Indian National Film Award-winning actor Parvathy Thiruvothu will be helming Don Parathara’s next directorial project, co-starring acclaimed filmmaker and actor Dileesh Pothan.
Sarvothu, who won the National Film Award and Best Actor Award at the Indian International Film Festival for his performance in Take Off (2017), brings a stellar track record to the project. The actor has given acclaimed performances in films like ‘Bangalore Days’ (2014), ‘Ennu Ninte Moideen’ (2015), ‘Charlie’ (2015), ‘Uyare’ (2019) and ‘Virus’ (2019). She made her Bollywood debut opposite Irrfan Khan in Qarib Qarib Singlle (2017) and is a founding member of the Women in Cinema Collective.
The project marks Thiruvothu’s first collaboration with Parathara and Pothan, two of the most respected creative voices in Malayalam cinema (India’s flagship film industry in terms of innovative content). Plot details are currently being kept under wraps, but the film is touted to be an emotional drama and will be shot extensively across the southern Indian state of Kerala, with principal photography set to begin soon.
“Don Parathara’s films are a mirror of how we live and love, often without criticism or noise. It’s very liberating to step into such a world as an actor,” said Sarvotu. “His films have a powerful meditative quality. He invites us to actively reflect on how we live. As an actor, I find such a space exhilarating because it requires you to forget about acting and just be. This is also incredibly challenging.”
“Working with him has been on my wish list for a while and I’m so happy that this project has come to fruition. And sharing the screen with Dileesh, whose creative sensibilities I’ve admired for years, feels like a chance to be a student again.”
Parathara’s films are known for their exploration of subtle emotional layers and human relationships. His previous works include “Family”, which had its world premiere at the Rotterdam International Film Festival in 2023, “Everything is Cinema” (2021), “Joyful Mystery” (2021), “1956, Travancore Central” (2019), “Visu” (2017), and his debut feature “Shavam” (2015). His films often tackle complex social realities with a meditative approach that avoids judgment.
Pothan, on the other hand, stands as one of the most formidable forces in Malayalam cinema. As a director, his debut film Mahesinte Prathikaaram (2016) won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam, as did his follow-up Thondimtalum Driksakshiyum (2017). Both films starring Fahadh Faasil set new standards for storytelling in Malayalam cinema. As an actor, Pothan has appeared in more than 60 films and is praised for his restrained yet impactful screen presence.
Thiruvothu also features in Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan’s Prime Video debut ‘Storm’. This high-stakes thriller series is produced and directed by Ajitpal Singh (Tabbar, Fire in the Mountains), features an ensemble cast of strong female protagonists, and is produced by Roshan’s HRX Films. Production on “Storm” is expected to begin soon.
