'Nadikar' is not ‘Thallumaala’: Tovino Thomas | Interview

With a stylish look and unique attire, Tovino Thomas' portrayal of superstar David Paddikal in ‘Nadikar’ has been warmly embraced by audiences. After a hiatus, Lal Jr. returns as director, and the film is performing exceptionally well in theaters. Produced by Naveen Yerneni, Y Ravi Shankar, Alan Antony, and Anoop Venugopal under the banner of GodSpeed and Mythri Movie Makers, the film unfolds on a grand scale. Tovino Thomas shares his experiences working on the ‘Nadikar’ project.

There have been several Malayalam movies that delve into the narrative of a movie within a movie. What sets ‘Nadikar’ apart from them?

The distinguishing factor lies in how the story unfolds. An actor's life, hidden from social media and Google searches, is explored in the movie. His innermost worries and thoughts, when alone, are juxtaposed with the facade of a smiling face he presents to the world. That's what the film delves into. Despite being a fictional character, all emotions are depicted with authenticity.

Many of your characters have left a lasting impact on audiences. What distinguishes David Paddikal from these roles?

The tagline for this movie is the heart-wrenching story of a hopeless superstar told under the guise of comedy. A character that emotionally touches all of us with a sense of humor. The treatment of the character itself sets it apart. Techniques like drama and the movie-within-a-movie concept are employed in ‘Nadikar’, promising a fresh cinematic experience.

After ‘Thallumaala’, you were praised for your portrayal of a colourful entertainer. Does ‘Nadikar’ follow a similar style?

‘Nadikar’ shares similarities in vibrancy with ‘Thallumaala’, but the emotions and circumstances differ. In 'Thallumaala', Khalid Rahman's storytelling methods differ from those in Jean-Paul Lal’s ‘Nadikar’. While I cherish ‘Thallumaala’, ‘Nadikar’ is different. All the actors in the film are friends. How does that friendship benefit the movie ‘Nadikar’? When working with people you know, some things don't even need to be made clear. When they see the face, they will understand. We can improve our performance only when the co-actor understands us. These friendships are helpful for that. On Nadikar's set, the entire crew may have been on the same wavelength.

Reuniting with Bhavana, your first female lead, after several years. How was the chemistry on set?

I entered the industry almost 12 years after Bhavana, yet I was treated with immense warmth. Bhavana was sweet then, and she remains so to this day.

Following the continued success, we are now passing through a good period of Malayalam cinema. My primary desire is for the audience to grasp and relish the film as intended. Beyond that, I'm less concerned about its commercial success. Ensuring the producer doesn't incur losses is paramount, and I extend my full cooperation towards that end. The box office figures matter less to me. 

‘Ajayante Randam Moshanam’, ‘Identity’, ‘Empuraan’... Any updates on your upcoming projects?

‘Ajayante Randam Moshanam’ is likely to release this onam, with post-production progressing smoothly. ‘Identity’ has wrapped up the majority of its shoot, with only a few days left. After the rush of ‘Nadikar’, my focus will shift to ‘Identity’. Additionally, I've completed a three-day shoot for Empuraan, but there's more work ahead.