Latest news with #ChristoXavier
The Wire
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Wire
Soothravakyam Continues to Captivate Audiences in Second Week, Set for Australia Release on July 17, 2025
Kochi, July 16, 2025 – Cinema Bandi's Soothravakyam, a heartwarming Malayalam drama-thriller, has triumphantly entered its second week in theaters, continuing to win hearts with its compelling narrative and unexpected twists. The film, which premiered globally on July 11, 2025, across 14 countries, is now gearing up for its much-anticipated release in Australia on July 17, 2025, bringing the movie to an even wider audience. Distributed by Zineeverse Motion Pictures Pvt. Ltd., this debut feature by director Eugien Jos Chirammel has struck a chord with viewers worldwide, earning praise for its emotional depth, great performances and storytelling. The film's gripping plot, centered around Christo Xavier (Shine Tom Chacko), a police officer who doubles as a mathematics tutor for local students, has been lauded for its fresh take on human relationships and community dynamics. Audiences have been particularly taken by the film's unpredictable twists, which have left theatergoers both surprised and deeply moved. 'I didn't see that coming,' shared one viewer on social media, echoing the sentiment of many who have been captivated by the film's ability to blend light-hearted moments with intense, thought-provoking drama. The narrative's shift from a heartwarming premise to a darker, more complex exploration of trust, friendship, and resilience has kept audiences on the edge of their seats. Shine Tom Chacko's portrayal of Christo Xavier has been a standout, with critics showering praise on his nuanced performance. His ability to embody both the warmth of a mentor and the authority of a police officer has been described as 'a masterclass in versatility' by reviewers. One critic noted, 'Chacko brings a rare authenticity to Christo, making him both relatable and inspiring.' His performance has been a key factor in the film's emotional resonance, drawing viewers into the story of a man who defies stereotypes about law enforcement by fostering hope and education in his community. The ensemble cast, including Vincy Aloshious, Deepak Parambol, Binoj Villya, Meenakshi Madhavi, Nazeef, Anagha, and Divya M. Nair, has also received widespread acclaim for their touching performances. Vincy Aloshious, as Nimisha, a schoolteacher navigating her own challenges, delivers a heartfelt portrayal that complements Chacko's intensity. Deepak Parambol's complex role as Vivek has been described as 'gut-wrenching,' adding depth to the film's exploration of family dynamics. One of the film's most celebrated aspects is its depiction of a police officer running free tuition classes at a police station, a concept that has resonated deeply with audiences. This unique narrative thread, which challenges conventional perceptions of law enforcement, has been praised for its originality. Viewers have expressed admiration for how the film portrays police officers as allies who uplift their communities, with one audience member stating, 'The respect between Christo and his students is so beautifully shown—it's a story we don't often see.' Internationally, Soothravakyam has garnered a warm response, with audiences in the Gulf region and beyond embracing its universal themes of compassion and unity. The film's vibrant cinematography by Sreeram Chandrasekharan, capturing Kerala's lush landscapes, and its soulful soundtrack by Jean P Johnson, and team, with lyrics by Manu Manjith, have further enhanced its global appeal. Producer Srikanth Kandragula, who also plays a pivotal role as police in the film, expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support. 'Soothravakyam is a story that reflects the strength of community and the power of human connection. I'm thrilled that it has reached all sections of society, and I want to thank the Malayali audience for their unwavering support and for appreciating good cinema,' he said. Srikanth's dual role as producer and actor underscores his commitment to the project. The background score has been hailed as a unique element that elevates the viewing experience. Zineeverse Motion Pictures, the film's distributor, shared their pride in the film's global success. 'We are immensely proud to bring Soothravakyam to audiences in 15 countries, including its upcoming release in Australia. This film is a testament to the power of storytelling that transcends borders, and we are honored to be its distributors,' said a Zineeverse spokesperson. Their collaboration with Century Cinemas, Lifeline Films, 2G Entertainment, and Pharas Filmco Motion Pictures has ensured the film's reach across diverse markets, making it a significant milestone for Malayalam cinema. As Soothravakyam continues its theatrical run and prepares for its Australian release, it remains a celebration of hope, resilience, and the beauty of human relationships. The film's ability to weave values, sentiment and suspense into a nostalgic narrative has made it a must-watch, proving that stories rooted in the everyday can have a profound impact. (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with NRDPL and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI
The Hindu
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Soothravakyam movie review: fails to get the equation right between a light-hearted drama and a crime thriller
Cops without any baggage are so hard to find in movies these days that the police officer protagonist and even the entire police station in Soothravakyam stand out as different, although not exactly in a good way. Neither do they have personal troubles nor are they challenged much by professional assignments for a good part of the movie. This leaves them enough time to run a tuition centre for school students on the top floor of the police station, with Circle Inspector Christo Xavier (Shine Tom Chacko) doubling up as a teacher. The policemen are so diligent in their teaching that they even go to the extent of visiting the houses of students who are absent from class. So much so that Nimisha (Vincy Aloshious), the teacher at a nearby school feels students are losing interest in her class because of the tuition classes at the station. In Eugien Jos Chirammel's debut directorial, this teaching activity of the policemen is projected as one of its novelties, but we are never told how it came about. Just like the rest of Soothravakyam, nothing is explored beyond what you see on the surface. Not even a single classroom exchange is shown to convey the equation that the officer shares with the students. The only purpose of the school in the narrative is probably the connection of one of the attendees to the disappearance of a youth in the neighbourhood. The screenplay, co-written by the director and Rejin S. Babu uses this school atmosphere to set the scene, before it makes a delayed entry into a crime story. One aspect of this investigation, involving an abandoned pacemaker, turns out to be one of the few interesting bits in the whole film. But, this story comes too late into the picture, almost as an afterthought, preceded by a meandering screenplay and oddly edited sequences that hardly make an impact. Neither the light-hearted scenes, nor the police procedural towards the fag end evoke the expected emotions in the audience, partly due to the patchy writing. The illogical anger and extreme violence of a brother towards his much younger sister (Anagha) is used to drive the narrative up to a certain point. The talented Deepak Parambol is wasted in the one-note character of this perpetually angry, overly violent elder brother. However, Shine Tom Chacko appears to have got out of the rut of characters which were hard to differentiate from his real-life persona uttering incomprehensible lines. Vincy, a capable performer, gets a severely under-written character, who appears only in a few sequences. Caught between a light-hearted drama and a crime investigation, Soothravakyam does not get the equation right.
The Hindu
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Composer Christo Xavier on his latest track ‘Aspirin', Diés Iraé and more
Whether it is 'Dhurooha mandahasame' from Sookshmadarshini, 'Age of Madness' from Bramayugam; or 'Kalyana raavaane' from Journey of Love 18+, composer Christo Xavier is known for the trippy temperament of his tracks. However, he often experiences a creative dry spell after producing such chartbusters. That is when he goes out into nature, spends time alone, records sounds from the surroundings, and realises the 'insignificance of existence in the larger scheme of things'. This idea has inspired Christo's latest single, 'Aspirin'. 'I composed this track in 2021 and have been thinking whether we should make a music video. Since I wanted to shoot this one, I waited and saved money. And we have finally put it out,' says Christo, over phone from Kochi. The video is directed by filmmaker Ramith Kunhimangalam, an assistant director in Madanolsavam, Christo's maiden project as a music director. 'I have often seen him capture moments very beautifully. You could see that his visuals have life. When I mentioned this track to him, we wanted to make something original, without any references.' The video, featuring Christo and Maithreyi, was shot over three days at Munnar. The video portrays the hill station reflecting Christo's vision on life. 'Aspirin' belongs to the line-up of tracks showcasing Christo's love for electronic elements in his music. 'Even in a romantic song, I try to bring in electronic elements without losing the soul of the song,' says Christo. 'I am inspired by artists like John Lennon and the way they deliver their lines, like a poem. My aim was to create a poem with electronic music as a medium.' The composer uses a modular synth as opposed to a traditional synthesiser for the track, which offers the user the option to choose the components within it. 'We do not use modular synth much in Malayalam. I wanted to show that it's not only for foreign musicians; we can also make music with it.' 'The bird sounds in the song were pre-recorded and blended with sounds of nature. I also treated vocals as instruments; for instance, there is a high-pitched portion in the beginning, which was recorded as vocals and later processed to sound like an instrument,' explains Christo, who built a custom waterphone instrument for his soundscape in Bramayugam. The composer confesses he carries a recorder or a phone to capture any sound that interests him, even when he is on a break. 'The person you see in the video is who I am.' The Kochi-based musician made his entry into films with the Fahadh Faasil-starrer Trance in 2020, assisting ace music director Sushin Shyam. The duo worked together on Bheeshma Parvam, Kurup, Minnal Murali, Malik, and Kappela. His last project as a composer was in the Tamil movie, Sorgavaasal(2024) and his latest work in Malayalam is the Mammootty-starrer Turbo. He also sang all the songs in Bramayugam. 'I have a background in Carnatic music and that has helped me. I started as a singer and then realised I liked composing more than singing. Even though I studied classical music, I was always listening to Coldplay, Linkin Park, Skrillex, Michael Jackson and so on.' Christo is currently working on a Telugu movie and Rahul Sadasivan's much-awaited Pranav Mohanlal-movie, Diés Iraé. He says, 'I am not going to say anything about it right now. Just watch the movie, it's an interesting project.'
