Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani's Excel Entertainment have officially come on board the Malayalam vampire action thriller Half, announcing that the film will have its World Premiere at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival in the prestigious Midnight Madness section this September. Sharing the exciting news, Farhan revealed that Excel Entertainment, in association with AA Films, will present and distribute the film's Hindi version across North India ahead of its worldwide release.
Directed by Samjad and written by Praveen Viswanath and Samjad, Half stars Ranjith Sajeev, Aiswarya Raj, Abbas, and Amala Paul in pivotal roles. Produced by Anne Sajeev and Sajeev P.K. under Fragrant Nature Film Creations (FNFC), the film follows two half-blooded vampires on a brutal quest for revenge, blending supernatural mythology with high-octane road chases and relentless action.
Half marks FNFC's second collaboration with the writing duo of Samjad and Praveen Viswanath following their acclaimed 2024 mystery thriller Golam. To ensure authenticity, renowned Indonesian action choreographer Very Tri Yulisman, best known for The Raid 2 and The Night Comes for Us, spent months training Ranjith Sajeev and Aiswarya Raj, allowing the actors to perform their own action sequences. In a bold creative choice, the filmmakers have crafted the entire action spectacle without using slow-motion shots, aiming for a raw and immersive viewing experience.
The technical crew boasts several acclaimed names, including National Award-winning editor Mahesh Bhuvanend, production designer Mohandas, sound designer Vishnu Govind, cinematographer Pappinu, and composer Midhun Mukundan. The ambitious production was filmed over 117 days across diverse locations, ranging from the deserts of Rajasthan and the hills of Kerala to the snow-covered landscapes of Kazakhstan, giving the vampire saga a striking visual scale.
Conceived as a true pan-Indian entertainer, Half will release in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada. With its TIFF Midnight Madness premiere, international festival buzz, and a unique mix of vampire lore, revenge, and adrenaline-fueled action, the film is already shaping up to be one of the most intriguing Indian genre releases of 2026.