Director Dijo Jose Antony’s period drama Pallichattambi, starring Tovino Thomas, has wrapped filming and is set for a worldwide theatrical release on April 9, 2026. The director confirmed the completion of shooting through his Instagram page, marking a significant production milestone for what is being positioned as the biggest film of his career to date.
Set in the 1950s and 60s, Pallichattambi is Dijo’s first venture into period cinema. The filmmaker made his directorial debut in 2018 with Queen and followed it with the blockbuster Jana Gana Mana, a courtroom thriller that tackled communal tensions and institutional bias to considerable commercial and critical success. He later directed Malayalee From India. Known for weaving strong social themes into mainstream storytelling, Dijo now extends his range into historical territory with a film that demands an altogether different cinematic scale.
The screenplay comes from S. Suresh Babu, a writer who gained widespread recognition through Mohanlal’s Shikkar. Over a long career, Suresh Babu has written for leading stars including Mammootty and Jayaram, as well as newer generation actors such as Shine Tom Chacko, Soubin Shahir and Vinayakan, giving him a broad working knowledge of Malayalam cinema’s evolving landscape.
Music for the film is composed by Jakes Bejoy, who has established himself as one of Malayalam cinema’s most reliable composers with a string of commercially successful soundtracks. The cinematography is handled by Tijo Tomy, while Sreejith Sarang, experienced in editing films across multiple languages, serves as editor. Costume design falls to Kerala State Film Award winner Manjusha Radhakrishnan, a particularly important role given the period setting.
For Tovino Thomas, Pallichattambi represents another ambitious undertaking in a career that has steadily scaled up. The actor delivered his first solo 100-crore grosser with ARM in 2024 and has since maintained a prolific output. In this film, he will appear in a look audiences have not seen before. Kayadu Lohar features alongside him, with her first look poster from the film having already drawn attention.
The production is a joint effort between Noufal and Brijeesh of Worldwide Films and Chanakya Chaitanya Charan of C Qube Bros Entertainment. Releasing in five Indian languages including Malayalam and Tamil, Pallichattambi is clearly being positioned for a pan-Indian audience. With post-production now underway, all eyes are on the April 9 date.