Rahul Sadasivan

Rahul Sadasivan
Born	(1986-12-07) 7 December 1986 (age 39) Palakkad, Kerala, India[1]
Education	London Film Academy University of South Wales[2]
Occupation	Filmmaker
Years active	2013–present

Rahul Sadasivan is an Indian filmmaker and screenwriter who works in Malayalam cinema. He is best known for writing and directing the films Bhoothakaalam (2022), Bramayugam (2024), and Diés Iraé (2025), noted for their exploration of psychological horror and folklore.^[3]

Early life

Rahul was born in Palakkad, Kerala, India. He completed his schooling from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kanjikode. He studied filmmaking from London Film Academy, and went on to complete his master's degree in animation and VFX from University of South Wales.^[2]

Career

Rahul made his directorial debut soon after his London Film Academy course with Red Rain (2013), a science fiction film based on the red rain phenomenon in Kerala.^[4] While the film was lauded by genre fans, it did not achieve mainstream success.^[5] Rahul's sophomore film, Bhoothakaalam (2022), came 9 years later, in a direct to streaming release on SonyLIV. It helped the horror film gain national attention and was widely praised for its atmospheric treatment and complex themes.^[4][6][7][8]

His third film, Bramayugam (2024), a big-budget period horror was produced by Night Shift Studios, a film production company exclusively created to produce horror-thriller features.^[9] The film gained pre-release attention due to star Mammootty's negative role and Rahul's choice to present the film wholly in black-and-white. It was well received by critics and became a box-office success upon release.^[10]

The film’s technical execution, particularly its sound design, garnered international academic attention when it was used as a case study at the University for the Creative Arts in the United Kingdom. ^[11]

Bramayugam later received international recognition when it was selected for a curated screening at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles as part of the film series Where the Forest Meets the Sea: Folklore from Around the World. The film was the only Indian production featured in the programme and was screened on 12 February 2026.^{[12] [13]}

Artistry and style

Sadasivan's films primarily explore psychological horror, focusing on the tension between human psychology and supernatural elements. Critics have highlighted his use of minimalistic storytelling, careful pacing, and atmospheric tension to create suspense.^[14]

His work often incorporates elements of folklore and myth, blending traditional stories with contemporary psychological themes to explore human fear, morality, and cultural symbolism. Reviewers have noted that he weaves cultural legends into the narrative structure, adding depth and symbolic meaning.^[15]

Sadasivan has a background in animation and visual effects, having earned a master's degree in animation and VFX from the University of South Wales, which informs his precise approach to visual storytelling.^[16] He personally storyboards all of his films, planning shot composition, camera movement, and character positioning in advance, contributing to the tense and atmospheric quality of his work.^[17]

In terms of visual style, Sadasivan favors dark, atmospheric cinematography and subtle sound design to enhance tension, often using silence and minimal movement to intensify the viewer's sense of dread. His films frequently employ symbolic imagery and ritualistic elements from folklore to reinforce the psychological impact of the story. Bramayugam was also studied as a case study in sound design at the University for the Creative Arts in the United Kingdom, highlighting the academic recognition of his technical craft.^[18]

Filmography

References

External links

• Rahul Sadasivan at IMDb