Pallichattambhi has been in Tovino Thomas’s head since 2018. Speaking at a press meet in Chennai ahead of the film’s Tamil release, he said the script went through years of reworking before cameras rolled in 2025. “The story I first heard was good. But what the writer Suresh Babu shaped it into was better,” he said. “We both had other commitments, so we waited. And the wait made the film stronger.”
Set in 1957 Kerala, Pallichattambhi is a period commercial entertainer directed by Dijo Jose Antony, whose previous films Queen, Jana Gana Mana and Malayalee From India have all been box office successes. The shoot ran over a hundred days, with hundreds of actors on set daily. “This is a period film. It’s rooted in the social and political structure of Kerala in the late 1950s,” Tovino said. “It’s not based on a true story, but it draws from real events of that era, with fictional characters built around them.”
Kayadu Lohar, who plays the female lead, called the role one of the closest to her heart. “This is my third Malayalam film, and this character was different from anything I’ve done,” she said. “There was a lot of room to perform. We all worked as a unit and have made this into a family entertainer as well.” Kayadu, who broke through with Dragon in Tamil last year, praised Tovino as a collaborator.
Producer Charan, representing C Qube Bros Entertainment, noted that this is the production house’s first film. “Three brothers came together to produce this,” he said. “We started shooting in February 2025. Through this film, we’re recreating an event that took place in 1950s Kerala. We’re proud that this is our debut production.”
The music is by Jakes Bejoy, marking his fourth collaboration with Dijo Jose Antony after Queen, Jana Gana Mana and Malayalee From India. The first single, Kaattuchembakam, featuring Vishal Mishra’s Malayalam debut alongside Avani Malhar, has already charted. Cinematography is by Tijo Tomy, with a screenplay by S. Suresh Babu.
Tovino said he prefers not to watch incomplete cuts. “I want to experience the full film with the audience in the theatre,” he said. “The teaser and songs have done well. I believe the film won’t disappoint.”
Pallichattambhi is produced by Noufal and Brijeesh under World Wide Films alongside C Qube Bros Entertainment. Chakra Pictures is handling the Tamil Nadu release, with AP International distributing the Tamil and Hindi versions. The film opens worldwide on April 10 in five languages.