Kyraa Vasudevan on Khalifa: “Malayalam Cinema Chose Me”

Kyraa Vasudevan spent her first Malayalam shoot working out where the lens was. She plays Vyshnavi Ramachandran in Khalifa, the Vysakh-directed gold-smuggling thriller that opened over Onam with Prithviraj Sukumaran in the title role, and it is her first film in the language.

“I am truly grateful that I got my debut with Prithviraj, under Vysakh sir’s direction and with Jinu sir’s writing,” she says of the film, written by Jinu V. Abraham. “There was a lot of pressure because I was making my debut alongside so many legends, and they all believed in me and had high hopes for me. But the director, Prithviraj, Jinu sir and the entire team made me feel extremely comfortable and guided me throughout the film. I am truly grateful and thankful for that.”

Most of what she took from the shoot was technical rather than emotional. Vysakh, whose action filmography stretches back through Pokkiri Raja and Madhura Raja, put her through the grammar of a set.

“There was so much to learn every single day on the sets of Khalifa. Vysakh sir taught me so many things technically, from understanding how to perform according to the lens and the frame to understanding how lighting works. I learnt something new every day.”

The part she was least prepared for was her first stunt sequence, which arrived early enough to be intimidating.

“I was very nervous when I did my stunt sequence for the first time, but Vysakh sir made sure that I felt at home and safe. He truly supported me throughout the entire process and helped me overcome my nervousness.”

Sharing frames with a lead who also produces and directs could have gone the other way. It did not.

“Prithviraj was a very comforting co-star. He was extremely kind and welcoming, and it was truly a pleasure working with him and the entire team. I feel blessed to have made my debut with Prithviraj. I don’t know how many people get an opportunity like this, so I made sure that I gave my 200 percent and did justice to the role.”

Kyraa came to the film with almost nothing behind her. Her only prior screen credit was Mudhal Mudhalaai, the indie music video released in March that also introduced Prabhu Deva’s son Rishi Deva. Khalifa is her first theatrical release, and she is treating the state it came out in as a base rather than a stop.

“Malayalam cinema and Kerala have a very special place in my heart. I will make sure that I keep working in the Malayalam industry, no matter how many languages I work in. Malayalam cinema has become my home, especially because my first release is happening here. Malayalam cinema chose me and truly gave me so much love. I will always choose to come back again and again and work in many more projects here. It is my home.”

“I don’t feel like I am in a different state anymore,” she adds. “That is how the Khalifa team made me feel. I will always be grateful and thankful for that.”

Khalifa, which released on 20 August with music by Jakes Bejoy, is designed as the first half of a two-part story. If the second half goes ahead, Kyraa has the shortest possible route back.