It has been a slow and steady growth for Vishnu Agasthya in Malayalam cinema. The starting point was a mini web series, at a time when the format was not yet popular. Cinema happened with Aalorukkam, followed by 1001 Nunakal (2022). 2023 saw him going further up the ladder — playing the greedy, scheming Stanly in O.Baby and the face of terror, Paulson, in RDX.
He is currently fresh from the success of the Christmas release, Rifle Club, in which his character Godjo went for the kill with swag, in the company of a bunch of terrific performers. He also had much to cheer with the reception for his role in Krishand’s Sangarsha Ghadana – Art of Warfare, that premiered at the International Film Festival of Kerala.
As someone who gives off the vibe of being an astute observer of cinema, it is hard to believe that he never dreamt of being in the industry. He was drawn to the world of cinema while working as a VJ with Kiran TV after his BBA. “Acting enthused me even though my only tryst with it until then was during my school years, that too those brief appearances in certain plays only to bunk class,” he says.
(From left) Suresh Krishna, Vishnu Agasthya, Darshana Rajendran and Ponnamma Babu in Rifle Club
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
He attended workshops and took classes at ActLab. “I wanted to crack the art of acting. However, it was a tough phase with a lot of self-doubt. I had quit my job. And there were enough insecurities that stopped me from approaching filmmakers for a role. But I met a group of like-minded artistes and creators, with whom I created some projects,” he says.
One was the mini web series, Anatomy of a Kaamukan, in which he played different types of male lovers. Luckily, the series was presented by Gautham Menon’s Ondraga Productions. *Le cliche Vellamadi, a take on men’s drinking habits, also got noticed.
The big break was the web series Insomnia Nights presented by Karikku Fliq. Viewers loved his take as the crazy, mentally unstable Dr Surjith. It opened the doors to Malayalam cinema. According to Vishnu, it helped that he was familiar with different departments of filmmaking, thanks to the multiple web series he worked on.
He went on to have some dream collaborations any actor could ask for — directors Ranjan Pramod (O.Baby), Thamar (1001 Nunakal), Nahas Hidayath (RDX), Aashiq Abu (Rifle Club) and Krishand (Sangarsha Ghadana). Vishnu continues, “When you associate with these brilliant brains, you adapt to their craft and storytelling style. That is interesting.”
Vishnu Agasthya
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
At the same time he is quite critical of his own work. “I can’t judge my performance in the first or second week of release. It might take weeks or months in some cases. By then I would feel some kind of strangership with the work and so I can analyse what I have done!”
Rifle Club was no different. While the audience loved the pragmatic, no-nonsense Godjo, his look and style, Vishnu admits that he was worried whether the scenes would work with the audience. “But when Rex Vijayan [composer of the movie] said it was good, that was a huge relief because it was coming from a person who has seen the raw footage. I trust the verdict of technicians more because they know what happens behind the scenes,” Vishnu says.
Rifle Club, he adds, was a “highly collaborative space, especially with a bunch of directors on set as actors [Anurag Kashyap, Dileesh Pothan, Vineeth Kumar, Senna Hegde, Raffi]. It is not easy to write a script with so many characters and then create the “mass” factor as well. It is remarkable how these writers [Syam Pushkaran, Dileesh Karunakaran, Suhas] weave such stories,” Vishnu avers.
He is appreciative of the space that was given to each actor in the film. “I could ask any doubt to the person who wrote Kumbalangi Nights [Syam Pushkaran]. What usually happens with legends is that they carry the respect we give them as a baggage and they cease to update their craft. But that has not happened with the minds behind Rifle Club,” he says.
Vishnu Agasthya in Sangarsha Ghadana – Art of Warfare
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
As for Krishand, Vishnu puts him in a league of its own. “It is amazing to be around him. He is a genius with street smart skills,” he adds. Reacting to being credited as the creative contributor in Sangarsha Ghadana, the actor says, “I might have made some suggestions. That’s all. In Krishand’s language, that is creative contribution! (laughs).“
The film is an interesting take on the Chinese book The Art of War by Sun Tzu with the narrative set against a local gang war. Vishnu is Kunjanandan, the gang leader, who is out to settle scores with the gang led by Suni (Sanoop Padaveedan). The actor shines in the role, keeping it real and raw.
“I do not attach any kind of mystification to this profession. I just perform as the situation demands.”
He continues, “Once you have that passion and love for this craft, even if you fail, you will get better as you go by. When viewers love what we actors do, we get that kick. It is that feeling that keeps me in the profession.”
Vishnu Agasthya in Sangarsha Ghadana – Art of Warfare
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
He has also done a small role in Krishand’s upcoming web series for SonyLIV, Sambhava Vivaranam Naalara Sangham (The Chronicles Of The 4.5 Gang), a gangster drama. “After RDX, I kept getting roles of the same template. When I shared this with Krishand, he told me about this goon in the series. This character has a hilarious introduction and I could not have asked for a better one!”
Meanwhile he hopes to explore acting, working with different filmmakers. “I might write as well if I get the right team.”
Besides a cameo in debutant Varsha Vasudev’s movie with Indrans and Madhubala, he has some interesting projects lined up.
Published – January 11, 2025 01:33 pm IST
