hit and garnered positive reviews from critics. The success of the film led to a Tamil remake in 2016 titled, Muthina Kathirika starring Sundar C. Vellimoonga, which was also a soft reset for Biju Menon’s career.

Jacob was also given the responsibility of directing two other films, Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol, and Aadya Ratri. While Aadya Ratri may not have been one of his better efforts, Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol, starring Mohanlal and Meena certainly struck a chord with audiences and critics alike. Jacob, who has had an accomplished career as a cinematographer, hopes that his fourth film will be able to match the standards set by Vellimoonga and Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol.

Sharis Mohammed, credited with the 2018 Malayalam film Queen, has penned the script for the film. and is also credited with the 2018 Malayalam film Queen, which received mixed responses from critics. Mohammed has also been credited with the script for the upcoming crime drama starring Prithviraj and Suraj Venjaramoodu, reuniting with Queen director Dijo Jose Antony. Details regarding the plot of Ellam Sheriyakum have been kept under wraps. The film is produced by Thomas Thiruvalla and Paul Varghese, while the music is done by veteran music composer Ouseepachan and cinematography by Sreejith Nair.

Who are the lead actors of Ellam Sheriyakum?

Asif Ali and Rajisha Vijayan will reunite after their hit film Anuraga Karikkin Film, which also featured Biju Menon and Asha Sarath. The film was Vijayan’s debut in cinema and was universally praised for her performance which earned her a Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress. She has since acted in several hit films such as June, Love, Kho Kho, and in Tamil film Karnan alongside Dhanush. She has several projects lined up for 2022 in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu.

Asif Ali, who will play the lead in Ellam Sheriyakum, has become one of the most respected actors in the Malayalam industry in recent years. He has moved on from being typecast as a ‘youth icon’ in the early part of his career, to portraying versatility in his ability as an actor by essaying unique characters in films such as Traffic, Nirnayakam, Kettyolaanu Ente Malakha, Vijay Superum Pournamiyum, and Aanum Pennum. Details regarding their characters’ arcs in Ellam Sheriyakum are yet to be disclosed.

When and Where to watch?

The tentative release date for the film was set for September 17, 2021. Unfortunately, the current lockdown rules in Kerala have ruled out this release date. There is renewed hope that the theatres will reopen by the end of the month and hopefully a new release date before the end of the year will be announced for the film.

There is also the possibility of an OTT release with more and more filmmakers opting for the conservative option of shifting their attention to streaming platforms. However, it remains to be seen if Ellam Sheriyakum will gamble with a theatrical release. The title of the film means ‘everything will be alright’, which is something filmmakers and producers hope will be the outcome for the film by the end of the year - a sentiment that is shared by all those affected by the pandemic.