“I Can’t Sit Through It”: Director Girish A.D. Opens Up About His Regrets Regarding ‘Super Saranya’

Malayalam filmmaker Girish A.D. has earned a reputation for crafting relatable, youth-centric stories that resonate deeply with audiences. While his filmography—which includes hits like Thanneer Mathan Dinangal and the recent blockbuster Premalu—is widely celebrated, the director recently revealed that one of his projects continues to haunt him.

In a candid conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Girish A.D. confessed that his 2022 directorial venture, Super Saranya, is the one film in his career that he finds nearly impossible to rewatch.

A Victim of Circumstance and Hasty Execution

Starring Anaswara Rajan, Arjun Ashokan, and Mamitha Baiju, Super Saranya follows the journey of a young woman navigating the complexities of college life, friendship, and romance. Despite its commercial success and the popularity of its comedic moments, the director remains his own harshest critic.

Girish A.D. attributed his dissatisfaction to the challenging production environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. “It was a film that was shot hastily amid the difficulties of the Covid period,” the director explained. He noted that the project suffered from a lack of a rigorous script review process, leading to structural flaws that he still struggles to overlook.

“I can watch all the other films, but I just can’t watch this one,” he admitted. “Despite having a story with a lot of potential, we couldn’t even reach half of what it could have been. That is why I always have a great sense of disappointment about it.”

Finding Satisfaction in ‘Premalu’

While Super Saranya represents a point of frustration for the filmmaker, his recent work has provided much higher levels of creative satisfaction. During the same interview, Girish A.D. highlighted the specific sequence from his hit film Premalu that he is most proud of: the scene where the female lead proposes to the protagonist during an intense car chase. For the director, this sequence represents a high point in his craft, balancing humor and narrative momentum in a way that met his personal standards.

Looking Ahead

Despite his retrospective critique of his earlier work, Girish A.D. continues to be one of the most sought-after storytellers in Malayalam cinema. Fans are currently looking forward to his upcoming project, Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, which features Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju in the lead roles.

As the director continues to evolve, his transparency regarding his past projects serves as a testament to his commitment to quality, proving that even successful filmmakers are often driven by the constant desire to surpass their previous efforts.