A cinematic odyssey stalled by a global pandemic and funding gaps

History · Published 13 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: How does a high-budget action thriller become a half-decade production marathon? The Malayalam film Ram serves as a case study in industrial scale, evolving from a single movie into a sprawling two-part epic due to unforeseen global disruptions and the sheer ambition of its narrative scope.

Directed by Jeethu Joseph, Ram is a high-budget action thriller centered on a former R&AW operative, Ram Mohan, who goes rogue. The narrative follows the military's efforts to reclaim his skills to combat Bael, a terrorist group armed with nuclear weapons. While the project began in early 2020, it has faced a tumultuous production timeline. Principal photography started on January 6, 2020, in India, but the COVID-19 pandemic halted progress, leading to a delay of over five years. By April 2026, the director revealed that financial cashflow and funding issues faced by the producers further stalled the project. The film's evolution is a notable example of narrative expansion under pressure. Originally conceived as a single film, Jeethu Joseph decided to split it into two parts during the pandemic break. He explained that attempting to compress the story into one movie caused continuity issues during editing and exceeded a manageable five-hour runtime. This expansion was also influenced by the commercial success of Drishyam 2 and the growing market for lead actor Mohanlal. The production is a massive logistical undertaking, involving joint ventures between UK and Chennai-based Peacock Film Production, Abhishek Films, and Passion Studios. The scale of the project is reflected in its budget; approximately ₹94 crore was spent before the major delays, with another ₹94 crore required to finish. The shoot has spanned locations including Kerala, the United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Morocco, and Tunisia, with potential future schedules in Israel. The production faced unique hurdles, such as deferring the London shoot due to the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 and considering a move to France to avoid UK restrictions. Despite these obstacles, the film remains a significant undertaking in Indian cinema, featuring an ensemble cast and a soundtrack by debut music director Vishnu Shyam.

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