“Chapati nahi, nahi, chor, chor…” — the hilarious outburst by Ramanan, played by Harishree Ashokan in Punjabi House, remains one of the most iconic moments in Malayalam cinema. The film, like many others, was shot at the now-legendary ancestral home in Ezhupunna — instantly recognisable to any Malayali as the same mansion that served as Michaelappan’s residence in Bheeshma Parvam and numerous others. For Malayali audiences, no further introduction is needed for this cinematic landmark-Villa De Parrai in Ezhupunna.

The 130-year-old mansion has become a cherished filming location in Malayalam cinema. From Puthukottayile Puthumanavalan and Inchakkadan Mathai & Sons to Two Countries, Hridayam, MT Vasudevan Nair’s Manorathangal, and the Unni Mukundan-starrer Marco, the house has featured in over thirty films—spanning both big-budget blockbusters and smaller productions.

Located in Ezhupunna, Alappuzha district, Villa De Parari was built in 1889. It was constructed by the Tharakan family. Currently, the house is owned by George Tharakan, who belongs to the seventh generation of the family. Beyond being a movie location, it is now also a major tourist destination in the area.

Among the many memories of film shoots, Punjabi House stands out, says George Tharakan. "Punjabi House is the film that was shot here for the longest period. It was filmed for nearly two months. Most of the shots from the movie were shot inside the house. The house and its surroundings were all part of major scenes in the movie. Since the film became a big hit, more filmmakers started choosing this location," he recalled.

It was during the COVID lockdown that the Amal Neerad film Bheeshma Parvam, which became a massive hit, was shot here. The house was used as the Anjootti Tharavadu, the main backdrop of the story. Due to COVID restrictions, the filming was shot with great care, recalls George Tharakan.

“Mammootty, Soubin, Sreenath Bhasi, and other main actors were all here for the shoot. A small portion of the house's front was extended with sets for the filming. Once the movie turned out to be a huge success, a lot of people began visiting the place. Vineeth Sreenivasan’s Hridayam, MT’s Manorathangal, and Unni Mukundan’s Marco are some of the major films shot here. Ads have also been filmed here. We allow filming only in the parts of the house that are separate from the portion where my family and I live,” he said.