Kishkindha Kaandam
Movie Details:
| Also known as | Kishkkindha Kandam |
| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam |
| Genre | Mystery, Thriller |
| Release date | September 12, 2024 |
| Running time | 2hr 5min |
| Certificate | U/A |
| Starring | Aparna Balamurali Jagadish Asif Ali |
| Directed by | Dinjith Ayyathan |
| Written by | Bahul Ramesh |
| Produced by | Joby George Thadathil |
| Cinematography by | Bahul Ramesh |
| Edited by | Sooraj E.S |
| Music by | Mujeeb Majeed |
| Production Company | Goodwill Entertainments |
| Distributor | Goodwill Entertainments (India, theatrical) Phars Film (World-wide, theatrical) |
Cast & Characters:
- Asif Ali as Ajay Chandran K.V / Ajayan
- Aparna Balamurali as Aparna, Ajayan’s second wife
- Vijayaraghavan as Appu Pillai, Ajayan’s father
- Jagadish as Sumadathan, Appu Pillai’s friend
- Ashokan as Sivadasan, Ajayan’s relative
- Shebin Benson as Prasobh
- Master Aarav as Chachu, Ajay’s son
- Vyshnavi Raj as Pravina, Ajayan’s first wife
- Major Ravi as Jacob
- Nizhalgal Ravi as Dr. Amrith Lal
- Amal Raj Dev as Vinayan
- Nishan as Sudheer
- Kottayam Remesh as DYSP
- Arjun Ambat as a wildlife photographer
- Shravan K Dev as Police inspector
Storyline:
Strange events unfold in a monkey-inhabited village, prompting a newlywed pair and forest officials to embark on a mission to uncover the root cause of the peculiar disturbances.
About Movie:
Kishkindha Kaandam, the fourth book of the Ramayana, follows Rama and Lakshmana’s search for Sita, leading them to the vanara realm of Kishkindha. However, director Dinjith Ayyathan clarified that there is no direct connection to the epic. Set in a reserve forest, the film focuses on the lives of its inhabitants, surrounded by monkeys. While the title includes the tagline “A Tale of Three Wise Monkeys,” the film is not about them.
During the COVID-19 lockdown in Chennai, Dinjith and cinematographer Bahul Ramesh were brainstorming ideas. Initially considering a script written by Bahul, they ultimately decided on a new concept Bahul developed and completed in just eight days. According to Dinjith, the draft immediately excited him and convinced him that it should be his second film.
Principal photography began in July 2023 with a puja function and wrapped after 40 days of filming in Kerala and Hyderabad by August 2023.
The film was released worldwide on September 12, 2024, coinciding with Onam. It received critical acclaim for its story, screenplay, background score, and the performances of the lead cast, becoming a commercial success at the box office. It is the highest-grossing film of Asif Ali’s career in a leading role and the 9th highest-grossing Malayalam film of 2024.
The digital and satellite rights were acquired by Disney+ Hotstar and Asianet for ₹12 crore. The film began streaming on Disney+ Hotstar on November 19, 2024.
Budget & Box Office Collection:
| Budget | ₹7 crore |
| Box office collection | ₹75.25 crore |