In director Fazil’s Malayalam film Vismayathumbathu (2004), Mohanlal plays Sreekumar, a person who has the sixth sense; Nayantara appears in the role of a wandering soul. This film is being dubbed into Telugu by Koteswara Rao and T. Kranti Kumar under the banner of Sai Naveen Creations. The possible name in Telugu will be Suryamukhi. The producers foresee that the dubbed version of Vismayathumbathu could become a huge hit among Telugu audiences since the film is a psychological thriller like the megahit Chandramukhi by superstar Rajinikanth.
Nayantara is called Reetha Mathews in the Malayalam version; in Telugu, she will be Suryamukhi. Music is to be set by Ponnappachan and dialogues are by Jayaprasad.
In Vismayathumbathu, through the concept of ghosts, Fazil tried to show the possibility of a human soul’s reunion with the body after its separation. It showed Nayantara being alive, but her soul wandering outside her body, then returning to her body (naturally due to the super efforts of the hero). But how is it possible for a conscious person to have a free-floating soul outside? No clear explanation was given. Despite good performances by Mohanlal and Nayantara in Vismayathumbathu, the film could not impress audiences in Kerala due to its feeble storyline.
It was stated that the movie was inspired by the Hollywood movie Just Like Heaven directed by Mark Waters. It also has striking similarities with the all-time classic Manichitrathazhu (Chandramukhi in Tamil). But the difference is that Manichitrathazhu had more logic (dual personality influenced by earlier birth) to convince audiences whereas Vismayathumbathu was based on the supernatural effects for which no reasonable explanation was given.
Vismayathumbathu has Mukesh, Nedumudi Venu, Harisree Ashokan, Kalpana, Salim Kumar, Cochin Haneefa and Risa Bava in important roles. Songs are by Ousepachan.