Director Fazil Razak has returned to the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) with his latest feature, Moham, following the critical success of his previous work, Thadavu (2023). The director's prior film not only graced the IFFK screen but also propelled its lead actress, Beena R Chandran, to win the prestigious Kerala State Award for Best Actress. This year, Beena features again in a significant role in Moham, which recently premiered at the same celebrated festival.
Embracing Festival Success Without Pressure
When asked about the pressure of following up on Thadavu's reception, Fazil Razak revealed a relaxed perspective. He explained that after filming Thadavu in 2023, he worked on another project in 2024 and early 2025 that did not come to fruition. Moham was subsequently undertaken as a creative exercise. This mindset, he says, eliminated any inclination to compare or compete with his past work.
"It never occurred to me to compare it to Thadavu or to compete against it. So, there was no pressure," stated Razak. He expressed happiness that Moham is identified as the film from the Thadavu director, noting that audiences are attending screenings because they loved his previous film. He shared that viewers actively stayed back for question-and-answer sessions and shared their opinions, often bringing up Thadavu and its actors during discussions.
The Story and Swift Production of Moham
Moham tells its story primarily through two central characters, Amala and Shanu, largely from Amala's perspective. The director describes the plot as an exploration of the exploitation of a mentally challenged woman. A young man manipulates her for his personal motives, particularly as part of a quest for revenge against another woman.
The film was completed in a notably short span of time. Razak detailed a swift production process where scriptwriting, filming, and post-production progressed rapidly. Location hunting happened simultaneously during the writing phase. The producer, Razak Ahamed, joined the project after being impressed by Thadavu.
Looking Beyond the Festival Circuit
On the prospects of a wider theatrical release for Moham, Fazil Razak provided a pragmatic view. He believes that making a good film naturally creates opportunities to reach more people. Festival recognition, such as attention at IFFK, becomes a part of the film's narrative when people discuss it.
However, he acknowledged the challenge, stating, "Reaching that point is not easy. There are a lot of films being made every year, and only one or two will reach that stage." He emphasized that films are not made solely for festivals like IFFK. The goal is to create work that resonates with all kinds of audiences, and that is the attitude with which he approaches filmmaking.
The journey from Thadavu to Moham highlights Fazil Razak's evolving narrative style and his connection with the festival audience. With Beena R Chandran's acclaimed performance bridging the two projects, Moham stands as a testament to the director's continued exploration of complex human stories within the vibrant landscape of Malayalam cinema.
