It has been just five days since Tovino Thomas-starrer Minnal Murali released, but the film is making noise for all the right reasons. Directed by Basil Joseph, this superhero film, which is the first of its kind in the Malayalam film industry, brings to life the backstory of the supervillain Shibu and his love interest Usha, played by Guru Somasundaram and Shelly N Kumar, respectively. And Kumar is overwhelmed, to say the least, with all the praise coming her way for her performance.

The actor tells us she is rather surprised by how well the storyline and performances have been received by film buffs.

“The intensity of the characters and the narration was like lightning, it took us by surprise. We never expected this warm a welcome for the same,” she gushes.

One of the scenes that has got audiences talking is the one where Usha confesses her love to Shibu. Ask her about this scene and Kumar admits she never imagined it would turn out to be so “magical”. “We didn’t require another shot or glycerin to bring out the emotions; we got everything we needed in the first attempt itself,” she adds.

Though she was briefed about her character, Kumar reveals she was clueless about Usha’s importance in the plot. “Basil had told me all about the character, but not its arc. I tried to get a feel of it while performing, but the depth in Usha’s character left me teary-eyed,” she says, calling the shoot a “one-of-a-kind experience”.

The actor is also all praise for her director and his creation. She believes the filmmaker has already carved a place for himself in the history of Malayalam cinema.

“Basil’s superpower is being confident and relaxed at the same time, even when he has a huge responsibility on his shoulders. He has done complete justice to the film, which is why the filmmaker is a card of hope for Mollywood’s future,” she signs off.