Despite inspiring several remakes over the years, including ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’, ‘Manichitrathazhu’ continues to hold a special place among Malayalam audiences. The Mohanlal-starrer remains one of the most popular psychological thrillers in Malayalam cinema and is definitely a classic. Tovino Thomas recently revisited one of his earliest film memories while promoting his latest release, ‘Balan. The Child’. Recalling his childhood, the actor recalls how watching Manichitrathazhu in theaters left a lasting impression on him.Speaking to Club FM about the experience, Tovino said, “I watched many films in theaters during my childhood, but Manichitrathazhu is one that has stuck with me ever since.
The cinema has always been a family tradition
Tovino also shared that his love for films is due to his upbringing. The cinema has always been an important part of family life, with visits to the theater becoming a tradition during family celebrations.He explained that even before his siblings were born, his parents always watched movies. As the family grew, those outings became more difficult to organize. But their passion for cinema never faded.Sharing those memories, Tovino said, “My family loves to watch movies. Every time there is a family wedding, it’s a tradition for everyone to go to the cinema.
Weekend movie nights shaped his passion
As frequent trips to the theaters became less practical, Tovino’s father found another way to keep the family movie tradition alive. He bought a video cassette player. He made sure that weekends were dedicated to watching movies at home.The actor recalls spending hours re-watching the rented cassettes with his brother. Those experiences shaped his passion for cinema.Recalling those days, he said, “As we grew up, it became difficult for the whole family to go to the theater together. So my father bought a video cassette player. Every Friday, he would rent video cassettes, and we would spend the weekend watching films. My brother and I watch those movies over and over again. I think that’s where my love for cinema began.”On the work front, Tovino Thomas’ recent outing is in ‘Balan. The Child’. Directed by Chidambaram and written by Jithu Madhavan, the Malayalam psychological drama thriller features Adhisheshan KR, Farzana Palathingal, Muhammad Zinaan, Jean Paul Lal, Girish AD, and Tovino in pivotal roles.According to Sacnilk estimates, ‘Balan: The Boy’s total collection worldwide stands at Rs 24.26 crore.