Malayali actor and filmmaker Sandeep J.L. has been making films about six years according to his IMDb, on both sides of the lens at that. On his latest English-language action adventure, The Great Escape, he gets to team up with Indian-American martial artist and action star Babu Antony whose screen credits overseas date as far back as his debut in T.S. Mohan’s Shathru (1985). Together, they combine their experience and Antony’s own starpower for another venture in South Indian cinema that’s tweaked and calibrated clearly for consumption by martial arts action fans.
Penned by Yadhu Krishnan (Vision Films’ Crossfire) and shot entirely in Texas in mostly English, The Great Escape also features veteran wrestler Chaz Taylor who previously appeared in the latter’s 2021 action thriller, Outrage. Also among those featured are martial arts Grandmaster Robert Parham (Bullets, Blades and Blood, 1 Out Of 100), and international action star Simon Kuke (Ip Man 3, Foggy Mountain).
The film had a festive premiere screening in Houston back in February and official trailer is currently making the rounds. Say what you may of the quality and acting at first glance, but the trailer itself certainly aims to please, selling hard on the action as Kuke took the reigns on choreography.
This director may be relatively new for a lot of folks, especially in the western world and among the martial arts niche who may just be hearing of him for the first time as I have during the weekend. One thing that is clear though, and that is, as far as the trailer is concerned, Sandeep clearly understood the assignment.
Take a look!