Development The film is based on the story of the Greek mythological character
Electra. Set in the city of
Argos a few years after the
Trojan War, that story revolves around the vengeance that Electra and her brother
Orestes take on their mother
Clytemnestra and step father
Aegisthus for the murder of their father,
Agamemnon. There are many adaptations of the story. This film is particularly inspired by the plays
Electra by
Sophocles,
Electra by
Euripides,
Oresteia by
Aeschylus and
Mourning Becomes Electra by
Eugene O’Neill. Shyamaprasad said that
Electra is a play that has stayed with him since his student days in the Thrissur School of Drama. In a December 2010 interview, he said: Shyamaprasad was assisted in the script writing by Kiran Prabhakar. Rather than focusing on the essence of revenge in the myth, they tried to include the theme of Elektra's obsessive love for her father. Most of Shyamaprasad's previous works were adaptations of published novels or plays. About the adaptation of
Elektra, Shyamaprasad said: "My film is a modern retelling of the Greek classic in a Malayali setting. But it closely follows the philosophy of the ancient text and the Grecian theory of drama that intense fear and pity lead to a purification of the emotions of the audience, making it a cathartic experience." The film, though adapted from a Greek myth, has a contemporary setting in an aristocratic family in Kerala. The making of the film was also inspired by
K. G. George's magnum opus film,
Irakal. She was cast after she expressed a desire to work with Shyamaprasad. While filming, Nayantara said, "I am doing this film purely for creative satisfaction, as it offers me an opportunity to showcase my histrionics skills. I am excited that I am going to explore a new genre and the director is insisting on spontaneity. So, I intend to go to the sets with an open mind." When asked the reason for entrusting such a strong role to Nayantara, Shyamaprasad said, "Everyone has this question. To be frank, after
Ritu, I happened to meet Nayantara and she said she was really interested in doing movies with me. She was very keen on doing a meaningful role, something with substance. Usually she does those, you know, the glamorous, superficial roles which I guess supports her career. But she nursed the desire to do much deeper roles. Thus
Elektra happened." Nayantara also gave voice to the character. Prakash Raj plays Elektra's father, and Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala plays her mother, who is also the main antagonist. The film is Koirala's debut in Malayalam cinema. About her casting, Shyamaprasad says: "At the initial stages of scripting itself, I had drawn a picture of the character in my mind and I wanted somebody very attractive yet very powerful to do the role. There was nobody I could think of other than Manisha. In terms of beauty, the inner quality of the character she identifies with and her experience in films, she was the perfect choice for me as Diana. When I approached her, she loved the script. She said she wanted to work with me and said would definitely be part of my dream project. I appreciate her move, as Malayalam as a language is really tough to learn and pronounce for an actor. But she pulled it off so gracefully. I have full admiration towards her and her work." Film actress
Praveena dubbed for Koirala's character.
Sakhi Thomas was the costume designer for this movie. Kannada actor Skanda Ashok (Sooraj Skanda), who had a notable debut in Malayalam through
Roshan Andrews's
Notebook (2006), plays the role of Edwin, Elektra's brother, who is a neurotic, and according to him, "a sort of an underdog who goes on to save the day."
Biju Menon, Srikumar and Sruthi Menon also play important roles in the film.
Filming Principal production for the film started on 23 April 2010. Major portions of filming were held at an old mansion, Kalapurackal House in
Edakochi,
Kerala. Cinematography was handled by Sanu George Varghese, making his debut in Malayalam. He made his feature film debut the same year with
Karthik Calling Karthik. ==Release==