Tovino Thomas (born 21 January 1989) is an Indian actor and film producer who predominantly works in Malayalam films.[1] He made his debut in 2012 with the film Prabhuvinte Makkal. His breakthrough roles were in the films ABCD (2013), 7th Day (2014) and Ennu Ninte Moideen (2015). He starred as the titular character in the Netflix superhero film Minnal Murali (2021).[2]
Tovino Thomas | |
---|---|
Born | Irinjalakkuda, Kerala, India | 21 January 1989
Alma mater | Anna University |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 2012–present |
Spouse |
Lidiya Tovino (m. 2014) |
Children | 2 |
Website | tovinothomas |
Tovino has co-produced the film Kilometers and Kilometers. On 21 January 2021, he launched his own production house – Tovino Thomas Productions.[3] Kala is the first venture by his own production house where he also played the role of the antagonist.[4]
He won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Ennu Ninte Moideen (2015). He also won the Kerala Film Critics Association Award and Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor for his performance in Mayanadhi (2017). For his constantly evolving looks and style, Tovino is ranked among the most desirable men[5] from Kerala as published by the Kochi Times, which, in 2018, ranked him first.[6] In 2022, Tovino won the SIIMA Award for Best Actor, for Minnal Murali and Kala.[7][8]
Tovino Thomas was born on January 21, 1989[9] in Irinjalakuda, Thrissur, to Adv. Ellikkal Thomas and Sheela Thomas as the youngest Child. His siblings are Tingston Thomas and Dhanya Thomas. He completed primary schooling from Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Irinjalakuda[10][11] and Secondary (Plus Two) schooling from St Mary's Higher Secondary School Irinjalakuda and graduated with bachelor's degree in electronics and communication engineering from Tamil Nadu College of Engineering, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. He was a part of the handball Team of Don Bosco High School and also helmed as the school leader.[12] He later worked in Cognizant Technologies[11] as a software engineer. He was active in sports, fitness and modeling.[13]
Tovino Thomas made his acting debut in Prabhuvinte Makkal (2012) directed by Sajeev Anthikkad.[14] Subsequently, he worked as an assistant director in Roopesh Peethambaran's Theevram. In ABCD: American-Born Confused Desi (2013) he portrayed the role of the antagonist. Tovino appeared as the lead in the film Koothara which also featured Mohanlal.[15] He played a lead role in Roopesh Peethambaran's second directorial venture You Too Brutus.[16]
He has played major roles in the films including 7th Day (2014) and Charlie (2015).
In 2015, he portrayed the role of Perumparambil Appu in the film Ennu Ninte Moideen which was widely appreciated and received critical acclaim for his performance. He won his first Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Ennu Ninte Moideen.[17]
He played the role of Engineer Thejus Varky in Guppy (2016) which was well received by audiences upon the DVD and digital release.[citation needed] He won the New Sensational Hero Award at the NAFA 2017 for his performance in the film.[18] This film was also a breakthrough in his career.
He played the lead role in Oru Mexican Aparatha, Godha, and Mayanadi in 2017. He won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor and Behindwoods Critics Award for Best Actor for Mayanadi.[19][20] The film was praised for the way it tackled with sexuality and was included in The Hindu's top 25 Malayalam films of the decade.[21] The same year he appeared in Ezra in a major supporting role.
In 2018, Tovino Thomas was cast in a major role in Maari 2 with Dhanush which was his Tamil debut.[22] His major Malayalam releases for the year includes Theevandi, Ente Ummante Peru, and Oru Kuprasidha Payyan. Tovino had major roles in Lucifer, Uyare and Virus in 2019. His film Uyare was released in South Korea, becoming the first Malayalam film to do so.[23] His other releases in the year were And the Oscar Goes To..., Luca, Kalki, and Edakkad Battalion 06.
In 2020, he played the lead role in the crime thriller Forensic with Mamta Mohandas, which received a good response from the audience and was a major box office success.[24]
In 2021, his first release was Kala which was his second venture as a producer. The film received critical acclaim for its narrative.[25] Kaanekkaane released in 2021, received a positive response and critical acclaim for its narrative and performance by its cast.[26] He starred as the titular character in Minnal Murali, which is the first Malayalam superhero action film, released by Netflix on December 24. He received immense praise for his work in the movie and the movie was also declared as 'Streaming success'[citation needed] and surpassed the records of most viewed Malayalam Film on OTT previously held by Drishyam 2.[27]
In 2022, Tovino appeared in Naaradan, Dear Friend, Vaashi and Thallumaala. The latter grossed 72 crores and became commercial success.
In 2023 he appeared in Neelavelicham, in which he portrays the role of Vaikom Muhammad Basheer and in 2018 which collected 200 crores and became the Highest grossing Malayalam film ever.
† | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2012 | Prabhuvinte Makkal | Che Guevara Sudheendran | |
2013 | ABCD | Akhilesh Varma | |
August Club | Mahesh | ||
2014 | 7th Day | Eby Ebineser | |
Koothara | Tharun | ||
2015 | You Too Brutus | Tovino | |
Onnam Loka Mahayudham | Jacob | ||
Ennu Ninte Moideen | Perumpparambil Appu | ||
Charlie | Georgy | ||
2016 | Monsoon Mangoes | Sanjay | |
2 Penkuttikal | Sanju | ||
Style | Edgar / Fletre Kelly | Double role | |
Guppy | Engineer Thejus Varkey | ||
2017 | Ezra | Shafeer Ahammed | |
Oru Mexican Aparatha | Paul and Kochaniyan | Double role | |
Godha | Anjaneya Das aka Dasan | ||
Tharangam | G. Padmanabhan Pillai | ||
Mayanadhi | Mathews aka Mathan | ||
2018 | Aami | Lord Krishna | |
Naam | Himself | Cameo | |
Abhiyude Katha Anuvinteyum | Abhimanyu / Abhi | Simultaneously shot in Tamil as Abhiyum Anuvum | |
Maradona | Maradona | ||
Theevandi | Bineesh Damodaran | ||
Oru Kuprasidha Payyan | Ajayan | ||
Ente Ummante Peru | Hameed and Khalid | Double role | |
Maari 2 | Gangadhar Beeja aka Thanatos | Tamil film | |
2019 | Lucifer | Jathin Ramdas | |
Uyare | Vishal Rajashekharan | ||
Virus | Paul K Abraham | ||
And the Oscar Goes To... | Issak Ebrahem | ||
Luca | Luca | ||
Kalki | K / Kalki | ||
Edakkad Battalion 06 | Shafeeque Mohammad | ||
2020 | Forensic | Samuel John Kattookkaran | |
Kilometers and Kilometers | Josemon | Netflix film | |
2021 | Kala | Shaji | |
Kaanekkaane | Alan | SonyLIV film | |
Kurup | Charlie | Cameo | |
Minnal Murali | Jaison Varghese "Minnal Murali" / Martin Rangakala | Netflix Film | |
2022 | Naaradan | Chandraprakash | |
Dear Friend | Vinod | ||
Vaashi | Ebin Mathew | [28] | |
Vazhakku | Siddharthan | [29] | |
Thallumaala | Manavalan Wazim "Wazi" | ||
2023 | Neelavelicham | Vaikom M. Basheer | [30] |
2018 | Anoop | [31] | |
Adrishya Jalakangal | Unnamed young Man | [32] | |
2024 | Anweshippin Kandethum | SI Anand Narayanan Pillai | [33] |
Nadikar | David Padikkal | [34][35] | |
TBA | Ajayante Randam Moshanam † | Ajayan / Maniyan / Kunjikelu | Filming[36] |
TBA | L2: Empuraan † | Jathin Ramdas | Filming[37] |
TBA | Identity † | TBA | Filming[38] |
Year | Film | Song | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2022 | Thallumaala | "Tupathu" | Co-sung with Shakthisree Gopalan and Vishnu Vijay |
Year | Title | Director | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | Kilometers and Kilometers | Jeo Baby | Jointly Produced with Ramshi Ahamed, Anto Joseph, and Sinu Sidharth |
2021 | Kala | Rohith VS | Co-produced with Siju Mathew, Navis Xaviour, Rohith V. S, and Akhil George |
2022 | Vazhakku | Siddharthan | [39] |
2023 | Adrishya Jalakangal | [32] |
Tovino married his longtime girlfriend, Lidiya at St. Thomas Cathedral, Irinjalakuda, on 25 October 2014. The duo had met during their school days and married after nine years[62] The couple has a daughter and a son born in 2016 and 2020 respectively.[63][64]
Tovino had volunteered during 2018 Kerala floods to lead rescue and rehabilitation missions. In 2021, Tovino received golden visa from Government of UAE[65]
Tovino Thomas was a part of the handball team at Don Bosco High School, Irinjalakuda during his high school years. As a part of the team, he has participated in junior and sub-junior levels. He was also the team captain at Don Bosco High School, Irinjalakuda.[66] Tovino had also competed at district and state levels representing Thrissur during his years when he was active at handball.[67]
Currently, Tovino is active alongside former members of the team to develop the sport in Kerala and is honored as the goodwill ambassador by Kerala Handball Association.
In 2021, Tovino is announced as the ambassador of the Samoohika Sannadhasena,[68] the community volunteer program launched by the Government of Kerala. The community volunteer program was launched to tackle natural disasters by imparting training to volunteers and provide aid to the public in times of crisis. Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala appreciated Tovino's involvement in flood relief activities and noted that his presence will influence the youth to join in the community volunteer program.[69]
After Mammootty and Mohanlal, Tovino became the third Malayalam film actor to receive the Golden Visa issued by the United Arab Emirates.[70]
BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE – Tovino Thomas (Minnal Murali, Kala)
The filming of Jude Anthany Joseph's upcoming film '2018 – Everyone is a hero' has been completed. The makers wrapped up the shoot on Sunday (Nov 13).