‘Only Sachy has left, I’m still here,’ Prithviraj told me: Vilayath Buddha director Jayan Nambiar on star’s unwavering support | Exclusive

When debutant filmmaker Jayan Nambiar set out to make Vilayath Buddha, it wasn’t just about adapting GR Indugopan’s acclaimed novel; it was more about carrying forward the dream of his late mentor and filmmaker Sachy, whose untimely passing in 2020 left a void in Malayalam cinema. The upcoming Prithviraj Sukumaran-starrer, which Sachy was set to direct after Ayyappanum Koshiyum, became a deeply personal mission for everyone involved. But it’s not been an easy one. The team has had to weather one obstacle after another in this “long, five-year battle,” as Jayan puts it.

Now, as the film gears up for release on November 21, the filmmaker, who had previously worked as an associate director to Sachy and Prithviraj in films such as Anarkali, Lucifer, Ayyappanum Koshiyum and Bro Daddy, reflects on the emotional and creative challenges, the inevitable comparisons and the unwavering support from his lead actor.

Before director Sachy passed in 2020, he was working on a script for your debut directorial while also planning to helm Vilayath Buddha. After that you took over this project, and it’s been five years since then. Tell us about the wait and the weight of directing a movie that was supposed to be directed by your mentor.

There’s obviously that weight of it being a tribute to Sachyettan. And whenever his name is attached to the project, there’s that added pressure because I don’t want it compared with his phenomenal body of work. He had set a benchmark as a scriptwriter and director, and when I had to take up a film that he was originally supposed to direct, there was an added sense of responsibility.

In such situations, all we can do is acknowledge that he is no longer with us and accept that we can never be him. So, instead of letting that weight us down, I just tried to do my best. Even if what we achieved came a notch below what he would have done, it would still be something to be proud of.

It’s also been a long, five-year battle. There were so many unexpected twists and hurdles, but we held on because we wanted to make sure that Sachyettan’s legacy was never compromised. I have done everything I could to make this the best version of the film.

It was probably on the final day of his shoot of Ayyappanum Koshiyum in 2019 when Prithviraj announced on sets that he had given you dates for a film. Vilayath Buddha, as you had said, has since gone through several challenges - from delays caused by his injury during an action sequence to him having to fulfill other commitments. As a debut director, that must have been frustrating. How crucial was Prithviraj’s support, in keeping both the film and your passion for it alive?

Rajuettan’s (Prithviraj) support made all the difference. You can’t do anything about the accident on the sets of Vilayath Buddha. It happened when the shoot was progressing smoothly, and we had planned to release the movie within the next six months. We had to pause the shoot for a year because he needed to recover and after that he had to complete other films as well. But at no time, did he even hint about dropping the film or being unsatisfied with it. His positivity kept the team going and the support never wavered even one bit. 

There are things that he has said that have kept us motivated. He had called me the evening that Sachyettan had passed away, and told me, ‘Only Sachy has left, I am still here. Jayan, you are not just Sachy’s associate, you are mine as well. None of you have to worry, I am here for you’. That’s the kind of support and strength he has given me.

Vilayath Buddha, because of its setting and the ego tussle between its two male protagonists of Double Mohanan and Bhaskaran mash, would inevitably draw comparisons with Ayyappanum Koshiyum. As a director, how did you ensure that the film and its characters had their own identity?

That was the biggest challenge. We could have done the film with both Bijuettan (Biju Menon) and Rajuettan, and we even had the chance to do it. But we had already created a benchmark with their performances in Ayyappanum Koshiyum, and so the first decision we took was not to repeat the casting, for the obvious reason to avoid comparisons.

When it comes to Rajuettan, he’s mostly seen in more urban roles and it’s rare to see him play such raw, grounded characters. As far as I can recall, he hasn’t played a character like Double Mohanan before, which is why I thought it would be interesting to present him to the audience in this new avatar in my directorial. Shammi chettan (Shammi Thilakan) too has brought his own distinct interpretation to the role of Bhaskaran mash. So, as far as I believe, there is no room for comparisons.

Based on the book, all the characters, especially the protagonists are flawed. Does that give you the freedom as a filmmaker to explore their complexities without worrying about making them entirely likeable to the audience?

I believe audiences today understand characters much better. They know that people in real life aren’t virtuous or idealistic in society and they are more open to accepting grey characters on screen. In this film, it’s not so much about the characters’ grey shades as it is about whose need takes precedence in a given situation. For Mohanan, once he’s decided on something, that becomes his sole focus. Similarly, Bhaskaran mash is driven by his own convictions. So, rather than being a clash of egos, it’s about the two men who are willing to go to any extent to protect their own interests.

GR Indugopan’s Vilayath Buddha is also a widely-read novel, even more so after the film’s announcement. How different is the movie adaptation from the book?

We have taken a few creative liberties, including changes to the period in which the story is set in. After all, this is a film that we began shooting four years ago, and with each passing year, you feel that the new portions don’t match the previous ones. So, the period aspect took care of that.

We have tried to stay true to the essence of the book, while also making room for cinematic moments. Though Vilayath Buddha itself is a visual story, there were a few portions about Mohanan’s background that were not explored in the novel and have been developed further here. Certain details that were only hinted at in a line or two on the page have been brought alive on the screen, and that’s where the biggest difference is.

Over the five years since Vilayath Buddha was first conceptualised, audience expectations from films have changed a lot. In between, we’ve had movies like Pushpa come out — and after your teaser dropped, there were even a few comparisons because of the sandalwood theme. As a filmmaker, did you ever have moments of doubt where you felt you might need to scale up the action or make the character dynamics a bit more layered to match what audiences look for now?

I would be lying if I said no. As a filmmaker, you never want another movie with a similar theme to release before yours, because you want your film to offer that experience to the audience first. When we started Vilayath Buddha, Pushpa hadn't been released. We didn’t even know that such a movie was in the works until after our announcement.

That said, Pushpa was made on a much larger scale. Vilayath Buddha was created within the limitations of the Malayalam film industry, and so our focus has always been on the emotional depth of the characters. I have conceived this film as a pure drama about the conflict between two people; the action and thrills are only there to serve that story. My goal was to build those emotional layers in a way that connects with the audience. That approach, I think, is enough to make it feel original.

Also read: Globetrotter: Prithviraj Sukumaran exudes a dark aura as Kumbha in SS Rajamouli-Mahesh Babu film 

FAQs:

Q. When is Vilayath Buddha releasing?

A. Vilayath Buddha will hit theatres on November 21, 2025. The movie has Prithviraj Sukumaran, Shammi Thilakan and Priyamvada Krishnan in lead roles. 

Q. Is Vilayath Buddha based on a book?

A. Yes, Prithviraj Sukumaran's Vilayath Buddha is based on GR Indugopan's eponymous novel. Indugopan along with Rajesh Pinnadan has co-written the screenplay for the movie. 

Q. What is the story of Vilayath Buddha?

A. The book revolves around the confllict between a teacher and his disciple - Bhaskaran mash and sandalwood smuggler Double Mohanan - over a sandalwood tree. The story is set in Marayoor.