Minnal Murali universe to witness expansion? Producer Sophia Paul teases upcoming major announcement

During an exclusive conversation, The Indian Express asked Sophia Paul, the captain of Weekend Blockbusters, whether Minnal Murali had the potential to evolve as a cinematic universe, maybe as a Minnalverse or a Muraliverse, similar to what Marvel and others have been pursuing.

In response, she says: “The success of Minnal Murali has opened up opportunities to take it further. Comics were one of them. Collaborating with Rana Daggubati’s Spirit Media, Minnal Murali’s entry into the world of comics through Tinkle was announced at this year’s Comic-Con in San Diego. And indeed, we have more plans for the Minnal Murali universe as well. Soon, we will have an announcement regarding one such project.”

Even though they have bankrolled only five movies thus far —Bangalore Days, Kaadu Pookkunna Neram, Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol, Padayottam, and Minnal Murali — Sophia Paul and Weekend Blockbusters have already established a reputation for excellence through their unwavering commitment to producing exceptional films.

On Minnal Murali being the film that brings her the greatest sense of pride

With her upcoming movie RDX: Robert Dony Xavier, directed by Nahas Hidayath and starring Shane Nigam, Antony Varghese (Pepe), Neeraj Madhav, and Mahima Nambiar in the lead roles, set to release on August 25, The Indian Express asked Sophia about the film in her portfolio that brings her the greatest sense of pride and satisfaction.

“Though it’s difficult to select just one movie since every project is a vindication of our efforts and challenges, I would still choose Minnal Murali for a simple reason: we ventured into an unconventional territory with a genre like that. It was a significant risk to attempt a superhero film in Malayalam, and we encountered numerous challenges during the shoot, all compounded by finding ourselves in the midst of a pandemic. The stakes were exceedingly high, but the movie’s success rendered the entire journey worthwhile,” she says.

On her involvement in a film’s creative process

When questioned in her capacity as a producer about the extent of her involvement in a film’s creative process and whether she leans towards active participation while still honouring the director’s artistic liberty, Sophia stated firmly that a film unequivocally belongs to the director’s creative domain.

“But as a production house, my team and I are aware of the delicate balance between creative freedom and commercial viability. We engage in discussions to address any areas that might require a commercial or creative decision. Ultimately, it comes down to persuading the other party. If the director can justify the necessity of a particular scene or expense, the matter ends there,” Sophia notes.

Following her co-production of the Malayalam blockbuster Bangalore Days alongside filmmaker Anwar Rasheed in 2014, Sophia took a distinct shift in direction. She launched herself as an independent producer with Dr Biju’s Kaadu Pookkunna Neram. The film received considerable acclaim and held significance within the cinema landscape, but did not enjoy a substantial theatrical success.

When asked about her attraction to the project, Sophia explains, “It wasn’t a conscious plan for my debut movie as a solo producer to be a festival film. While I did have an interest in supporting such a movie at some point in the future, I didn’t have concrete plans back then. However, when Dr Biju approached me with the project, fully aware of the risks involved in its commercial viability, I decided to proceed.”

“It was simply a willingness to be a part of such a niche festival movie. The film performed exceptionally well on the festival circuit, leading us to attend several major international movie festivals. It also received national and state awards,” she adds.

On Malayalam cinema’s future

In the backdrop of an unsettling trend in the industry this year, marked by numerous films underperforming and causing financial stress for theatres, the upcoming Onam season is expected to bring relief with the release of three major films: RDX, Dulquer Salmaan’s King of Kotha, and Nivin Pauly’s Ramachandra Boss and Co.

Being the brain behind one of Malayalam cinema’s rare production houses with an impressive portfolio, The Indian Express concluded the discussion with Sophia Paul by enquiring about her perspective on the current state of the industry and sought her assessment on whether the industry was displaying potential for growth or if the future appeared uncertain.

“I believe the industry has always encountered challenges. While past challenges might have been prompted by shifts in audience preferences, today they are also influenced by the transformations unfolding in the technology landscape. Audiences require compelling reasons to choose theatres over the content available on OTT platforms and television, conveniently accessible from their homes. That reason, undoubtedly, is content,” Sophia says.

“We are now in competition with international content and larger productions. Therefore, the challenge lies in crafting exceptional content and ensuring that the project is backed by a sound technical team. Cinema will invariably have a bright future, yet challenges will persist. The key lies in our ability to recalibrate each time,” she adds.