Alone (2023 film)

Alone is a 2023 Indian Malayalam-language mystery thriller film directed by Shaji Kailas, written by Rajesh Jayaraman, and produced and distributed by Antony Perumbavoor through Aashirvad Cinemas. The story is set during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic in India. It stars Mohanlal as the only character appearing in the film which otherwise features voice roles as supporting cast. 4Musics composed the film's background score and songs.

Alone
Theatrical release poster
Directed byShaji Kailas
Written byRajesh Jayaraman
Produced byAntony Perumbavoor
StarringMohanlal
CinematographyAbinandhan Ramanujam
Pramod K. Pillai
Edited byDon Max
Music by4Musics
Production
company
Distributed byAashirvad Release
Release date
  • 26 January 2023 (2023-01-26)
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam

The film was developed during the COVID-19 pandemic in India as a small film that can be made within pandemic restrictions to help unemployed workers in Malayalam film industry. Principal photography lasted 18 days from September to October 2021. The film was originally meant to be a direct-to-OTT release.

Alone was released in theatres on 26 January 2023 where it received mixed reviews.[1]

Premise

Kalidas is a motivational speaker who starts living in a prominent flat in Kochi during the COVID-19 lockdown, with a need for something. As it is a COVID-affected area, no contact with anyone is possible, Kalidasan experience paranormal activities in the flat and begins to unravel the mystery. He tries to find out the mystery behind the paranormal activities seen in his flat. He seeks help from Yamuna, who arranged him the flat.

Cast

Mohanlal as Kalidas, the only character seen on-screen, as he gets stranded in an apartment building during the COVID-19 pandemic in India.[2]

Voice cast

Production

Development

Shaji Kailas said that Alone was developed after Mohanlal put forward a proposal to make a "small film" during the COVID-19 pandemic in India to help unemployed workers in film industry during the pandemic. For which, producer Antony Perumbavoor enquired for potential stories, to whom Kailas suggested a single character film about a man named Kalidas who gets trapped in Kerala during the pandemic while travelling from Coimbatore.[3] Mohanlal and Kailas were collaborating for a film after 12 years. The screenplay was written by Rajesh Jayaraman. The title was announced on 4 October 2021. By then, filming had already begun.[4] The title comes with the tagline "real heroes are always alone".[5]

Filming

Principal photography of the film began on 27 September 2021.[4] Filming was concluded on 22 October. The whole filming process was completed in 18 days.[6] Kailas took the project after he had begun the production of Kaduva and was shot during its break.[3] Abinandhan Ramanujam and Pramod K. Pillai was the cinematographers.[2] Production design was done by Santhosh Raman.[4] Kailas' son Jagan Kailas worked as an associate director in the film.[5] Mohanlal began dubbing in May 2022.[7] In November, Kailas said the film's post-production is on its finals stage.[8]

Music

Initially, Jakes Bejoy was attached as the music composer.[5] He was replaced by 4 Musics, who composed the film's background score and songs.[2] The film originally had no plans to include any songs until filming was completed. After watching the visuals, 4 Musics suggested two songs that would fit the narrative. Kailas wanted more string instruments. 4 Musics chose Western style feeling it suits more with the film's theme, but they could not fully implement it since Kailas had his own views on the kind of music he wanted. For the second track, a rock song was added in the climax portion where the character arc of Kalidas is defined, which serves as the film's theme.[9]

The first single "Life Is A Mystery" was sung by Irish musician Mick Garry who also wrote the lyrics, with additional lyrics added by Biby Mathew and Eldhose Alias, its mixing and mastering was done by Vivek Thomas. The song was recorded in Spain. The Times of India wrote that the song has "a funky style that takes us back to retro American music".[10] It was released on 18 January 2023 by Aashirvad Cinemas label.[11]

No.TitleLyricsSingerLength
1."Life Is A Mystery" (From "Alone")Mick GarryMick Garry2:08
2."He's Moving" (From "Alone")Biby, Eldhose (4 Musics) & Megha Mary Binu, Rony PhilipRony Philip3:36

Release

Theatrical

In November 2021, it was reported that Alone would be released on a digital streaming platform.[12] In June 2022, Kailas revealed that the film would be released in August 2022 on an OTT platform, which did not happen.[3] Having had a change of plan, in October that year, a teaser was released announcing the film will have a theatrical release.[2] The film received certification from the CBFC in December 2022.[13] In a January 2023 interview, Kailas said Alone was meant to be a direct-to-OTT release.[14] Alone was released in theatres on 26 January 2023.[15]

Home Media

The satellite and digital rights of the film was acquired by Disney+ Hotstar and Asianet. The film was streamed on 3 March 2023 in Disney+ Hotstar.[16]

Reception

Alone received mixed reviews.

Janani K. of India Today gave 3 out of 5 and wrote "Director Shaji Kailas’ Alone, starring Mohanlal, is a one-actor film that tries to be a thriller with a twist. But, it neither offers thrills nor the so-called twists have an impact on you."[17] A critic from IndianExpress.com gave 1.5 rating out of 5 and stated that " But sadly, this film doesn’t even have a glimpse of the good old vintage Mohanlal or Shaji Kailas.".[18] S.R.Praveen critic of The Hindu stated that "Mohanlal’s solo act not enough to save this stretched-out thriller".[19]Firstpost critic gave 0 out of 5 and noted that "Alone is zero-impact, zero-purpose fare. The point of its existence is a far bigger mystery than the occurrences in the flat where the story unfolds"[20]

References
  1. "'Alone' on OTT platform: Release date, where to watch, cast and plot". India Today. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  2. CE Features (21 October 2022). "Mohanlal's Alone teaser promises a one-man show". Cinema Express. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  3. കുര്യാക്കോസ്, റെഞ്ചി (26 June 2022). "കടുവയിൽ പൃഥ്വിക്കൊപ്പം മോഹന്‍ലാലിനെ കൊണ്ടുവരാൻ ആഗ്രഹിച്ചു, പക്ഷേ: ഷാജി കൈലാസ് അഭിമുഖം". Manorama Online (in Malayalam). Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  4. "Mohanlal-Shaji Kailas film titled 'Alone'". The Times of India. 6 October 2021.
  5. Express News Service (7 October 2021). "Mohanlal-Shaji Kailas' new film titled Alone". The New Indian Express.
  6. "Mohanlal starrer 'Alone' finishes its shoot in just 18 days!". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  7. ETimes.in (16 May 2022). "Mohanlal starts dubbing for Shaji Kailas' movie 'Alone'". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  8. ETimes.in (8 November 2022). "Mohanlal's 'Alone': Director Shaji Kailas drops a major update". The Times of India. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  9. Sidhardhan, Sanjith (23 January 2023). "Mohanlal's Alone theme music has a rock as its climax veers to 'mass': 4 Musics". OTT Play. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  10. ETimes.in (18 January 2023). "'Alone': Makers unveil the lyrical video 'Life is a Mystery' from the Mohanlal starrer". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  11. "Life Is A Mystery (From "Alone") - Single by 4 Musics & Mick Garry". Apple Music. 18 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  12. "Four more Mohanlal films to be released on OTT platforms". The New Indian Express. 6 November 2021.
  13. Onmanorama staff (11 December 2022). "Mohanlal's 'Alone' gets clean U certificate. Film won't be an OTT release". Onmanorama. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  14. Kuriakose, Renji (8 January 2023). "Prithviraj suggested that I make 'Kaduva' in the 1990s style: Shaji Kailas". Onmanorama. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  15. Onmanorama staff (1 January 2023). "Trailer of 'Alone' starring Mohanlal alone released". Onmanorama. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  16. "Alone Movie OTT Release Date Announced by Disney+Hotstar - Streaming from 3rd March 2023". 24 February 2023.
  17. "Alone Movie Review: Mohanlal's one-actor film is a tedious watch". India Today. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  18. "'Alone' movie review: A daring experiment that becomes a tiring experience". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  19. Praveen, S. R. (26 January 2023). "'Alone' movie review: Mohanlal's solo act not enough to save this stretched-out thriller". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  20. "Alone movie review: Is Mohanlal in a race to give us the worst Mohanlal film yet?". Firstpost. 28 January 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
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