9 (2019 film)

9 (or Nine) is a 2019 Indian Malayalam-language science fiction horror film written and directed by Jenuse Mohamed.[1] It was jointly produced by Prithviraj Productions and SPE Films India (Sony Pictures India), and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing. The film stars Prithviraj Sukumaran, Alok Krishna, Wamiqa Gabbi, Mamta Mohandas and Prakash Raj in lead roles. The film marks the first regional Indian film production and distribution of Sony Pictures and the debut of Prithviraj Productions.[2]

9
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJenuse Mohamed
Written byJenuse Mohamed
Produced bySupriya Menon
Starring
CinematographyAbinandhan Ramanujam
Edited byShameer Muhammed
Music by
Production
companies
Distributed bySony Pictures Releasing
Release date
  • 7 February 2019 (2019-02-07) (India)
Running time
148 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam

In the film, a global crisis arises when a comet passes very close to the Earth for 9 days. The film explores Albert Lewis and his son Adam's lives, as a direct result of the comet. 9 was released in India and Gulf Cooperation Council territories on 7 February 2019.

Plot

Dr. Albert Lewis is a widowed astrophysicist living in Kerala with his 8-year-old son Adam. He is emotionally distant with his son whom he silently believes to be the reason he lost his beloved wife Annie who died in childbirth. His only other kin Annie's brother is hostile with Albert and Adam as he feels Adam is evil and is the cause of a freak accident that rendered his son paralysed while he and Adam were playing on terrace. Adam is shown to be a gloomy but seemingly perceptive boy. He is shown to have run into trouble with authorities several times and Albert is irked by this too.

A comet from an unknown galaxy is projected to pass beside Earth which will cause a huge electromagnetic pulse (EMP) surge and is predicted to be lasting nine days, during which time none of the modern inventions including electricity, phone, engine-run vehicles will work anywhere in the world. Several days before this phenomenon, Albert's mentor Dr. Inayat Khan visits him at his house and asks him to conduct research about the comet and sends him to a place in the Indian Himalayas, from where the closest citing of the comet is expected. Inayat also says to Albert that this incident is long portrayed by the locals over there and their caves have drawing of the comet with its earlier and future occurrences. Albert, with his colleagues and son, goes to the Himalayas for the research and Albert and Adam opts to stay at an old bungalow owned by Dr.Inayat with Hakka, an old janitor from the local tribe to assist them. Then the story progresses with the appearance of another character named Ava. Adam has bad feelings about Ava, as she tries to trap him. Adam informs this to Albert, but his father doesn't take it right. One time, Adam and Hakka were talking, Ava takes Adam, and haunts him on telling about her to Albert, Hakka on seeing this is injured by Ava. Adam and Albert leave the house. Albert is attacked by Ava and Adam is taken. Albert wakes at Dr. Inayat's where he tells him that Ava is actually Albert and that he has bipolar schizoaffective disorder which explains why Adam was frightened by him in a few scene and tells him he has one day to see Adam alive or else, the police are involved. Adam is found, and Ava leaves as the last night goes, happily leaving the father-son duo. Then, Albert asks Adam who Eva is, causing Adam to gasp, hinting at Ava's existence. The mid credits scene shows a cave with a painting on its walls, showing a cosmic creature with a female-like appearance tormenting people, indicating that Ava is real.

Cast

Production

Development

On 6 November 2016, The Times of India reported that Jenuse Mohamed is set to direct an untitled science fiction horror film written by himself, with Prithviraj Sukumaran signed to play the lead role. Confirming the project to the news-daily, Mohamed said that they are hoping to start filming after March 2017 and the film will be mostly shot in Himachal Pradesh and in Kerala for the remaining portion, also adding Parvathy Thiruvothu and Nithya Menen would be acting beside Prithviraj (both later replaced).[8] In March 2018, Prithviraj announced that the film, titled 9, will be jointly produced by his newly formed production house Prithviraj Productions in partnership with Sony Pictures. The film was reportedly scheduled to begin filming in the following month.[9][10] 9 marks the debut of Prithviraj Productions and the first regional Indian film of Sony Pictures.[11]

Jenuse wrote the complete screenplay of 9 within a week.[12] He approached Prithviraj in 2016.[13] Prithviraj initially signed the film as an actor and producing the film was not in his mind, but later when he decided to launch a production house with his wife Supriya Menon, they chose 9 as their debut production. Its pre-production began in 2017.[14]

Filming

Principal photography began on 9 April 2018 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.[15][16] Filming also took place in Kochi.[17] Shooting schedule in Kerala was completed on 18 April.[18] Final scenes in this schedule was shot at Kuttikkanam hill station in Idukki district.[19] Abinandhan Ramanujam was the cinematographer. High precision movie camera was required for filming as almost 60 percent of the film was to be shot at night. Beginning from its second schedule in Manali, Himachal Pradesh, the Red Digital Cinema Gemini 5K camera was used for filming, in its debut use in Indian cinema.[20] The team completed shooting in Spiti Valley by June 2018.[21] Filming was wrapped in Delhi where a song sequence was shot. Principal photography was completed in 48 days. Major part of filming took place in Manali and Spiti Valley. It took more than six months for post-production.[17] Production of the film was completed at a cost lower than the estimated budget.[14]

Music

The film features background score composed by Sekhar Menon and two songs composed by Shaan Rahman. It was released by Sony Music India.

9 (Nine)
No.TitleWriter(s)Singer(s)Length
1."Akale"B. K. Harinarayanan, Preeti NambiarHarib Hussain, Anne Amie 
2."Vicharamo"B. K. HarinarayananAnne Amie 

Release

9 was released in India and Gulf Cooperation Council territories on 7 February 2019 by Sony Pictures Releasing.[22]

References
  1. "Prithviraj's 9 a sci-fi horror thriller?". The Times of India.
  2. "Prithviraj takes big steps, announces collaboration with Sony Pictures". Onmanorama.
  3. "Prithviraj in Jenuse's 9". Deccan Chronicle.
  4. "Godha heroine to return to Malayalam alongside Prithviraj". Mathrubhumi. Archived from the original on 14 August 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  5. "Tony Luke plays a geek scientist in Prithviraj's Nine". Times Of India.
  6. "Tony Luke in Prithviraj movie Nine 9 after Pranav Mohanlal Aadhi Movie". Mathrubhumi.
  7. "Movie Nine 9 trailer released". IBTimes.
  8. Sidhardhan, Sanjith (6 November 2016). "Jenuse Mohamed ropes in Prithviraj for a sci-fi movie". The Times of India. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  9. Kumar, Karthik (23 March 2018). "Prithviraj's maiden production titled Nine, first look poster released". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  10. R., Manoj Kumar (23 March 2018). "First look of Prithviraj's 9 unveiled, see photo". The Indian Express. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  11. "Sony Pictures collaborates with Prithviraj for its first Malayalam film". Business Standard. Press Trust of India. 16 March 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  12. Nagarajan, Saraswathy (6 February 2019). "Any film will only work with a human story, says director Jenuse Mohamed". The Hindu. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  13. "Prithviraj, the producer, talks about 'Nine'". The Times of India. 30 January 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  14. Shrijith, Sajin (6 February 2019). "Interview | Supriya Menon Prithviraj on turning producer with '9', motherhood and more". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  15. Sidhardhan, Sanjith (10 April 2018). "Prithviraj's driver and make-up man kick off the actor's latest venture". The Times of India. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  16. "Prithviraj's maiden production Nine goes on floors". Cinema Express.
  17. Shrijith, Sajin (22 January 2019). "Prithviraj-starrer 9 is best experienced on the big screen: Jenuse Mohamed". Cinema Express. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  18. "Prithviraj's 'Nine' heads to Himalayan foothills for shoot". The News Minute. 20 April 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  19. "Shooting of Prithviraj's 'Nine' will resume in Himalayas". The Times of India. Times News Network. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  20. Manu, Meera (25 April 2018). "A keen eye for cinematography". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  21. Digital Native (11 June 2018). "Shooting for Prithviraj's 'Nine' wrapped up in the Himalayas". The News Minute. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  22. "Prithviraj's Nine to hit theatres on Feb 7". The New Indian Express. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
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