Masthishka Maranam director Krishand says Rajisha's Frida inspired by Silk Smitha, reveals sequel plan

When Masthishka Maranam (A Frankenbiting of Simon's Memories) hit theatres, reactions were immediate and intense. While critics and cinephiles lauded its inventive world-building and bold entry into the cyberpunk genre, not everyone was impressed. “There are people who have plainly hated the movie, asking, ‘Is this even a movie?’” says director Krishand. Yet among the 18-to-30 audience, the reaction has been the opposite—young viewers are laughing, gasping, and connecting with its futuristic tale in ways the director had hoped for.

Set in 2046, Masthishka Maranam transports audiences into a high-tech, neon-lit world where memory and reality intertwine. The story follows Bimal, played by Niranj Maniyanpilla Raju, a grieving man who finds himself in dangerous waters after accessing an illegally traded memory recording of Frida Soman, portrayed by Rajisha Vijayan. It’s a story about grief, obsession, and the extremes people go to confront the past—but told through a sci-fi lens rarely explored in Malayalam cinema.

For Krishand, the inspiration for the movie began with a deeply personal question. “I basically wanted to get into the shoes of a person who wants to kill himself but can’t do that,” he explains. “So in 2026, he can get near-death experience memories and stimulate that.” The result is a narrative that blends existential curiosity with futuristic technology, creating a world that is both imaginative and psychologically compelling.

A key element of the film is the idea of erasing painful memories—a concept drawn from the Hollywood classic Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. “That movie stuck with me when I was young. We all think, what if we could just get rid of painful memories?” Krishand reflects. “For me, it’s also personal. I have a baby girl—if something were to happen to her, more than me, my partner would suffer. So the idea comes from both that movie and my own thoughts about loss and pain.”

The film’s cyberpunk setting isn’t just for style; it reflects enduring societal issues. “The magic of sci-fi is that it talks about the future, but the issues are from the present,” Krishand says. “Cyberpunk is about living in a capitalistic world where the rich have a better chance of survival. In the movie, a hospital or any facility reflects that reality—your survival is linked to money. That’s not imagined; that’s today.”

Frida, the film’s enigmatic central character, embodies this intersection of personal freedom and societal judgment. “Frida is wild, with no clear moral right or wrong, but she’s also a victim of media and social moral policing,” says Krishand. He cites inspirations ranging from Silk Smitha to Britney Spears and Lady Gaga, while also referencing South Indian actors. “Rajisha also brought in a lot from her personal experience with paparazzi and media attention, which added depth to Frida,” he notes.

Understanding that cyberpunk can be a challenging genre, Krishand deliberately made the story accessible. “We wanted everyone to relate to it, so there’s a strong undercurrent of comedy,” he explains. The humor, interwoven with the high-stakes drama, gives audiences breathing space and makes the futuristic concepts feel grounded.

Despite the overwhelming positivity, Krishand acknowledges the polarising effect of the film. “The ratio is roughly 80:20—80% enjoying it, 20% outright hating it. But the niche we were aiming for turned out to be much bigger than we expected,” he says.

The film’s ending has also sparked discussion, leaving viewers questioning the nature of reality itself. “The idea behind the open-ended conclusion is about what’s real and what’s not. Social media floods us with images and stories of celebrities, but how much of that is real? The ending reflects that, and yes, it also sets the stage for a sequel,” Krishand reveals.