Bougainvillea | |
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Directed by | Amal Neerad |
Written by | Lajo Jose Amal Neerad |
Based on | Ruthinte Lokam by Lajo Jose |
Produced by | Jyothirmayi Kunchacko Boban |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Anend C. Chandran |
Edited by | Vivek Harshan |
Music by | Sushin Shyam |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | A & A Release |
Release date |
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Running time | 144 minutes [1] |
Country | India |
Language | Malayalam |
Budget | ₹20 crore [2] |
Box office | ₹35.5 crore [3] |
Bougainvillea is a 2024 Indian Malayalam-language psychological crime thriller slasher film directed by Amal Neerad, who co-wrote the script with Lajo Jose. It is jointly produced by Amal Neerad Productions and Udaya Pictures. [4] The film stars Jyothirmayi in title and lead role alongside Kunchacko Boban, Fahadh Faasil, Veena Nandakumar, Sharaf U Dheen and Srinda in supporting roles. It was inspired by Lajo Jose's novel Ruthinte Lokam (2019) and marks Jyothirmayi's comeback to cinema after an 11-year hiatus. [5] [6] [7]
Bougainvillea was released worldwide on 17 October 2024 in theatres and received mixed to positive reviews from audience and was declared as a moderate success at box office. [8]
Royce and Reethu, a happily married couple with two children, find their lives shattered after a devastating accident leaves Reethu with amnesia. As they struggle to rebuild their lives, Reethu becomes embroiled in a mysterious investigation led by ACP David Koshy, who is looking into the unexplained disappearances of tourists in Kerala. With Reethu as the prime suspect, Royce must navigate a web of suspicion and uncover the truth, all while helping his wife reclaim her lost memories. This gripping tale, inspired by the novel "Ruthinte Lokham," explores themes of love, trust, and the quest for identity amid chaos. [9]
Principal photography started in September 2023 and went on until April 2024 in secret. The music is composed by Sushin Shyam, the cinematography is handled by Anend C. Chandran and the editing is done by Vivek Harshan. It is an adaptation of the 2019 novel Ruthinte Lokam, an intriguing title written by Lajo Jose. [10]
Bougainvillea | |
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Soundtrack album by | |
Released | 24 October 2024 |
Recorded | 2023–2024 |
Genre | Feature film soundtrack |
Length | 12:50 |
Language | Malayalam |
Label | Sony Music India |
Producer | Sushin Shyam |
Official audio | |
Bougainvillea (Jukebox) on YouTube |
No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Sthuthi" | Vinayak Sasikumar | Mary Ann Alexander, Sushin Shyam | 2:59 |
2. | "Maravikale" | Rafeeq Ahamed | Madhuvanthi Narayan | 4:18 |
3. | "Transcendence" (Instrumental) | – | – | 2:56 |
4. | "Dead Can Dance" (Instrumental) | – | – | 2:43 |
Total length: | 12:50 |
Vignesh Madhu of The New Indian Express rated 2.5 out of 5 and stated: "we have seen many celebrated filmmakers becoming victims of their own formulas. Though not yet there, it would only help if Amal opts for fresher treatments rather than rehashing his own templates". [11] S. R. Praveen of The Hindu said that "Bougainvillea ends up as an unsatisfying psychological thriller, carrying much of the imperfections of the original story [Ruthinte Lokam]". He also criticized the casting of Faasil and Sharaf U Dheen, they did not have much to play in it. [12]
A formal complaint has been filed against a promo song from the film, titled "Sthuthi". The complaint, submitted to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Central Board of Film Certification by Tony Chittilappilly, Secretary of the Syro-Malabar Sabha Almaya, claims the song distorts Christian beliefs and is offensive to the community. [13]
Jyothirmayi is an Indian actress, television presenter, and former model, who worked in Malayalam cinema. Starting her career as a model, she ventured into television, working as an anchor and later starring in numerous television shows. Post second marriage, she had been on a career break and as of 2024, she is making a comeback through her husband Amal Neerad's upcoming film Bougainvillea.
Amal Neerad is an Indian film director, cinematographer and producer who mainly works in Malayalam cinema. He attended the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata. He was awarded the National Film Award for Best Cinematography in 2001 for his diploma film Meena Jha.
Abdul Hameed Mohammed Fahad Fazil, professionally known as Fahadh Faasil or FaFa, is an Indian actor and producer who primarily works in Malayalam and Tamil films. Noted for his diverse portrayals, Fahadh is among the highest-paid and most popular Malayalam actors. Fahadh is a recipient of several accolades including a National Film Award, four Kerala State Film Awards and four Filmfare Awards South.
Udaya Studios is one of the oldest film studios in the Malayalam film industry of India. It was established in 1947 by director-producer Kunchacko (1912–1976) and film distributor K. V. Koshy in Pathirappally, Alappuzha in Kerala. The studio influenced the gradual shift of Malayalam film industry from Chennai, Tamil Nadu to Kerala. The first film of the studio was Vellinakshatram (1949).
Gayathrie Shankar is an Indian actress who appears in Tamil and Malayalam films. Her Tamil film debut was in 2012 with 18 Vayasu, and is best known for her role in Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom (2012). She had her Malayalam film debut with Nna Thaan Case Kodu (2022).
Vivek Harshan is an Indian film editor who works predominantly in Malayalam and Tamil films. He has frequently collaborated with Amal Neerad, M. Rajesh, and Karthik Subbaraj since the beginning of their careers. Big B (2007), Jigarthanda (2014), Iyobinte Pusthakam (2014), Iraivi (2016), Varathan (2018), and Bheeshma Parvam (2022) are some of his notable works. He won the National Film Award for Best Editing in 2014 for Jigarthanda.
Iyobinte Pusthakam is a 2014 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film directed by Amal Neerad and written by Gopan Chithambaran, with dialogues written by Syam Pushkaran. The film stars Fahadh Faasil, Lal, Jayasurya and Isha Sharvani with Jinu Joseph, Chemban Vinod Jose, Vinayakan and Padmapriya in supporting roles. Aashiq Abu makes a cameo appearance as P.J. Antony. Faasil and Neerad co-produced the film.
Vinayak Sasikumar is an Indian lyricist, who works in Malayalam cinema. Famous for his works in Aavesham, Romancham etc
Sharafudheen, professionally credited as Sharaf U Dheen, is an Indian actor who appears in Malayalam films. He made his acting debut in 2013 with Neram. He got his breakthrough by portraying the role of Girirajan Kozhi in Premam (2015).
Alencier Ley Lopez is an Indian film and theatre actor, who appears in Malayalam films. Lopez made his debut in the 1998 film Daya; and he worked in films like Annayum Rasoolum (2013), Njan Steve Lopez (2013), and Maheshinte Prathikaaram (2016).
Role Models is a 2017 Indian Malayalam-language romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Rafi. It stars Fahadh Faasil, Namitha Pramod, Vinayakan, Sharaf U Dheen and Vinay Forrt. It was shot in various locations of Goa and Dubai and released on 25 June 2017 in Kerala.
Shebin Benson is an Indian actor who works predominantly in Malayalam films.
Sushin Shyam is an Indian music composer, instrumentalist, and singer primarily associated with Malayalam cinema. He is also a founding member of the folk metal band The Down Troddence. He is known for his contributions to the films Varathan (2018), Kumbalangi Nights (2019), Minnal Murali (2021), Bheeshma Parvam (2022), Romancham (2023), Kannur Squad (2023), Manjummel Boys (2024) and Aavesham (2024). His work on Kumbalangi Nights earned him the Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director in 2019.
Trance is a 2020 Indian Malayalam language neo-noir psychological thriller film directed and produced by Anwar Rasheed and written by Vincent Vadakkan. It features an ensemble cast including Fahadh Faasil, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Dileesh Pothan, Nazriya Nazim, Chemban Vinod Jose, Soubin Shahir, Sreenath Bhasi, Vinayakan and Arjun Ashokan. The film was produced by Rasheed himself under the banner of Anwar Rasheed Entertainments. The film's plot follows the events in the life of Viju Prasad, played by Faasil, a Kanyakumari-based atheist motivational speaker, who is hired by a fraud agency to work as a Christian pastor. The film deals with themes of substance dependence, religion, and the commercialisation of spirituality.
Varathan (transl. Outsider) is a 2018 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film written by Suhas-Sharfu and directed by Amal Neerad, who jointly produced with Nazriya Nazim under the banners of Fahadh Faasil and Friends and Amal Neerad Productions. It is an adaptation of the 1971 film Straw Dogs and stars Fahadh Faasil and Aishwarya Lekshmi in the lead roles.
Abdul Hameed Mohammed Fahad Fazil, professionally known as Fahadh Faasil or FaFaa, is an Indian actor and producer who predominantly works in Malayalam and Tamil films. Fahadh is a recipient of several accolades including a National Film Award, four Kerala State Film Awards and three Filmfare Awards South.
Anjaam Pathiraa is a 2020 Indian Malayalam-language crime thriller film written and directed by Midhun Manuel Thomas. The film stars Kunchacko Boban, Sharaf U Dheen, Sreenath Bhasi, Unnimaya Prasad, Jinu Joseph and Abhiram Radhakrishnan. Sushin Shyam composed the music, while Shyju Khalid was the cinematographer.
Kunchacko Boban is an Indian actor, producer and businessman who works in Malayalam films and has acted in more than 100 films over the period of more than two decades and has received several awards including the Kerala State Film Awards. He started acting at the age of 5 in the Fazil directed drama Dhanya as a child artist in a small role and it was produced by his father Boban Kunchacko. He debuted as an adult leading role in Fazil's 1997 romantic drama Aniyathipravu which became one of the highest-grossing Malayalam film of the year, establishing him as a bankable actor in the industry.
Lajo Jose is an Indian writer and screenwriter, predominantly works in Malayalam literature and cinema. He is known for his crime thriller and mystery novels which include Coffee House, Hydrangea, Ruthinte Lokam, Rest in Peace and Kanya Maria. His latest work is Orange Thottathile Athidhi, published by Mathrubhumi Books in 2023. He has also co-written the screenplay of a movie, Bougainvillea, where the director Amal Neerad is the co-writer.
The 46th Kerala Film Critics Association Awards, honouring the best Malayalam films released in 2022, were announced in May 2023.