Rahul Riji Nair

Rahul Riji Nair is an Indian film director, scriptwriter, producer and actor active in the Malayalam film industry. His debut feature film Ottamuri Velicham won 4 awards at the 2017 Kerala State Film Awards, including Best Feature Film. Rahul won the 67th National Film Awards for Best Malayalam Film in 2019 for his third feature film Kalla Nottam. Popular works in his filmography include Kho-Kho, Keedam (2022) and Jai Mahendran (2024).

Rahul founded the production house First Print Studios in 2011. Through the company he has produced feature films, animation films and has pioneered the production of Malayalam streaming projects for global OTT platforms. He also distributes cinema under the banner of FPS Box office.

Personal life Rahul was born in Kollam, Kerala on 21 March 1988 to Dr. Riji G. Nair and Rajasree Nair. He did his schooling from SN Trusts Central School, Kollam and graduated in engineering from Amrita School of Engineering in 2009.

He worked as a Software Engineer and then as Marketing Manager with multiple companies in Technopark, Trivandrum before venturing into filmmaking. He is married to Nithya Vijay.

Career Rahul started his career in the Malayalam film industry in 2017 as the writer, producer and director of the Malayalam feature film Ottamuri Velicham. This film won 4 awards in Kerala State Film Awards 2017, including Best Feature Film of the year. His third feature film, Kalla Nottam won the 67th National Film Award for Best Malayalam Feature Film.

His films have premiered at prestigious film festivals in Mumbai, Kolkata, New York, Stuttgart, Chicago etc. He has also won multiple international wards including the prestigious Golden Royal Bengal Tiger Award for Best Feature Film at the 26th Kolkata International Film Festival and German Star of India Award for Best Feature film at the Indian Film Festival of Stuttgart.

Rahul pioneered the production of mainstream Web Series in Malayalam. He created the first Originals for Major OTT platforms like Disney+, Hotstar, and Sony LIV. He is noticed for his diverse body of work that has successfully traversed both Independent and Mainstream Cinema.

Rahul founded the production house First Print Studios in 2011 and is currently serving the company as its CEO. As a self taught filmmaker, he ventured into independent filmmaking through Documentaries, Short Films and Music Videos. Rahul's first independent directorial was the documentary The Human Boundaries in 2012 and it was widely screened across India, Europe and the United States. His Tamil Music Video titled Mounam Sollum Varthaigal gave his first major break through as it went viral with over 25 million views.

Filmography Denotes films that have not yet been released

Feature films

Year Film Credited As Notes Director Writer Producer 2017 Ottamuri Velicham 2018 Dakini 2019 Kalla Nottam 2021 Kho-Kho 2022Keedam 2025 Flask

Web series

Animation films

Year Film Credited As Notes Director Writer Producer 2026 Kingara Kavyam (Poem Of The Enslaved)

As actor Year Film Role Notes 2021 Kho-Kho Vinod Debut as Actor 2022 Keedam Vijay 2023 Tholvi F.C. CEO 2024 Jai Mahendran Balagopal / Balu Digital Debut As Actor

As lyricist Year Film Song name Music director Singers Notes 2021 Kho-Kho Theeram Thane Unarum Sidhartha Pradeep Nandagopan V Debut As Lyricist 2024 Jai Mahendran But Why Sidhartha Pradeep Sidhartha Pradeep 2025 Flask Sadamaya Pahimam Sidhartha Pradeep Rekha Sreeream, Nithin Raj, Amrita Jayakumar 2025 Flask Muthe Njan Pette Sidhartha Pradeep Nandagopan V

Music video Year Film Language Notes 2017 Mounam Sollum Varthaigal Tamil Screenplay & Direction

Short films Year Film Notes 2020 Survival Stories Anthology created during the COVID-19 Lockdown 2016 Troll Life Platinum Film of the Year - India Film Project 2016 2016 Netaji Musical Short 2015 Rs. 2 Audience Choice Winner - 48 Hour Film Project, Mumbai 2015 MJ Best Film #9 - India Film Project 2015 2014 Malai Kofta

Documentary Year Film Language Notes 2012 The Human Boundaries English-Hindi Widely screened across India, UK & USA

Awards

National Film Awards

2019 - 67th National Film Awards - Best Malayalam Film : Kalla Nottam

Kerala State Film Awards

2017 - Kerala State Film Award for Best Film : Ottamuri Velicham

Kerala Film Critics Award

2020 - Special Jury Award : Kho Kho

International Awards

2026 - India Gold, 28th DigiCon6 Asia Awards: Kingara Kavyam 2021 - Golden Royal Bengal Tiger Award for Best Feature Film, 26th Kolkata International Film Festival: Kalla Nottam 2021 - Best Screenplay, Yellowstone International Film Festival: Kalla Nottam 2020 - Best Film Innovation Award, Indian Film Festival of Cincinnati: Kalla Nottam 2018 - German Star of India [Best Feature Film], 15th Indian Film Festival Stuttgart: Ottamuri Velicham 2018 - Second Best Feature Film, Chicago South Asian Film Festival: Ottamuri Velicham

Popular Awards

2026 - Best Animated Short Film, ANN Awards 2026 (Service Category): Kingara Kavyam 2024 - Best Malayalam Web Series (Silver), E4M Play Streaming Media Awards 2025: Jai Mahendran

Nominations

2020 - Best Film, Indian Film Festival of Cincinnati: Kalla Nottam 2020 - Best Screenplay, Indian Film Festival of Cincinnati: Kalla Nottam 2020 - Best Screenplay, New York Indian Film Festival: Kalla Nottam 2018 - Best Film, New York Indian Film Festival: Ottamuri Velicham 2018 - Best Director, New York Indian Film Festival: Ottamuri Velicham 2018 - Director's Vision Award, 15th Indian Film Festival Stuttgart: Ottamuri Velicham 2018 - Oxfam Award for Best Film on Gender Equality, Mumbai Film Festival: Ottamuri Velicham