Kalyani Priyadarshan on Onam box office race: ‘Art shouldn’t be judged by numbers’

This Onam promises to be a treat for Malayalam audiences of all age groups, with four films lined up for release. Of these four, Kalyani Priyadarshan is part of two much-awaited films Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, which also has Naslen, and Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira that has Fahadh Faasil in the lead. The only superstar movie in the mix is Mohanlal’s Hridayapoorvam, which makes the box-office battle an interesting one.

Kalyani, however, is having none of it. Having already been part of a big festive clash in last year’s Vishu, when her film Varshangalkku Shesham went up against Fahadh’s Aavesham, the actress tells OTTplay that she finds the whole concept of box-office clashes and the preceding hype “baffling”.

Kalyani Priyadarshan: It’s sad we bring art down to numbers

“I think it’s part of our culture. From our childhood, we are taught to compete. We are either Number 1 or nothing, and I don’t think art should be measured in that way because it connects to different people in different ways,” explains Kalyani. “It’s sad that we bring it down to numbers. How do we measure the success of a film? It baffles me that the concept of an Onam winner exists. I don’t think that I will ever fully understand that. I think it’s a problem of our upbringing, the way that we are taught in schools — how everything academically has to be about rankings, and all of that ends up making us competitive in a field that should not be about competition.”

Also read: Kalyani Priyadarshan on Fahadh Faasil: ‘He’s insecure enough to keep pushing himself’ | Exclusive 

She also points out that each of the films that are releasing this week are different and “aren’t competing with each other”. “I can promise you that Lokah has elements of thriller, action and fantasy; Hridayapoorvam is rooted in reality and has real moments with real people because that’s a Sathyan Anthikad film, and then you have Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira, which is a completely different film about unrealistic people doing dumb, unrealistic things. All of these films have space within our audiences. But for some reason, people keep making it into a competition and that I fail to understand.”

Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira was in my comfort zone: Kalyani

While Lokah had her dabbling with action, this time as a superhero, director Althaf Salim’s Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira had her in a more familiar terrain. “I would be lying if I said it wasn’t (in my comfort zone),” she says. “Humour is something that I have always related to, and the over-the-top kind is something that I have enjoyed doing.”

Also read: Kalyani Priyadarshan on Dulquer Salmaan’s advice for Lokah: The reason we are in cinema is to take risks | Exclusive 

On working with Althaf in the movie, the Thallumaala actress says, “He honestly loves it when actors give him something extra. He will never, in his first take, tell you what he wants. He will direct you only in his next take, if he doesn’t get what he needs. He will see what you are giving him, and if he notices you have given him something that is nice and unexpected, he will retain it. If it’s unexpected and not in the meter he wants, that’s when he steps in.”

FAQs:

Q. Is Kalyani Priyadarshan a Malayali?

A. Yes, Kalyani Priyadarshan is a Malayali, born to filmmaker Priyadarshan and former actress Lissy Lekshmi.

Q. What is Lokah movie about?

A. Lokah revolves around 28-year-old Chandra, who has just moved to Bengaluru and works the night shifts in a cafe. Two indolent bachelors, Sunny and Venu, who fall for her, begin observing her routine and the strange visitors till they finally get to know about her mysterious power. 

Q. Which are the major Onam releases in 2025?

A. Kalyani Priyadarshan and Naslen's Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, Mohanlal's Hridayapoorvam, Fahadh Faasil's Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira and Preity Mukhundhan and Hridhu Haroon's Maine Pyar Kiya are lined up as 2025 Onam theatrical releases.