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Big weekend for Malayalam films

Two eagerly awaited films will hit the screens this weekend as director Ranjith teams up with Mohanlal in Spirit and Amal Neerad narrates a crucial journey by a group of stars in Bachelor Party.

Here is a closer look at the weekend releases.

Spirit

Director: Ranjith

Cast: Mohanlal, Kaniha, Shankar Ramakrishnan

The title of the film is pretty confusing and talks are doing the rounds that Spirit is about alcoholism.

"Yes, Reghunandanan, the character played by Mohanlal, can be called an alcoholic but the title denotes a 'positive feeling' as well," smiles Ranjith.

Reghu (Mohanlal) used to work abroad and now he is hoping to take up journalism and is writing a book as well. He is divorced but still friends with his ex-wife Meera (Kaniha) and her current husband Alexy (Shankar Ramakrishnan).

"Reghu approaches life a bit too lightly and the story takes a look at the marital lives of some couples," adds Ranjith.

Prakash Raj was originally chosen to play Alexy, but he backed out of the project at the last minute and that resulted in Urumi scenarist Shankar Ramakrishnan's entry as an actor.

Kaniha is happy that "I have got a modern character, who is a bold woman. I am usually playing the goody-goody woman, who is too soft, in most films. This role is a challenging one for sure."

Spirit has been produced under the banner of Aashirvad Cinemas. The cinematographer is Venu and the music director is Shahabaz Aman.

Bachelor Party

Director: Amal Neerad

Cast: Asif Ali, Indrajith, Rahman, Kalabhavan Mani, Nithya Menen and Prithviraj

Amal Neerad has made visual spectacles such as Big B, Sagar Alias Jacky Reloaded and Anwar.

According to him, "Bachelor Party is a travelogue of friendship. The whole story is happening during a time frame of three days. A group is into a journey, which turns out to be a crucial one."

Geevarghese (Indrajith), Toni (Asif Ali), Neethu (Nitya Menen), Benny (Rahman), Ayyappan (Kalabhavan Mani) and Fakeer (Vinayakan) are the main characters.

Prithviraj and Remya Nambeeshan appear in brief but important roles in turning points in the story.

Bachelor Party is produced by Amal Neerad Productions and the camera is handled by the director himself. The screenplay is by Unni R and Santhosh Echikkanam. The music director is Rahul Raj.

Asif, who is paired opposite Nitya Menen's character in the film, says that "my character Toni is jobless, young and often lands the whole gang in trouble."

Indrajith is excited about the film: "This one is pretty wild, unlike the conventional pattern in Malayalam," he says