No time to waste: Shan Thulasidharan's ‘Kammattam’ was shot like a mission in 11 days

ZEE5’s first-ever Malayalam web series ‘Kammattam’, starring Sudev Nair, might look like a typical investigative drama at first glance — but its making is anything but ordinary. Directed by Shan Thulasidharan, the series was shot in just 11 days, an ambitious feat that reflects the planning, precision, and passion of its creators.
“It was like a mission,” Shan tells Onmanorama. “From day one, we knew we had only 11 days to finish the entire shoot. Every detail was planned to the minute. There was no room for anything extra — no filler shots, no do-overs.”

While ‘Kammattam’ is structured as a police story, its core is rooted in human behaviour, particularly our relationship with money. The title itself, Shan explains, reflects the idea of desiring money that isn’t ours, often driven by greed or helplessness. “Someone who understands that vulnerability can manipulate others — and that’s where our story begins,” he says.

Several elements of the script are inspired by real-life crimes, including a case that happened in Thrissur. “We wanted authenticity — not just in the plot but in the atmosphere,” Shan adds.

A lead actor who trusted the process
Pulling off a full-fledged series in such a tight timeframe required complete buy-in from the cast and crew. Shan says lead actor Sudev Nair was initially unsure if it could be done. “But once we got started, he was all in. Sudev gave everything to the role. His commitment really set the tone for the rest of the team.”

What helped even more was that most of the actors playing cops in ‘Kammattam’ are real-life police officers. “Apart from two professionals, the rest were actual officers. That added so much depth to the scenes — and they kept us honest. If anything felt off, they’d guide us.”

No frills, just focus
Shan says the goal wasn’t to create a twist-heavy, overly complex story. In fact, he wanted the opposite. “I wanted anyone, a teenager, an elderly viewer, someone unfamiliar with police dramas, to be able to follow the story. The investigation should make sense to everyone.”

That clarity extended to the way the series was shot. “Because we had so little time, every scene had a purpose. The crew worked like clockwork. When we wrapped on the final day, it felt like we’d won a war.”
‘Kammattam’ premieres on ZEE5 and OTTplay Premium on August 29. Alongside Sudev Nair, the series features an ensemble cast including Jeo Baby, Ajay Vaasudev, Arun Sol, Sreerekha, Akhil Kavalayoor, and Jordy Poonjaa.