'Masthishka Maranam' actor Niranj on early career struggles and comparisons with father Maniyanpilla Raju

For actor Niranj Maniyanpilla Raju, the early years of his career were driven by practicality rather than artistic choices. “Some films you do for the soul and some you do for the stomach,” he says candidly. In the beginning, he admits, he often chose projects simply for the financial stability they offered. But with films like Masthishka Maranam, the actor now feels that balance is beginning to shift.

The cyberpunk drama, which has been receiving encouraging responses from audiences, places Niranj in the role of Bimal, a grieving father whose life takes a dark turn after he gains access to an illegally traded memory recording belonging to Frida Soman, played by Rajisha Vijayan. Set in a futuristic world that blends technology with emotional turmoil, the film is an unusual addition to Malayalam cinema’s genre landscape.

Despite the film’s ambitious concept, Niranj says he always trusted the story. His only concern was whether the team would be able to execute it within their limitations.
“I had no doubt about the story because I understood it clearly,” he says. “The only question was whether we could pull it off, especially since there were budget constraints.” Still, the team’s confidence in the project ran deep. Niranj reveals that he had even been told early on that the narrative could extend into a second part.

His collaboration with director Krishand also played a role in that confidence. The two had previously worked together on The Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang, and their professional relationship gradually turned into a comfortable creative partnership.

“During 4.5 Gang, we became friends and grew very comfortable working with each other,” Niranj recalls. “That same comfort was there while making Masthishka Maranam too. He’s a very chill person to work with.”

The actor says the positive response to the film has been especially gratifying because it has come from people he respects in the industry. “Many people I look up to have personally appreciated the film,” he says, clearly pleased with the reception.
Masthishka Maranam also marks Niranj’s third collaboration with Rajisha Vijayan, following Finals and Madhura Manohara Moham. Familiarity with his co-star made the process smoother, he says.

“Working with Rajisha is very comfortable because we already know each other. She comes to the set extremely well prepared and precise, which actually helps me perform better as well,” he says.

While the film carries emotional weight, it also contains moments of humour. Interestingly, Niranj clarifies that the comedy does not stem from Bimal himself.
“I was told there is no comedy associated with my character,” he explains. “But the situations he finds himself in become funny. That humour is already present in the writing that Krishand did. Even during the shoot, we would discuss those moments and shape them.”

The director had described Bimal to him in a single striking phrase. “Krishand told me Bimal is a ‘gathikettavan’,” Niranj says, referring to a man driven to desperation. “He’s someone who has reached a point where he even wants to die.”

Niranj is also realistic about the kind of audience the film might attract. Given its cyberpunk setting and unconventional storytelling style, he believes the film may resonate more strongly with viewers who are familiar with world cinema.
“We knew from the beginning that this would appeal more to a niche audience,” he says. “People who watch a lot of international films might grasp it more easily and enjoy it more.”

Still, projects like The Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang and Masthishka Maranam, he believes, are slowly expanding his reach as an actor.
Another point audiences have noticed is how Niranj’s comedic rhythm occasionally reminds them of his father, veteran actor Maniyanpilla Raju. The comparison, he says with a laugh, is inevitable.
“Of course that resemblance will come. He is my father,” Niranj says. “It’s actually a good thing. That kind of timing comes naturally to me.”
For an actor who once approached films primarily for survival, that natural instinct is now beginning to find its space in stories that challenge him creatively as well.