From start to finish, Naslen shoulders 'Mollywood Times': Director Abhinav Sunder Nayak

As 'Mollywood Times' gears up for release, director Abhinav Sunder Nayak has no hesitation in identifying the film's driving force.
"From start to finish, this is Naslen's movie," says the filmmaker, who describes working with the young actor as one of the most rewarding aspects of making the project.

Abhinav, whose previous directorial venture 'Mukundan Unni Associates' earned both critical and audience acclaim, had long wanted to collaborate with Naslen. The admiration dates back to 'Jo and Jo', the 2022 coming-of-age comedy that first convinced him of the actor's potential.
"I have always wanted to work with Naslen. Ever since I watched Jo and Jo, I felt he would make a great lead actor. At that time, he wasn't doing many lead roles, but I thought he had a strong screen presence," Abhinav says.

In 'Mollywood Times', Naslen plays Vineeth, an aspiring filmmaker whose dream of becoming a celebrated horror director borders on obsession. While the character is consumed by cinema, Abhinav is quick to point out that such an approach may not translate well to the real world.

"Obsession is not necessary to survive in the film industry," he says. "In fact, it can make things harder. Cinema is also an industry. Things move faster when you're logical and practical. An obsessive mindset doesn't always thrive in this space."

Despite the attention surrounding the film and the expectations that come with following up a successful project, Abhinav says he is not carrying any particular pressure ahead of release.
"For 'Mukundan Unni', I did the best I could with the resources I had at that point. I approached 'Mollywood Times' the same way. Once you've done your job honestly, the rest is up to the audience. There's only a reason to feel pressured if you believe you haven't given your best," he says.

The director is equally generous when speaking about Naslen's contribution to the film. Beyond his on-screen presence, Abhinav praises the actor's instincts and collaborative approach.

"Working with him gave me a real sense of satisfaction. He's easy to work with, talented, versatile and has a great sense of humour. He also has a strong understanding of scripts. He doesn't ask unnecessary questions, only logical ones", he says.
The film also features Sharafudheen, Sangeeth Prathap and Roshan Shanavas in significant roles. While each actor brings their own following and screen presence, Abhinav maintains that the narrative is built around Vineeth's journey.

"All of them play important characters and have their own market value, but 'Mollywood Times' is Naslen's film. The story follows his character throughout. The others enter and leave that journey at different points," he says.

Abhinav says the film's supporting cast came on board because they connected with the material and believed in their roles. According to him, each actor took the time to read the script and understand how their character contributed to the story before signing on.
"It's not as though they accepted the film without looking at their roles. Sharaf and Sangeeth read the script and wanted to understand what their contribution would be. Sangeeth had a lot of questions. He went through the script, liked it, and then came on board."