Sidharth Bharathan: This seemed like a rather ambitious cinematic endeavour to me right away

Bramayugam, a period horror movie directed by Rahul Sadasivan, starred Sidharth Bharathan as an anonymous velakaaran. However, the character—one of the three central parts of the movie—experiences an intriguing development that involves a run-in with a legendary figure like Mammootty. The actor-director talks about how he was astounded by Rahul’s storyline, how he clicked with Mammooty, and how he was able to harness some of his mother’s acting abilities.

When you first read the Bramayugam script, how did it make you feel?
Less seriously, I was a little envious (laughs). Receiving a screenplay like this from a fellow director was, in fact, encouraging and constructive. It encourages a spirit of constructive rivalry. I was also pleased by his ability to accurately capture the movie’s flow in the screenplay.
The writing demonstrated the movie’s pace, as it builds from a slow burn to an exhilarating conclusion. It was a compelling tale. I found my character’s development and complexity to be fascinating. It was obviously unlike anything I had ever done before. I was thus enthusiastic about it right away.
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When you found out that the movie would be in black and white, how did you first feel?
I thought this would be a very interesting cinematic exercise, just like everyone else. I was interested in this as a filmmaker, so I was curious to see how it was coming together and would check in with the team to see how the shots were coming together. I can now also claim to have performed in colour and blackand-wwhite films.
Did you ever imagine that the movie would turn out to be as successful and well-liked as it did throughout production?
Not in a million years. Naturally, we don’t record the scenes in order of occurrence, so we weren’t sure of the character arcs for each, but Rahul was rather knowledgeable about the graph.

Were you anxious about your casting alongside Mammootty?
It was intimidating at first since it was my first time dealing with Mammukka in a formal setting, but we quickly found our rhythm and had a great time.
In my opinion, as a filmmaker, being apprehensive before a part is excellent because it shows that you are attempting to develop and embody the character’s characteristics. It’s secondary to consider the notion of working onscreen with a veteran. However, after a few days, we found our rhythm.
I know from experience as a director that it takes a few days to get your cameraman and actors in sync.
There was the comfort that came from knowing Mammukka as a fellow countryman of my parents, KPAC Lalitha, and subsequently filmmaker Bharathan, but this connection was not explored on screen. He was a co-actor with me on set, and I needed his encouragement to be at my best. Working with a senior, whose suggestions are valuable for scenes, was comforting. It was a pleasure working with him.
Did you learn anything from your mother’s work?
Without a doubt,. I believe that, at the very least, I would have attempted her strategy of effortlessly putting myself in the shoes of a character.