The film was in the making for more than fifteen years.[1] Sukumaran says this movie was a childhood ambition, a destiny. His devotion to Sree Narayana Guru is what promted him to make this movie. Over 2000 hand drawn images constitute the story board. Mohanlal was initially cast as "Swami Vivekananda", a cameo role in the movie which comes in the flashback, but later on withdrew from the movie due to problems with his shooting dates. The cast includes some of the best in the Malayalam movie industry..