Malayalam movie ‘Aami’, the biopic of great author Madhavikutty (Kamala Das) received mixed reviews. Yet, it is definitely a crowd-puller . The love queen of Malabar had a muse. He was none other than Lord Krishna. Director Kamal cherry-picked a couple of chapters from her controversial novel ‘Ente Kadha’(My Story) and has converted those golden words into an entertaining movie. Well, this Blog is not about Kamala Das or about Kamal’s movie. It is about ‘Tovino Thomas’; the very talented actor, Kamala Das’s Krishna and a go-getter.
Actor Tovino Thomas has it all to become a superstar. Looks, talent, passion, humility, patience and luck. Apart from Aami, he has movies like ‘Abhiyum Anuvum’, ‘Maari-2’, ‘Maradona’ lined up to reach theaters this year.
How did all begin?
I started modeling as a means to find extra money. Always loved movies and I remember visiting shooting locations in and around my hometown.
Are you choosey in signing the movies these days?
Yes, I am picky in the kind of projects I take up. Now I have options unlike my starting days. I don’t want to act in movies for the sake of acting.
Chosen as ‘the most desirable man’ by Kochi Times in 2016. So, what do you think are the core characteristics of a man to be desirable?
I think a man should be truthful to oneself and do things that’s worth to self as well as to others.
Acting in movie ‘Aami, how was the experience?
Though I did only a guest appearance in the movie, my character is of someone the viewers will never forget. The shooting was only for 6 days. Manju Chechi( Actress Manju Warrier who plays Kamala Das in the movie) and Kamal Sir were very supportive throughout the shoot.
You worked as an assistant director for Roopesh Peethambaran’s Theevram, how different is it from acting?
Unlike acting, you get to learn a lot. The techniques, the style of acting of veterans in the field and the experience that it gives is totally different. Shooting is a magic. Its an effort of many creative brains and the end-product is co-ordinated spell-work of amazing people.
You love traveling, ain’t it? Which is this one particular place that stole your soul?
I had been traveling to places which are not really mainstream tourist spots. I like to be in serene and peaceful places. If you ask me which is this one place that I would love to go back, I would say it is Rishikesh. The positive vibes it gives out is an out of the world experience.
Do you sing and how about dancing? What are your other interests?
I am a not-so-bad bathroom singer. When it comes to dancing, I am a naysayer. Well, I cook and love reading books. Chicken dishes are my forte. Reading humanitarian fiction books like that of Khaled Hosseini is one of my other interests.
Fitness Mantra
Eat Healthy. Stay Healthy.
You are the brand ambassador of ‘Irinjalakuda Heritage Half Marathon’, are you a sports-person?
I was always interested in sports. Actively involved in sports activities during my younger days. Practicing gusthi (wrestling)for the movie ‘Godha’ was challenging.
Message to the Readers
R. Vijayalakshmi’s directorial movie ‘Abhiyum Anuvum’ is to release on 9th March. Everyone should go and watch it in the theater. Its my debut movie in Tamil.
Thank You! Tovino. I will cherish the talk we had. And hope you get many more astounding roles to act. Meanwhile, whether you love the writings of Madhavikutty or not. Please watch Aami this week. Let me wind up by jotting down a famous line said by the celebrated poet/writer/author. While confronted by a question, “how many people have you loved?”. She replied, “17 men, 12 women, 6 kids, 3 dogs, one cat and two parrots”.
Well written emily
Cinema is the most visual of all genres of story-telling and the director is the only key holder in narrating the story of a movie. Not the actor, the actor is always going through the character made or created by an author and the characters in the story or the actors supersede the storyteller in Malayalam films. That makes the story-telling inferior. This fact and not the competition from the small screen is what is troubling the Malayalam film industry.
A good director has to be a `filmmaker’ and not just a `director.’ Did it matter who acted for Eisenstein or Hitchcock or Ray or Adoor or Aravindan? Or Prakash Barre. Song and dance and cheap comedy cannot substitute for a good story telling
Life is in itself a great art. Hence, Malayalam cinema, especially modern cinema, should be related to life and reality. Fast-track numbers and dances may not live long. To save the Malayalam industry, themes should be heart-rending with melodious and meaningful rhythm. Old films like `Thakdheer’ or its Malayalam version, `Vidhi’, is a case in point. Sathyjit ray’s classic movies like “ Pather Panjalai “ ( The Song of the way ), “ Asani Sanketh “ ( Thunder at far ) are real examples, In Malayalam, I would highlight Aravindan’s Uttarayanam and Adoors Swayam Varamam and K.G. George’s “ Swapanadanam “ as true examples of good movies , The interview by honorable Poe, novalist and journalist Emily Parker has well performed the interview with the upcoming actor Tovino Thomas, the so called Krishnan of Kamala Das short story named ” Neermathaghal poothapool ” being converted and renamed to ” AAMEE, the original character’s name, a question, Director Kamal should have made this movie while Kamaladas was alive in this world…WILLIAMSJI MAVELI
REVISED COMMENT FROM WILLIAMSJI MAVELI
Cinema is the most visual of all genres of story-telling and the director is the only key holder in narrating the story of a movie. Not the actor, the actor is always going through the character made or created by an author and the characters in the story or the actors supersede the storyteller in Malayalam films. That makes the story-telling inferior. This fact and not the competition from the small screen is what is troubling the Malayalam film industry.
A good director has to be a `filmmaker’ and not just a `director.’ Did it matter who acted for Eisenstein or Hitchcock or Ray or Adoor or Aravindan? Or Prakash Barre. Song and dance and cheap comedy cannot substitute for a good story telling
Life is in itself a great art. Hence, Malayalam cinema, especially modern cinema, should be related to life and reality. Fast-track numbers and dances may not live long. To save the Malayalam industry, themes should be heart-rending with melodious and meaningful rhythm. Old films like `Thakdheer’ or its Malayalam version, `Vidhi’, is a case in point. Sathyjit ray’s classic movies like “ Pather Panjalai “ ( The Song of the way ), “ Asani Sanketh “ ( Thunder at far ) are real examples, In Malayalam, I would highlight Aravindan’s Uttarayanam and Adoors Swayam Varamam and K.G. George’s “ Swapanadanam “ as true examples of good movies , The interview by honorable Poe, novalist and journalist Emily Parker has well performed the interview with the Super star actor Tovino Thomas, the so called Krishnan of Kamala Das short story named ” Neermathaghal poothapool ” being converted and renamed to ” AAMEE, the original character’s name, a question, Director Kamal should have made this movie while Kamaladas was alive in this world…WILLIAMSJI MAVELI
Awesome , words , by both , most
Intelligent interview , portraying some iq level ,