How 'Kammattam', a Malayalam Series, Was Completed in Just 11 Days

ZEE5’s debut Malayalam web series Kammattam didn’t just break ground for the platform — it shattered expectations around what's possible on a tight timeline. A gritty crime drama inspired by real incidents in and around Thrissur, Kammattam was shot in its entirety — six full episodes — in just 11 days.

And if that feat wasn’t impressive enough, here’s another stat: six of the actors in the series are established feature film directors. “That was by design,” says director Shan Thulasidharan, who steered this ambitious project. “With our limitations, we needed actors who understood the rigours of filmmaking and the value of time. Directors like Jeo Baby, Arun Viswam, Ajai Vasudev, and three others brought that discipline to the set.”

Though the series draws heavily from true crime cases in Thrissur, the creators weren’t just looking to recreate reality. “We asked ourselves: What if there had been a diligent officer investigating those crimes? What if they happened in a different timeline? That gave us a narrative lens to reinterpret real incidents with our voice,” Shan explains.

The story was conceived by Shihaab, with Shan and his team shaping it into a screenplay fit for the constraints of a rapid production schedule. “The biggest challenge was always going to be the shoot itself — completing everything in 11 days, with a limited budget.”

Months of preparation went into its pre-production. Locations were locked well in advance. Rehearsals were meticulously planned. Every second of shoot time had to be accounted for. “It was a logistical miracle,” says Shan. “We didn’t just plan for each day — we planned for each hour.”

The intensity of the shoot reached its peak in the final stretch. “There were four days when we shot continuously for 24 hours. And in the last 24 hours, we completed 25 scenes. When we were shooting one scene, the next was already being lit and blocked.”

Originally, the team envisioned a 50-year-old lead, but changed direction and cast Sudev Nair instead. “We needed someone who could match the physical and emotional demands of such a gruelling shoot. We reworked the character’s age to suit Sudev because he had the stamina to go the distance,” says Shan.

Although he had already directed two feature films, Kammattam marks Shan’s first venture into the long-form web series space — a format he says he’s grown to love. “There’s so much room to explore. I enjoyed watching both seasons of Kerala Crime Files, and I believe we can make shows that are just as compelling as our cinema.” Despite the breakneck pace, Shan says he wouldn’t be talking about the 25-scene sprint on Day 11 if the output hadn’t matched the ambition. Kammattam is not just a triumph of speed, but a test of what’s possible when passion meets planning.

The series will be available for streaming from August 29.