Singapore witnessed a landmark moment for its Malayalee community on April 12, when the city hosted the first-ever international teaser launch of a mainstream Malayalam feature film – Pluto.
Held at the NUS Ho Bee Auditorium, the event marked a significant shift in the role of the diaspora – from cultural patrons to active creators in global cinema.
The launch, which began at 6pm, was followed by the much-anticipated “Vineeth Sreenivasan Live in Singapore” concert, co-presented by Orchid Films International.
While overseas promotional events for Malayalam films are typically held in the Middle East, bringing such a launch to Singapore underscored the growing cultural and creative influence of the Malayalee community here.
What makes Pluto particularly notable is that it is entirely bankrolled by Singapore-based Orchid Films International, helmed by husband-and-wife duo Reju Kumar and Resmi Reju Kumar. The project signals a bold step into mainstream Malayalam cinema by a diaspora-led production house.
For Mr Reju, managing director of ETA Shipping Services and a long-standing pillar of the Singapore Malayalee community, the film represents the culmination of a lifelong passion. “I have always had a passion for films. For the past five years, I have been exploring scripts, and about four years ago, I came across Pluto and really liked it,” he said.
Mr Reju moved to Singapore in 1998 after completing his MCom in Kerala and began his career as a purchaser in a shipping company. In 2011, he co-founded ETA with his wife, Resmi. Their journey into cinema began in 2018 with the establishment of Orchid Films, initially focusing on distributing Malayalam films in Singapore.
Over the years, Orchid Films has also nurtured local talent through music videos like Oru Puthu Niram, which garnered over a million views on YouTube, and projects such as The Orchid Symphony. The company further expanded into storytelling with short films like Hridyam and Nandini, creating platforms for aspiring filmmakers, musicians and technicians within the diaspora.
“Pluto is our first major production,” Mr Reju said. “It was challenging, especially since I have been based in Singapore for 29 years. Initially, building connections in the Malayalam film industry was difficult, but over time it became a rewarding and enjoyable journey.”
The film was shot over 82 days in Kochi and Kakkanad in Kerala, with post-production expected to be completed by May. It is slated for a worldwide release, including Singapore, in the second week of June.
Made on a budget of approximately Rs11 crore (S$1.5 million), Pluto ventures into the relatively unexplored genre of sci-fi alien comedy in Malayalam cinema.
Directed by Adithyan Chandrashekar and written by Niyas Muhammed, the film follows a quirky narrative of an alien crash-landing in Kerala and attempting to adapt to human life. The ensemble cast includes Neeraj Madhav, Althaf Salim – who plays the alien – Aju Varghese and Arsha Chandini Baiju.
The film also features contributions from Singapore-based talent, including actor Biju Kurup in a cameo role, as well as Mr Reju’s daughter Reshma.
Mr Reju revealed that the decision to host the teaser launch in Singapore was deeply personal. “Most Malayalam film launches happen in Dubai, Saudi Arabia or Qatar. But Singapore is my second home. My friends, well-wishers and community are here – so it felt right to do it here,” he said. The event itself was mounted on a grand scale, with nearly Rs75 lakh (S$102,000) spent to bring popular playback singer Vineeth and his troupe to Singapore.
Community leaders have hailed the project as a defining moment. Singapore Malayalee Association president Sunu Ghani described it as a source of immense pride. “This is something very special for our community. It is not someone from Kerala – it is one of us here in Singapore producing a mainstream film,” she said.
Mr Rajith Mohan, president of the cultural organisation Singapore Kairalee Kala Nilayam, said: “For Singapore’s film and arts scene, this is a step towards deeper cultural exchange. It opens doors for collaboration between regional filmmakers, artistes and institutions, strengthening Singapore’s position as a hub for diverse creative voices. What makes this launch special is the signal it conveyed, that Singapore can host, support and celebrate international cinema in new ways.”
