Latest news with #Soothravakyam
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
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Vincy Aloshious confirms Mammootty suggested her name ‘Win C': 'I have proof on my phone'
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) Actress Vincy Aloshious has clarified once again that it was none other than Mammootty who originally suggested her now-viral screen name "Win C." After being trolled for weeks and having earlier claimed it was a misunderstanding, Vincy has now doubled down, saying she has concrete proof — including screenshots — that the megastar did send her the message. 'Hi, isn't this Win C?' In an interview with Silly Monks Mollywood, Vincy said, 'He responded to my message saying, 'Hi, isn't this Win C?' I was overjoyed. From then on, I kept him posted about my work.' Earlier, in a post-award interview to Manorama News, Vincy had admitted she may have been misled and believed mistakenly that Mammootty had called her Win C, attributing the confusion to someone else's manipulation. The admission led to an online meme fest, with netizens mocking the incident and Vincy's statement going viral. 02:05 Soothravakyam - Official Trailer 'Did I really ask you to change your name? But Vincy has now revisited the events with clarity: 'Later, I received another message from the same number, asking me to keep the name Win C. I replied sarcastically, and the person wrote back, 'Did I really ask you to change your name?' I was confused and even wondered if he was joking.' She said she took a screenshot of the chat and sent it to a person named Georgettan, who confirmed that the number did belong to Mammootty. Blame it on disappearing messages? The actress says the reason for Mammootty's denial might be due to the disappearing messages setting enabled on his phone. 'He had no memory of it. When I told him I changed my name because of his messages, he looked genuinely surprised. But I have all the proof on my phone. Even so, people might once again think I'm just making it up,' she said. Meanwhile, Vincy Aloshious' recent outing is the Shine Tom Chacko starrer 'Soothravakyam'.
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.
Indian Express
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Soothravakyam movie review: Shine Tom Chacko, Vincy Aloshious deliver serviceable mystery thriller that needed better writing
Soothravakyam movie review: As I was watching Soothravakyam, I couldn't help but notice and admit how much potential Shine Tom Chacko has. It's not while playing the stereotypical eccentric characters, mirroring his once-infamous real-life persona, that he truly shines. To be honest, in such roles, his performances often come across as too manufactured, as if he's trying too hard to become the gaudy funhouse image we expect of him. Instead, it's in characters requiring a controlled, layered approach, or even in comedic roles, that his real talent surfaces, showcasing how much untapped potential he has; real-life problematic behaviour aside. Debutant director Eugien Jos Chirammel's Soothravakyam (Formula), as rugged and uneven as it is, stands as a testament to that. Christo Xavier (Shine) is not only the SHO of a police station but also the beloved mathematics tutor for a group of local school students. After he began offering evening tuition above his station, Nimisha (Vincy Aloshious), a teacher at the nearby school, claims that her students have stopped paying attention in her classes. They even bunk the last hour if she's teaching, assuming Christo will cover the topics more effectively. This sparks an initial clash between the two, which soon softens into compassion, as both have their hearts in the right place. Set in a village in Palakkad district, Soothravakyam begins as a feel-good, Manikyakkallu-type film before venturing into darker territory. For Arya (Anagha Annet), life is as beautiful as it can be when she's with her friends, especially her boyfriend Akhil (Naseef PP). But at home, she lives in constant fear of her elder brother Vivek (Deepak Parambol), who resents her. As she was born to their parents when he was 18, Vivek claims that he has been on the receiving end of so much humiliation and embarrassment because of her. Thus, he not only treats her coldly but often assaults her, especially because of her relationship with Akhil, warning her he won't let her cause him more 'humiliation'. Although Christo and Nimisha intervene, Vivek's violence continues. One day, he thrashes Arya and Akhil black and blue after catching them together. This incident becomes a turning point in the story, after which a crime unfolds that drives the rest of the film. Though Soothravakyam initially feels like a low-budget telefilm made by amateurs, Eugien never allows it to completely nosedive. He manages to keep it on track, at least technically. However, the writing falters quite a bit. Although Eugien introduces Christo as the students' favourite, we never understand why the children are so attached to him. Yes, he is a soft-spoken and chill guy, but what makes them eager to spend time with him, and that too learning? We don't know. In films like Manikyakkallu (2011), Life Is Beautiful (2000), Mohabbatein (2000) or the OG Dead Poets Society (1989), one key aspect the respective makers focused most on was establishing the bond between the teacher and the students, anchoring it in emotion, even showing that only the teacher saw their true worth. Those connections are why those films resonate decades later. This is exactly where Soothravakyam fails. Even if we set that aside, since Christo isn't a teacher by profession, and assume the students are simply drawn to his skills as a mathematics tutor, the film still doesn't offer more than the superficial. Occasionally, we see him writing equations on the board while the kids take notes, and that's it. The whole part feels half-cooked. When Soothravakyam shifts gears into thriller mode, Eugien's writing does improve but remains middling, relying heavily on the few already-established, overused elements. Opportunities to elevate the narrative are ultimately wasted. As the story progresses, it is revealed that a murder has occurred in the village and that it's connected to some of the central characters. However, in trying to build suspense and mislead the audience, Eugien underplays the victim's character so much initially that their death, upon eventual reveal, has almost no impact. Meanwhile, the final revelation as to who committed the murder and why feels too far removed from the core plot and the main characters' arcs that it comes across as a subplot forced into the film just to make it 'thrilling' or, worse, to pad the runtime. Also, if Soothravakyam gave you déjà vu of Sookshmadarshini (2024), you're not alone. The similarities were too obvious to ignore. At the same time, most characters in the movie end up being superficial and unexplored, the most unfortunate example being Nimisha. Even Akhil, who later endures significant trauma, is reduced to a unidimensional PTSD-stricken character with just one stable expression on his face afterwards. The same goes for Vivek. Although Christo himself is underwritten, the film cleverly keeps him busy enough that this weakness doesn't become glaring. One aspect of the writing that deserves credit is how the romance between Arya and Akhil is handled. Despite being between two late-teen students, the writer-director refrains from making their relationship cringeworthy by sidestepping clichés. Instead, their romance feels as mature as it can for kids their age. Despite all the narrative shortcomings, Eugien does manage not to bore audiences. He avoids letting the film bite off more than it can chew and wraps everything up at the right time, resulting in a watchable experience overall. Barring the extremely graphic depiction of the assaults on Arya, which could be very triggering, he keeps the film from becoming needlessly bloody. Although not all the visual imageries in the movie work, the final shot of Christo teaching kids at a juvenile home the mathematical concept of Integration (which also means the action or process of joining or mixing something/someone with a different group) was a noteworthy moment, underscoring the importance of rehabilitation. While Shine Tom Chacko's acting isn't extraordinary, mainly due to the weak writing, he demonstrates he shouldn't be written off and that he is a solid actor. Vincy Aloshious' performance, unfortunately, feels as clueless as her character, who seems unsure why she even exists in this story. Anagha Annet, nonetheless, is spectacular as Arya. Whether in tender moments with Akhil or in scenes of traumatic suffering, she remains fully committed, giving Arya a soul. Jean P Johnson's background score is effective, though the songs don't fare as well. Sreeram Chandrasekaran's cinematography has shining moments but also falls flat quite a few times. Soothravakyam movie cast: Shine Tom Chacko, Vincy Aloshious, Deepak Parambol Soothravakyam movie director: Eugien Jos Chirammel Soothravakyam movie rating: 2 stars
Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Shine Tom Chacko apologises to Vincy Aloshious during Soothravakyam promotions after drug-related misconduct: ‘If you were hurt, I am sorry'
All seems to be well between Malayalam actors Shine Tom Chacko and Vincy Aloshious. The Jana Gana Mana actor had earlier been accused by Vincy of misbehaving on the sets of their film Soothravakyam, allegedly under the influence of drugs. However, the two recently reconciled their differences during the film's promotions in Puthukad on Tuesday. During an interaction with the media, Shine publicly apologised to Vincy. When asked if there were any issues between them, Shine responded, 'Do you see any problems between us by looking at us?' — hinting that everything was fine between the two. Vincy, too, denied any ongoing feud. Vincy even spoke about her admiration for Shine and his career, revealing that she had sought his advice before becoming an actor. However, she admitted that it was unexpected to see Shine under the influence of drugs on the set. Vincy's statement prompted Shine to apologise publicly. He said, 'I did not expect it. If you were hurt, then I am sorry.' In April, Vincy had accused Shine of inappropriate behaviour on the sets of Soothravakyam and lodged a formal complaint with the Kerala Film Chamber. She also approached the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) regarding the alleged misconduct. However, she did not file a police complaint. Just days after Vincy's complaint, Shine was arrested under Sections 27 (consumption) and 29 (conspiracy for drug abuse) of the NDPS Act. The action was taken after he allegedly escaped during a police raid at his hotel in Kochi. His chats and digital payment details reportedly helped the police establish a prima facie link between him and drug peddlers. This was the second drug-related case against Shine. Earlier this year, he was acquitted in a 2015 cocaine case. Shine Tom Chacko is also going through a difficult time in his personal life. Last month, the actor was involved in a car accident that claimed the life of his father. He was travelling with his family from Ernakulam to Bengaluru for his de-addiction programme when the accident occurred.
