A New Breed of Terror: Malayalam Vampire Thriller ‘Half’ Secures Major North Indian Distribution via Excel Entertainment

August 7, 2026 5 Min Read

In a landmark move for the Malayalam film industry, the high-octane vampire action thriller Half—a breakout selection for the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival’s (TIFF) Midnight Madness program—has secured a major strategic partnership. Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar’s powerhouse production and distribution banner, Excel Entertainment, has officially boarded the project. In association with AA Films, Excel will present and distribute the film in Hindi across North India, marking a significant milestone as Excel’s first foray into distributing a Malayalam-language feature.

Directed by newcomer Samjad and penned by Samjad and Praveen Viswanath, Half is being hailed as a visceral, genre-bending experiment that eschews traditional horror tropes in favor of raw, high-speed intensity. Produced by Anne Sajeev and Sajeev P.K. under the banner of Fragrant Nature Film Creations (FNFC), the film stars an ensemble cast including Ranjith Sajeev, Aiswarya Raj, Abbas, and Amala Paul.

The Genesis of a Global Vision: Main Facts

Half represents an ambitious departure from conventional Indian horror. The narrative centers on two "half-blooded" vampires entangled in a violent, high-stakes revenge plot. By integrating relentless road-chase sequences with deep-seated vampire lore, the film aims to redefine the action-horror subgenre in the Indian market.

The film’s production was an odyssey in its own right, spanning 117 days of principal photography. The crew navigated a diverse array of challenging environments, moving from the arid, scorching deserts of Rajasthan and the lush, mist-covered hill country of Kerala to the biting, snow-covered landscapes of Kazakhstan. The film is designed for a pan-Indian release, with plans to debut simultaneously in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada, positioning it as a major regional player with national aspirations.

Chronology: From Script to the Global Stage

The development of Half follows the successful collaboration between director Samjad, writer Praveen Viswanath, and Fragrant Nature Film Creations, who previously worked together on the 2024 mystery-thriller Golam.

Pre-Production and Training: Recognizing the need for authentic, high-impact action, the production brought on board renowned action choreographer Very Tri Yulisman, celebrated for his work on global action benchmarks like The Raid 2 and The Night Comes for Us. Yulisman and his team spent months training leads Ranjith Sajeev and Aiswarya Raj, ensuring the actors performed their own stunts.
The "No-Slow-Motion" Mandate: During the production phase, director Samjad established a strict creative constraint: the film would be shot entirely without slow-motion sequences. This decision was intended to keep the viewer locked into a state of "real-time intensity."
TIFF Selection: Following the completion of the film, Half earned a coveted spot in the TIFF Midnight Madness section, a segment dedicated to genre-defying and high-energy cinema. This selection served as the catalyst for the partnership with Excel Entertainment.
Distribution Partnership: Following the festival buzz, Excel Entertainment finalized the deal to handle the Hindi-language distribution in North India, bridging the gap between the thriving Malayalam film industry and the vast North Indian cinematic audience.

Supporting Data and Technical Craft

The technical pedigree behind Half is arguably one of its strongest assets. Fragrant Nature Film Creations has assembled a team of National Film Award winners to handle the film’s aesthetic and auditory architecture.

Editing: Mahesh Bhuvanend, known for his precision in pacing, served as the film’s editor.
Production Design: The visual world of Half was crafted by Mohandas, a National Award-winning production designer, who ensured that the film’s disparate locations—from the Indian desert to the Kazakh snow—maintained a cohesive visual identity.
Sound and Score: Sound designer Vishnu Govind and composer Midhun Mukundan were tasked with creating an immersive soundscape that complements the film’s "visceral" aesthetic.
Cinematography: Pappinu, the film’s cinematographer, faced the monumental task of capturing the high-speed chase sequences across three distinct climate zones without the safety net of slow-motion enhancements.

The involvement of Very Tri Yulisman’s team—who also contributed to the Indonesian action hit The Furious—signals that the film is prioritizing "grounded" action over CGI-heavy spectacle, a trend that has increasingly resonated with global audiences.

Official Responses: The Stakeholders Speak

The enthusiasm surrounding the film is shared equally by the producers, the director, and the distributors.

Anne Sajeev (Producer, FNFC):
"Every film begins with a dream, but only a few are fortunate enough to find an audience beyond where they were born. From the moment we believed in Half, we knew we were backing a bold new world—one that felt fresh, unexpected, and full of possibilities. Seeing it evolve into a film now premiering on the world stage at TIFF is both deeply rewarding and humbling."

Samjad (Director/Co-writer):
"‘Half’ approaches vampire lore through a lens of pure grit and real-time intensity, completely bypassing slow motion to keep the experience visceral. It’s an absolute honor to be selected for TIFF, and I’m deeply proud to represent Indian cinema on a global stage. We are really happy to give audiences this experience on the big screen together with Excel Entertainment."

Ritesh Sidhwani (Co-founder, Excel Entertainment):
"I’ve always been excited by films that dare to be different, and Half stood out from the very first viewing. It has a unique cinematic voice and a strong creative vision. I’m delighted to support its theatrical journey and look forward to audiences discovering this remarkable film on the big screen."

Farhan Akhtar (Co-founder, Excel Entertainment):
"There’s something raw and visceral in Samjad’s presentation that really got my attention. It grabs you by the intestines and just doesn’t let go. Absolutely thrilled to be on board and take this film to the audience."

Implications: A Shift in the Indian Distribution Landscape

The acquisition of Half by Excel Entertainment is not merely a distribution deal; it is a signal of a structural shift in the Indian film industry. For years, the "Pan-Indian" label was reserved for massive, high-budget spectacles primarily from the Telugu and Kannada industries. Half represents a new wave: a mid-to-high budget Malayalam genre film that relies on craft, niche appeal, and global festival recognition to secure a national footprint.

1. Breaking the Language Barrier

By distributing a Malayalam film in North India, Excel Entertainment is betting that the audience’s appetite for high-quality, genre-specific storytelling is beginning to outweigh linguistic barriers. As streaming platforms have introduced North Indian audiences to the nuance and technical brilliance of Malayalam cinema, the demand for theatrical experiences of these films has grown.

2. The Influence of FNFC’s International Strategy

Fragrant Nature Film Creations (FNFC) has long been a bridge between Indian and international cinema. Having entered the market with the Mohanlal starrer Pranayam, they have pivoted toward a dual-strategy: producing high-concept indigenous films like Half and acquiring prestige international titles—such as the Sundance winner Josephine and the Oscar-nominated Little Amélie or the Character of Rain—for the Indian market. This global perspective is reflected in the production quality of Half, which aims to compete on an international level.

3. The Future of "Genre" Cinema in India

The success of Half at the box office could determine the future of "raw" action cinema in India. If the film’s "no-slow-motion" approach and its reliance on grounded, professional choreography prove successful, it may push other Indian filmmakers to move away from the stylized, slow-motion-heavy action that has dominated Indian cinema for decades.

In conclusion, Half is a testament to the evolving nature of Indian filmmaking. By marrying the technical rigor of Malayalam cinema with the distribution might of Excel Entertainment and the global exposure of the Toronto International Film Festival, the film is poised to challenge the boundaries of what is expected from Indian genre cinema. As it prepares for its theatrical debut, all eyes will be on whether this "half-blooded" vampire story can sink its teeth into the hearts of a diverse, national audience.