Tovino Thomas: 'Manichitrathazhu' sparked my film passion

Actor Tovino Thomas recently reflected on his childhood experiences with cinema, highlighting the profound impact of the Malayalam classic 'Manichitrathazhu'. Thomas shared that watching the psychological thriller in theaters as a child instilled a lasting fear, making him hesitant to walk alone in the dark for quite some time. This movie memory is one of his earliest and most vivid.

Thomas attributes his enduring passion for films to his upbringing, where cinema was an integral part of family life. Family celebrations often included trips to the theater, a tradition that began even before he and his siblings were born. As attending theaters became less convenient for the growing family, his father introduced a video cassette player.

This innovation allowed the family to maintain their movie tradition at home. Every weekend, new video cassettes were rented, and Thomas, along with his brother, would spend hours rewatching them. These formative experiences, steeped in the magic of storytelling and shared viewing, were pivotal in shaping his eventual career in cinema.