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Taking North American cinephiles by storm, Half, directed by Samjad, officially commenced its global premiere. On the sixth day of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Half was screened in the prestigious Midnight Madness section, a historic and proud milestone for both Kerala and India.
Meenakshi Shedde, a senior programme advisor and curator at TIFF who has championed South Asian cinema across nearly 25 major international festivals—including Cannes, Venice, and Berlin—shared her thoughts with the Malayali audience following the inaugural screening: "What an extraordinary landmark in filmmaking Malayalam cinema has initiated! India has never witnessed a film quite like this."
Behind that resounding praise lies the mysterious crafting of characters that defy questioning. The lead characters—twins Ethan and Ivy—deliver breathtaking, superhuman performances rooted in the secrets of their origin, endowed with capabilities arising from their interspecies parentage. The narrative traces the harrowing events and consequences of their inexplicable journey through the desert. International audiences leaving the theatre remarked that Indian cinema has never seen a production so intense, fiery, and visually captivating.
The screenplay was co-written by director Samjad alongside Praveen Viswanath. The historic honour of bringing the very first Malayalam film to the Midnight Madness lineup of North America's largest film festival rests solely with them.
The film's high-octane action sequences were choreographed by renowned Indonesian stunt coordinator Very Tri Yulisman, celebrated for his exceptional work in The Raid 2, The Night Comes for Us, and 24 Hours with Gaspar.
Embracing the rugged grit of a gory ‘curry western’, the lead roles are portrayed by Aiswarya Raj and Ranjith Sajeev. Renowned Tamil actor Abbas and versatile actor Sreekanth Murali step into the antagonist roles, while Amala Paul portrays the twins' mother. The supporting cast includes Joji Mundakayam and Anjali Nair.
Pappinu’s breathtaking cinematography elevates the visual scale to new heights, paired with sharp editing by National Award winner Mahesh Bhuvanend. The haunting soundscape and score are crafted by composer Midhun Mukundan and sound designer Vishnu Govind.
Half is produced by PK Sajeev and Anne Sajeev under the banner of Fragrant Nature Film Creations. Samjad previously made a striking directorial debut with the critically acclaimed investigative thriller Golam.
The 51st edition of the Toronto International Film Festival will conclude on September 20 with the announcement of its coveted awards.
Suresh Nellikode has written fiction for Malayalam periodicals like Mathrubhumi and Kalakaumudi. He’s also been a contributor to The New Indian Express and Khaleej Times. He currently lives in Canada.
Views expressed are the author’s own.