‘They thought he caught the killer’: Shahi Kabir breaks down real story, climax of Unmadham

In an exclusive interview, director Shahi Kabir breaks down the real story behind his most recent film, Unmadham, which is currently streaming on SonyLIV. The film, which marks the directorial debut of editor Kiran Das, is about a police officer-turned-writer who loses his mind. However, many viewers misinterpreted the movie as an investigative thriller.

Shahi Kabir explains that the film's protagonist, Shelly (played by Kunchacko Boban), is influenced by various movies and believes that the soul of the "wronged" hasn't received justice. This belief leads him to investigate a "cursed" file at his new station, only to later realize that there was no crime to begin with. The conspiracy aspect was fabricated by an astrologer.

Kunchacko Boban's performance as Shelly received praise, as the actor has recently transitioned from his romantic-hero image to more challenging roles. Shahi Kabir and Kiran Das have a long-standing friendship, dating back to their work on Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum (2017). Kiran Das, who served as an editor on Nayattu (2021) and Unmadham (2026), has a deep understanding of cinema and was trusted with the direction of Unmadham.

Shahi Kabir discusses how he decides which projects to direct and which to serve as a screenwriter, stating that he focuses on characters and their identities rather than the plot. He reveals that Nayattu initially had a different storyline, but a slight alteration led to the creation of Ronth (2025). Officer on Duty (2025) also took shape when he decided to rebuild the second half of Unmadham's script.