Veda doesn’t have a moral compass; wanted her to 'sound like a Kardashian': Santhy Balachandran on her role in 'Masthishka Maranam'

Krishand’s Masthishka Maranam has been drawing attention for its unusual storytelling and cyberpunk world, with audiences praising its bold attempt to push Malayalam cinema into relatively unexplored territory. While the film’s central narrative revolves around Bimal and the enigmatic Frida Soman, played by Rajisha Vijayan, even its smaller characters have left an impression. Among them is Veda, played by actor Santhy Balachandran, whose brief yet striking appearance has sparked curiosity among viewers.

In the film, Santhy plays Veda, a television personality who is singularly obsessed with boosting the TRP ratings of her channel. Speaking in an oddly stylised version of Malayalam, she approaches Frida not as a person but as content, urging her to emote better for the cameras to create more sensational television. The performance borders on robotic, capturing the unsettling detachment of someone who sees human suffering merely as spectacle.

For Santhy, joining Masthishka Maranam was an easy decision, largely because of her long-standing admiration for director Krishand’s work. The two had previously collaborated onThe Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang, and she says his storytelling sensibilities continue to intrigue her. “He builds very original worlds and narratives,” she says, adding that his films often blend genres while weaving in elements of social commentary and pop culture in a way that remains accessible to audiences. When Krishand first shared the premise of Masthishka Maranam, she says she immediately wanted to be part of the project.

According to Santhy, the director had a clear idea of what he wanted Veda to represent. The character, she explains, appears polished and sophisticated on the surface but is shallow underneath. “She is concerned only with maximising profits for her channel and lacks a moral compass,” Santhy says. Playing such a character turned out to be an enjoyable challenge for the actor. One of Krishand’s specific instructions was that Veda’s Malayalam should sound deliberately affected. “He asked me to speak it almost like a Kardashian might,” she said, noting that this unusual delivery helped underline the artificiality of the character.

Although Masthishka Maranam is set in the year 2046, Santhy believes that the world the film portrays is not too far removed from the media landscape of today. If Veda existed in 2026 instead, she says, the character would likely thrive just as much. The competitive, sensationalist nature of modern media would offer someone like Veda plenty of opportunities to profit. “Krishand’s 2046 isn’t very different from our present,” she notes, suggesting that the film’s futuristic setting simply amplifies realities that already exist.

The film also raises questions about how female identities are constructed, consumed and often exploited in the public sphere. For Santhy, these themes resonated strongly on a personal level. As an actor navigating both the entertainment industry and the pressures of social media visibility, she finds the film’s commentary on fame and image-making deeply relatable. She particularly praises Rajisha Vijayan’s portrayal of Frida Soman, calling the character one of the most compelling she has encountered in recent cinema. “I’m grateful that a character like Frida exists on screen,” she says, adding that Rajisha’s nuanced performance brings remarkable depth to the role.

Reflecting on Veda’s role within the film’s moral landscape, Santhy sees the character as both a participant in and a product of the system she inhabits. In her view, the distinction between the two is blurred. “Veda is both cause and effect,” she says. Much like how women can internalise misogyny and unconsciously perpetuate patriarchal structures, Veda both emerges from the system and helps sustain it.