The actor's 50th film will also be released worldwide in 3D format on 12 September, with subtitles in almost 50 languages.
Published Sep 09, 2024 | 7:18 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 09, 2024 | 7:18 PM
'ARM' has a universal appeal, says Malayalam actor Tovino Thomas. (Supplied)
Malayalam actor Tovino Thomas is all set to entertain the audience with the most-awaited pan-Indian film Ajayante Randam Moshanam, which will be released in other languages as ARM.
Kriti Shetty, Aishwarya Rajesh, and Surabhi Lakshmi are playing the leading ladies in this period-adventure drama. As ARM marks the 50th film in Tovino Thomas’s career, it generated significant excitement among fans and moviegoers alike.
Directed by debutant Jithin Lal, the film is produced by Listin Stephen under the banner of Magic Frames along with Dr Zakaria Thomas and UGM Motion Pictures.
The promotional content released so far has already garnered a tremendous response. Mythri Movie Makers is distributing the movie in the Telugu states on a grand scale.
Ahead of its worldwide release on 12 September, Tovino Thomas and team ARM spoke to the media in Hyderabad, as part of promotional activities.
Tovino Thomas started his speech by promising to speak in Telugu on his next visit, which elicited a rousing response from the gathering.
Tovino Thomas’s ARM will also be released in 3D format with subtitles in almost 50 languages. (Supplied)
Sharing his journey, he revealed that he started his career as a small actor by taking on supporting, comedy, and villain roles. “I have been playing lead roles only since 2016. My dream to become an actor has become a reality.”
Reflecting on his milestone, Tovino Thomas admitted that he was unaware of ARM being his 50th film. “The film boasts an exciting script and the challenge of playing three different. But the director trusted me. The three roles are unique. We did several workshops before starting the production.”
When asked what’s his favourite among the three, he said he couldn’t pick one. “But the audience will find the character of Mani, a confident thief, quite intriguing.”
Guess what? The Malayalam actor learnt Kalaripayattu in six months for ARM. “Learning art in six months is highly impossible. I practised Kalaripayattu for six months and understood some basics. That’s it.”
But how did he trust a debutant director with such a big film? Tovino Thomas replied, “I have been working with Jithin Lal for eight years. He wrote an amazing script for Ajayante Randam Moshanam. I have done 80 percent of my films with new directors, and they worked wonders. Guess, it’s our mutual trust.”
So, what challenges did he face while working on ARM? “You will understand it only when you watch the movie. It has many fight sequences. There are character switches. Make-up used to take a lot of time. Also, we shot in many locations. I prepared a lot for my characters. I even took notes. All these helped me pull off the roles.”
Tovino Thomas disclosed that the film has a non-linear screenplay since it is set in three periods. “However, the audience can easily understand the time periods. The director has captured every detail very well.”
The ARM trailer features three different love stories. Kriti Shetty, Aishwarya Rajesh, and Surabhi Lakshmi appear in different periods. “They were brilliant and you will know why when you watch the film,” he added.
Krithi Shetty is making her debut in Malayalam with this pan-Indian movie, which will also be released in 3D.
“We thought that the 3D format would help engage the audience with the beautiful fictional world we created for the movie. We are also releasing our film in English and Spanish languages, with subtitles in almost 50 languages. ARM boasts a universal appeal.”
The film has music composed by Dhibu Ninan Thomas, a popular musician in Tamil. “He gave a brilliant background score for ARM besides an excellent album. You will love the soundtrack,” Tovino Thomas quipped.
About Mythi Movie Makers, the actor said he worked with the production-cum-distribution house for his latest outing Nadikar (2023). “It’s a pleasure that a top distributor like Mythi Movie Makers came aboard to release my film in Telugu.”
Tovino Thomas says he prefers stories and characters that offer something new. “There is a lot to explore. I am learning with my every film and moving forward.”
The actor acknowledged the popularity of his film Minnal Murali (2021), which got a graphic novel in April this year, among Telugu audiences. When asked if a sequel is on the cards, he said it depends on the availability of the film’s director Basil Joseph—who is currently busy with his acting commitments—and a compelling story.
Further, he shared his love for Telugu movies, citing Chiranjeevi‘s Jagadeka Veerudu Atiloka Sundari (1990) as one of the first Telugu films he watched. Tovino Thomas also hinted at the possibility of his Telugu debut in future, expressing his interest in discussing Telugu scripts.
(Edited by Y Krishna Jyothi)
