In an era of colour-graded blockbusters, a black-and-white Malayalam horror film starring a 72-year-old superstar sounds like a risky experiment. Yet it became one of the most talked-about films of 2024. In this Bramayugam review, we explore how director Rahul Sadasivan and Mammootty created a modern classic — a film that went on to win Mammootty the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor and a shared National Film Award for Best Actor.
Bramayugam is not a film of jump scares. It is a slow, suffocating descent into fear, myth and power, and it rewards patient viewers richly.
Quick Verdict
- Rating: 4.5/5
- Best for: fans of atmospheric horror, folklore and powerhouse performances.
- Highlights: Mammootty’s Kodumon Potti, Shehnad Jalal’s black-and-white cinematography, Christo Xavier’s score.
- Minor flaw: the deliberate pace may test casual viewers.
Table of Contents
Bramayugam: Movie Details
| Director & writer | Rahul Sadasivan |
|---|---|
| Dialogues | T.D. Ramakrishnan |
| Cast | Mammootty, Arjun Ashokan, Sidharth Bharathan, Amalda Liz, Manikandan R. Achari |
| Music | Christo Xavier |
| Cinematography | Shehnad Jalal |
| Production | Night Shift Studios, YNOT Studios |
| Release date | 15 February 2024 |
| OTT | SonyLIV |
Story (No Spoilers)
The film is set in 17th-century Malabar, during a time of social unrest. Thevan (Arjun Ashokan), a Paanan folk singer from a lower caste, escapes from slavery and stumbles upon a decaying mana — an ancestral Brahmin mansion — deep in the forest. Its only residents are the master, Kodumon Potti (Mammootty), and a silent cook (Sidharth Bharathan).
Potti welcomes Thevan warmly, offering food and shelter. But the hospitality soon feels like a trap. Days blur together, the rules of the house grow stranger, and Thevan realises that leaving may be impossible. To say more would spoil the experience — Bramayugam is best watched knowing as little as possible.
Mammootty’s Performance: A Masterclass
Mammootty has played kings, cops, gangsters and saints over five decades, but Kodumon Potti may be his most chilling role. He shifts from charming host to menacing presence with a single smile. His laughter is unsettling, his stillness is threatening, and his voice — controlled, playful, cruel — fills every corner of the mansion.
What makes the performance extraordinary is restraint. Mammootty never overplays the horror. He lets the audience imagine the worst. It is no surprise that the role won him the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor at the 55th awards, and later a shared Best Actor honour at the 72nd National Film Awards.
Arjun Ashokan is equally impressive as Thevan, carrying the audience’s fear and confusion. Sidharth Bharathan, as the mysterious cook, gives a quietly unnerving performance that also won him a Kerala State Film Award.
The Black-and-White Craft
The decision to shoot in monochrome is not a gimmick. Cinematographer Shehnad Jalal uses light and shadow to turn the mana into a living character — flickering oil lamps, rain dripping through broken roofs, faces half-lost in darkness. His work earned him the National Film Award for Best Cinematography.
Christo Xavier’s background score, built on folk instruments and eerie silences, is equally vital, and it won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Background Score. The production design recreates a crumbling Kerala mana with incredible detail, and the sound design makes every creak and whisper count.
Themes: Power, Caste and Time
Beneath the horror, Bramayugam is about power — who holds it, how it corrupts and how it traps both the master and the servant. The title itself refers to the “age of Brahma”, hinting at cycles of time and control. Rahul Sadasivan, who earlier made the acclaimed Bhoothakaalam, uses Kerala’s myths to say something about caste and authority without ever lecturing. Viewers who enjoy reading layers into films will find plenty to discuss afterwards.
Bramayugam Review: How It Compares With Other Folk Horror
Indian cinema has produced only a handful of truly great folk-horror films. Rahi Anil Barve’s Hindi film Tumbbad (2018) is the most frequent comparison, and both films share an interest in greed, power and ancient myths. But where Tumbbad is grand and visual-effects driven, Bramayugam is intimate — almost theatrical — with just three main characters and one location. In that sense it is closer to stage drama or classic European horror than to typical Indian supernatural films.
Within Malayalam cinema, it follows Rahul Sadasivan’s own Bhoothakaalam (2022), which used a modern apartment to explore grief and mental illness. Together, the two films suggest a director with a rare understanding of how to frighten an audience through mood rather than spectacle. It is also a reminder of how bold Mammootty has been in choosing roles in recent years, from Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam to Kaathal – The Core.
The film’s commercial success was another surprise. Despite being in black and white and running on a modest budget, it drew strong crowds in Kerala and found a large new audience on SonyLIV, especially among viewers from other states.
Rating Breakdown
| Aspect | Score |
|---|---|
| Story & screenplay | 4/5 |
| Performances | 5/5 |
| Direction | 4.5/5 |
| Cinematography | 5/5 |
| Music & sound | 5/5 |
What Works and What Doesn’t
What works
- One of Mammootty’s finest late-career performances.
- Gorgeous, purposeful black-and-white photography.
- A story that blends folklore, horror and political allegory.
- An unforgettable climax.
What doesn’t
- The slow, repetitive middle portion is deliberate but may feel long to some viewers.
- Those expecting conventional horror thrills might be disappointed.
Who should watch it?
If you liked Bhoothakaalam, The Witch or Tumbbad, you will love Bramayugam. It is also essential viewing for anyone interested in Mammootty’s career — see our guide to Mammootty’s best movies. Younger children may find some scenes too intense. Read our separate Bramayugam trailer breakdown to see how the film was marketed, and our list of Malayalam horror movies for more scares.
Final Verdict
To conclude this Bramayugam review: it is a bold, beautifully crafted horror film anchored by a legendary actor at the top of his game. It proves that Malayalam cinema can take creative risks and still win over audiences. Watch it at night, with the lights off and the volume up.
Cinemas Diary Rating: 4.5/5
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Bramayugam online?
Bramayugam streams on SonyLIV, where it premiered in March 2024 with subtitles and dubbed versions.
Why is Bramayugam in black and white?
The director chose black and white to create a timeless, oppressive atmosphere suited to its 17th-century setting and folk-horror tone.
Did Mammootty win awards for Bramayugam?
Yes. He won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor (2025) and shared the Best Actor award at the 72nd National Film Awards (2026).
Is Bramayugam very scary?
It is more unsettling than shocking. Our Bramayugam review recommends it for viewers who enjoy slow-burn, atmospheric horror.
For full credits, see Bramayugam on Wikipedia.
