Music Maestro Alex Paul Turns Director with Pan-Indian Film ‘Awake’

Celebrated Malayalam music composer Alex Paul, known for gifting Malayalis with numerous melodious hits, is stepping into direction with his debut film ‘Awake’. After years of planning and preparation, the film was officially launched on April 5, 2025, in Kochi under the banner of Pan Indian Cinema. The event was inaugurated by Nancy Lal in the presence of prominent film personalities like Lal, Balu Varghese, and Alby. Produced by Adv. Binu and Jayakumar, Awake is designed as a pan-Indian release, set to be presented in multiple Indian languages.

Awake is a campus horror thriller that features Karthikeya Dev in the lead role. He gained recognition for portraying the younger version of Prithviraj’s character in Empuraan and also appeared in Salaar. The female lead is played by Vinsita. The ensemble cast includes Siddique, Lal, Johny Antony, Joy Mathew, Bollywood actor Makrand Deshpande, Lena, Aristo Suresh, Avani Rajesh, and media influencer-singer-dancer Theresa Emma Brijit. Hari Pathanapuram also plays a key role. The story, screenplay, and dialogues are penned by Aswathy Alex, an assistant professor in Journalism and Mass Communication at Jain University.

Alex Paul himself is composing the music for the film. The technical crew includes editor V. Sajan, art director Boban, makeup artist Pattanam Rasheed, costume designer Sameera Saneesh, and action director Stun Shiva. Principal photography is set to begin in the first week of June in locations such as Thenkashi and kuttalam. The film will be released under the banner of Sneham Movie Productions and promises to offer a unique cinematic experience blending horror, music, and youthful energy.