‘Whenever he comes back, it will be a hit’: Dhyan Sreenivasan’s praise for Nivin Pauly resurfaces

Remarks made by actor-director Dhyan Sreenivasan praising Nivin Pauly’s comic brilliance have resurfaced on social media following the release of Sarvam Maya, which has opened to a positive response from audiences.

Dhyan Sreenivasan’s comments from an earlier interview with Ginger Media Entertainments have drawn renewed attention after Sarvam Maya, directed by Akhil Sathyan and starring Nivin Pauly in the lead, hit theatres on Thursday. The film has been receiving favourable word-of-mouth, with viewers describing it as a strong return to form for Pauly.

In the interview, Dhyan described Nivin Pauly as one of the finest humour-driven performers in mainstream Malayalam cinema today. “One of the mainstream actors who handle humour like nothing else is Nivin, following Mohanlal and Dileep. Only he is able to do that now. There is no one like him,” he said. Dhyan also credited Premam with giving Malayalam cinema wider national recognition, adding, “Premam gave pan-India reach to Malayalam, and our industry’s reach started there.”

Recalling his experience directing Love Action Drama (2019), Dhyan highlighted the on-screen chemistry between Nivin Pauly and Aju Varghese, calling their comic timing unmatched. He said Nivin’s gestures and mannerisms make him highly relatable, noting that audiences continue to see him as a “boy-next-door” figure, regardless of the gaps between his film releases.

Dhyan further pointed to Nivin Pauly’s influence on popular culture, particularly the beard look popularised by the actor in Premam. He observed that the style was widely adopted by actors across South India after 2015, describing Nivin as a trendsetter. While acknowledging Pauly’s range as a performer, Dhyan said humour remains his strongest area.

Meanwhile, Sarvam Maya has been earning praise on social media for its performances, humour and music. Several viewers have highlighted the chemistry between Nivin Pauly and Aju Varghese, with one user calling it “possibly the most enjoyable Nivin Pauly film since Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela”.

The film also stars Priety Mukhundan as the female lead. Its technical aspects, including music by Justin Prabhakaran, cinematography by Sharan Velayudhan Nair and art direction by veteran Rajeevan, have been widely appreciated. Director Akhil Sathyan, son of acclaimed filmmaker Sathyan Anthikad, previously directed Paachuvum Albhuthavilakkum, starring Fahadh Faasil.

Dhyan Sreenivasan and Nivin Pauly have collaborated on several projects over the years, including Love Action Drama (2019), Malayalee from India (2024) and Varshangalkku Shesham (2024), reflecting their long-standing professional association in Malayalam cinema.