‘I cried; It’s our lives on screen’: Model Bency Joy reacts to Arjun Ashokan’s Thalavara

Kochi: Thalavara, starring Arjun Ashokan in one of the most challenging roles of his career, is garnering widespread acclaim in theatres for its emotionally powerful storytelling and socially relevant theme. Viewers are calling it a career-defining performance for Arjun, who plays “Paanda”, a character portrayed with intense emotional depth and realism.

The film has particularly touched audiences with its portrayal of a person living with vitiligo. Model Bency Joy, who lives with the condition, expressed her deep connection with the film after watching it, and her heartfelt words have since gone viral on social media.

"I live with vitiligo. I have no words. A film like this has never come from Hollywood or Bollywood. It’s our lives on screen. I cried. I’m deeply grateful that a film like this was made," said Bency Joy, adding praise for the film's makeup and crew.

Revathy Sharma plays the female lead, with a strong supporting cast including Ashokan, Shaiju Sreedhar, Ashwath Lal, Prashanth Murali, and others.

Set in Palakkad with its distinctive dialect, the film showcases Arjun in a never-before-seen look, marking a new phase in his career. It is produced by Shebin Backer under Shebin Backer Productions and Mahesh Narayanan under his banner Moving Narratives.

The screenplay was co-written by Akhil Anilkumar and Appu Aslam, with music by Electronic Kili, cinematography by Anirudh Aneesh, and editing by Rahul Radhakrishnan.