Tovino was my only choice as ‘Pallichattambi’: Dijo Jose Antony

'Pallichattambi,' directed by Dijo Jose Antony and starring Tovino Thomas in the lead role, marks the director’s fourth film. Dijo, whose previous works like 'Queen' and 'Jana Gana Mana' were commercially successful, has garnered attention for his ability to blend strong storytelling with diverse genres. His third film, Malayalee from India, featured Nivin Pauly and Dhyan Sreenivasan, but with 'Pallichattambi,' Dijo is stepping into new territory, taking on a period drama for the first time. Interestingly, ‘Pallichattambi’ was envisioned as Dijo’s second movie.

The journey to bring 'Pallichattambi' to the big screen began in 2018 when writer S. Suresh Babu approached Dijo with the script. Dijo shared that he immediately envisioned Tovino as the perfect fit for the role of Krishnapillai, a young fighter who becomes a hero in his local community during a time of political and social unrest. "The film was announced in 2019. I was confident that Tovino would be the perfect choice for this role. The movie, however, faced delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and Tovino's busy schedule with projects like Minnal Murali also pushed the production timeline further," Dijo said.

The film finally began shooting in 2025, with scenes filmed in the picturesque locations of Idukki. The movie also introduces Kayadu Lohar, who plays a theatre artist and the heroine in the story. Interestingly, she joined the cast just months before filming began.

For Tovino, the preparation for his role in 'Pallichattambi' was intense. The film blends various forms of martial arts, which presented unique challenges. However, Tovino quickly adapted to the demands of the role, diving deep into the physicality required for his character.

For Dijo, the film represents a chance to experiment with new genres. He shared that when a strong script comes his way, he is eager to explore different styles of filmmaking. “I want to try all genres and when I got a good script in my hands, I decided I should do it,” he said.