Live it up like Tovino

FIRST, IT WAS HIS self-confident stride that had audiences take notice of the young, well-kempt man in ABCD. That was in 2013. The engineer-turned-model-turned actor, who went by the not-so-common name, Tovino, could have been just another upstart among the 'new generation.'
Four movies later, Ennu Ninte Moideen arrived; despite the over-bearing presence of two fantastic star-performers, Prithviraj and Parvathi, Tovino Thomas snatched his space and defined his turf, making audiences give their nod to his talent and screen presence.
Yet, it was not a box-office hit that would mark the arrival of Tovino- the actor and the star. It was Guppy, a fantastic small film, unfairly deprived of a decent theatre-run that made Tovino, a name and force to reckon with.
Turning 30 next year, Tovino has not looked back since. Guppy became a DVD circuit-hit, and Tovino went straight up the chart in box-office appeal. What else could explain the mind-blowing initials that his film Oru Mexican Aparatha earned at the turnstiles?
Not hesitant to do supporting roles (he was recently also seen in Prithviraj's Ezra), Tovino earned his stardom the tough way. But with his chiseled looks, sculpted body, effortless confidence and proven talent, his rise is now well-set.
Box-office pull
This week, Tovino has proved his command over the box office with Godha, a super-hit back home in Kerala, and now playing at theatres in the UAE.
Directed by Kunjiramayanam fame Basil Joseph, the film, despite its wrestling backdrop, is not Dangal or Sultan. As references go, it could be close to Mutharam Kunnu PO than Oridathoru Phayalvan - the two films in Malayalam in the 'wrestling' genre.
Tovino chatted to City Times a few days before the release of the film, which stars Renji Panicker, Aju Varghese and Wamiqa Gabbbi.
Media reports then said Tovino was crying foul that a lobby (and an actor) was plotting against him. A social media frenzy followed. Known for his candid comments on movies and the society, Tovino had just taken a back-seat, appalled by the negative energy that social sites generate.
Naturally, he is guarded, and the veneer slips only when he becomes that earthy Iringalakuda boy, calling out to someone in typical Trichur slang, 'Enthoota avide.' Soon, he talks about his love for movies, and Godha, freely, merrily.
 
A dream project
Tovino says he was drawn into the world of films after watching many film shoots on location. "I used to marvel at how different those scenes would appear in the final film," he says. "But it was impossible to tell my parents that films were my career choice; education was the priority." He completed his studies, worked, did short films, modelled and ventured into films, climbing the way up the ranks.
After Ennu Ninte Moideen and Guppy, he found his bearing, and Godha, he says, has been a dream project since 2015, when Basil first narrated the story. "It is not an all-out film on wrestling. No doubt, it is about wrestlers but it is also about people and their dreams, and set in a rural milieu. While wrestling propels the story, the entire packaging is close to Mutharam Kunnu in terms of humour."
Tovino had to train for the wrestling scenes and be in shape, maintaining a good 80kg. "Basil's instruction was that I must keep the lean frame, not rippling muscles and all, and look the part of a real wrestler." That meant long work-out sessions, often after, during and in between shots.
He has been passionately promoting Godha, more so because he feels the need for the public to know of the film and about the work that had gone into it. After all, he has the experience of the less-marketed Guppy, and though it was no fault of his, Tovino doesn't want a similar experience for any of his films.
 
Tovino's choice of films
Tovino says he likes to experiment with his characters. In fact, he is already doing a Tamil film, and plays the lead in Aashiq Abu's next project, titled Maayanadhi. "My hope is not to be typecast; I want to do an eclectic range of characters and in new genres. This is a great time to be part of our industry, when there is space for all."
So, what was that prickly comment about career-sabotage? Tovino explains the context adding how his words were manipulated to 'manufacture news.' "Who really bothers to tell the truth now? There is just a mad scramble to make news," he says.
While he might be disengaging from the negative energy of social media chatter, that does not mean he is going to shy and cower. Tovino's approach is to focus on his work and give it the best shot. What better way than to silence critics, rattle detractors and win over fans than by scripting new successes - much like Godha!