The year 2025 has been a whirlwind year for the Aanandam boys.

Now, you might be thinking—who are the Aanandam boys?

Wait, no way… Yes, we are talking about Vishak Nair, Arun Kurian, Roshan Mathew, and Thomas Mathew — the boys who starred in the 2016 runaway hit Aanandam, the Malayalam film directed by Ganesh Raj.

The movie, backed by Vineeth Sreenivasan, is also remembered for an affable cameo by Nivin Pauly.

Strikingly, all the heroes mentioned above have been having a golden run at the Malayalam box office, particularly in 2025. These young actors, while excelling in their craft, are soaring high in the expanse of Malayalam cinema.

While Vishak Nair was a standout performer in the smashing hit Officer on Duty, headlined by Kunchacko Boban earlier this year, Arun Kurian has shot himself into the stratosphere in terms of box office success by being part of the vivid and ambitious Lokah universe.

Thomas Mathew delivered a subtle performance as Mohanlal’s son in Thudarum — one of the biggest hits in Malayalam cinema — delivered neatly by young maestro Tharun Moorthy. He also made headlines by acing the complex emotions in his role in Narayaneente Moonnaanmakkal.

And when it comes to Roshan Mathew — a mesmerising actor with pan-Indian reach, ruling both the silver screen and the stage with his nuanced performances — many feel that watching Roshan the artist is a divine experience.

Shahi Kabir’s Ronth yet again underlined what a vital cog Roshan has become in the Malayalam cinema machinery.

Always wanting friends to succeed 

In a conversation with The Cue Studio, Arun Kurian reflected on the golden run he and his peers are currently enjoying.

“I remember Chandu telling me while filming Lokah, like how the Aanandam boys are on a literal roll this year.”

Talking further, he said:

“After Aanandam, Roshan’s career took off, Vishak ventured into Hindi and did notable work, and with Thomas Mathew — he is persistent. One of his films didn’t materialise, but I was so happy to see him in Thudarum. As actors, we all want to succeed,” said a hopeful and humble Arun Kurian.

Arun also praised Anarkali Marikar, another actor who had featured in Aanandam, acknowledging her growth as both an actor and a singer. He especially highlighted her performance in Arun Chandu’s Gaganachari, where she impressed with her acting.

"Both Siddhi and Annu, who played significant roles in Aanandam, have charted diverse paths since the film — Siddhi has ventured into entrepreneurship, while Annu, who occasionally returns to the screen (notably in the National Award-winning Pookkaalam), actively practices yoga and Kalari.

Arun Kurian’s stellar success in Lokah, along with the equally impressive journeys of his Aanandam peers, is more than just a coincidence — it is well-deserved success, earned through their blood, sweat, and unwavering commitment to cinema.