"Malayalam cinema has 1/4th budget of a Bollywood film” - Ranjith Sanjeev at TIFF 2026

Sucharita Tyagi speaks with Ranjith Sajeev at TIFF 2026 about Half, a film that refuses to fit neatly into convention while still keeping its story remarkably simple at its core. Ranjith talks about what makes Half so different, his first experience at an international film festival, and what it feels like to see a Malayalam film find an audience at TIFF. He also reflects on the Malayalam film industry and why some of the most exciting and inventive films coming out of India today are coming from Malayalam cinema. Join our Discord Community -   / discord   Become a channel member-    / @sucharitatyagi   0:00 - Highlights 0:28 - What HALF is about 2:50 - Making the vampire teeth 3:16 - An action film with the woman at the centre 4:50 - "My favourite superhero is Spider-Man" 6:33 - Malayalam Cinema gaining popularity Two half-blooded vampires embark on a violent hunt, racing through high-speed chases as they pursue a revenge plot rooted in vampire lore. The 51st annual Toronto International Film Festival is being held from September 10 to September 20, 2026 The festival included the formal launch of a film market, separately from the public event, building on the introduction of the Industry Selects program at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival. The market will take place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, while the main public festival will continue to take place at the Princess of Wales Theatre, Roy Thomson Hall, the Royal Alexandra Theatre, the TIFF Lightbox and Scotiabank Theatre Toronto, with the Convention Centre's John Bassett Theatre added as a festival screening venue. Sucharita Tyagi is a member of the Critics Choice Association and the Vice Chairperson of the Film Critics Guild of India. With nearly 20 years of media experience, she is best known for her popular movie reviews on YouTube, where she has built a community of dedicated fans. Now splitting her time between Mumbai and New York, Tyagi also has extensive experience in broadcast radio. With a unique voice, she reviews films and discusses South Asian pop culture with honesty and passion through a contemporary, feminist lens, breaking down complex issues in relatable ways. --------------------------------------------------- Join me! Instagram -   / su4ita   X - https://x.com/Su4ita Be decent people, Sucharita