Tovino Thomas

Tovino Thomas (born 21 January 1989) is an Indian actor and film producer who predominantly works in Malayalam films. He made his debut in 2012 with the film Prabhuvinte Makkal. His breakthrough roles were in the films ABCD, 7th Day (2014), Ennu Ninte Moideen (2015). He starred as the titular character in the Netflix superhero film Minnal Murali (2021).

He won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Ennu Ninte Moideen (2015). He also won the Kerala Film Critics Association Award and the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor – Malayalam for his performance in Mayanadhi (2017). In 2022, Tovino won the SIIMA Award for Best Actor for Minnal Murali and Kala. Kala is the first venture by his production house.

Early life and education Tovino Thomas was born on 21 January 1989 at Irinjalakuda, Thrissur, to Sheela and Adv. E. Thomas of the Ellikkal house as the youngest child. His siblings are Tingston Thomas and Dhanya Thomas. He completed primary schooling from Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Irinjalakuda, and Secondary (Plus Two) schooling from St. Mary's Higher Secondary School, Irinjalakuda, and then graduated with bachelor's degree in electronics and communication engineering from the Tamil Nadu College of Engineering, Coimbatore. He was a part of the handball team of Don Bosco High School and also served as the school leader. He later worked at Cognizant Technologies

Career

Debut and early work (2012-2014)

Tovino Thomas made his acting debut in Prabhuvinte Makkal (2012) directed by Sajeev Anthikkad. Subsequently, he worked as an assistant director in Roopesh Peethambaran's Theevram. In ABCD: American-Born Confused Desi (2013) he portrayed the role of the antagonist. Tovino played one of the leads in the film Koothara, which also featured Mohanlal. Again, he was cast in an important role in Roopesh Peethambaran's second directorial venture You Too Brutus.

He has played roles in the films including 7th Day (2014) and Charlie (2015).

Breakthrough and recognition (2015-2019)

In 2015, he portrayed the role of Perumparambil Appu in the film Ennu Ninte Moideen which was widely appreciated and received critical acclaim for his performance. He won his first Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Ennu Ninte Moideen.

He played the role of Engineer Thejus Varky in Guppy (2016) which was well received by audiences upon the DVD and digital release. He won the New Sensational Hero Award at the NAFA 2017 for his performance in the film.

He played the lead role in Oru Mexican Aparatha, Godha, and Mayanadi in 2017. He won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor – Malayalam and Behindwoods Critics Award for Best Actor for Mayanadi. The film was praised for the way it tackled with sexuality and was included in The Hindu 's top 25 Malayalam films of the decade. The same year he appeared in Ezra in a major supporting role.

In 2018, Tovino Thomas was cast in a major role in Maari 2 with Dhanush which was his Tamil debut. His major Malayalam releases for the year includes Theevandi, Ente Ummante Peru, and Oru Kuprasidha Payyan. Tovino had major roles in Lucifer, Uyare and Virus in 2019. His film Uyare was released in South Korea, becoming the first Malayalam film to do so. His other releases in the year were And the Oscar Goes To..., Luca, Kalki, and Edakkad Battalion 06.

Established actor (2020–present)

In 2020, he played the lead role in the crime thriller Forensic with Mamta Mohandas, which received a good response from the audience and was a major box office success.

In 2021, his first release was Kala which was his second venture as a producer. The film received critical acclaim for its narrative. Kaanekkaane released in 2021, received a positive response and critical acclaim for its narrative and performance by its cast. He starred as the titular character in Minnal Murali, which is the first Malayalam superhero action film, released by Netflix on 24 December. He received immense praise for his work in the film and the movie was also declared as 'Streaming success'. and surpassed the records of most viewed Malayalam Film on OTT previously held by Drishyam 2.

In 2022, Tovino appeared in Naaradan, Dear Friend, Vaashi, and Thallumaala. The latter film proved to be a commercial success.

In 2023, he starred in Neelavelicham, in which he portrayed the role of Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, that film was considered a flop and in 2018, which collected 176 crore and became the 4th Highest grossing Malayalam film ever.

In 2024, he starred in films like Anweshippin Kandethum, Nadikar and A.R.M.. The latter became Tovino's first solo 100 crore grosser.

In 2025, he starred in Identity which under performed significantly at the box office despite a high budget, followed by L2: Empuraan, where he reprised his role as Jathin Ramdas. He did a guest appearance in Basil Joseph starrer Maranamass, which was produced under his banner Tovino Thomas Productions. The same year, he played the role of a police officer in Anuraj Manohar's sophomore directorial Narivetta, which was based on the 2003 Muthanga incident and its aftermath. He played the role of Chathan(goblin) in an extended cameo in the Kalyani Priyadarshan starrer Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, in which his performance gained praise.

His further films include Pallichattambi, directed by Dijo Jose Antony which was released in April 2026, Athiradi directed by Arun Anirudhan starring Basil Joseph and Vineeth Sreenivasan alongside him, as well as Lokah Chapter 2: Chathan directed by Dominic Arun, which is a direct sequel of the 2025 superhero action film blockbuster Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra.

Media image Tovino is considered among the highest-paid actors of Malayalam cinema. He stood at the 21st place on Forbes India'''s most influential stars on Instagram in South cinema for the year 2021. Tovino was named the Kochi Times Most Desirable Men in 2016 and 2018. He was also placed 2nd in 2019 and 5th in 2020. In 2022, Forbes India included him in its first ever "Showstoppers – India's Top 50 Outperformers" list.

Philanthropy Tovino Thomas (fourth from the left) along Don Bosco Seniors Handball Team and Coach Giby V. Pereppadan

In 2021, Tovino is announced as the ambassador of the Samoohika Sannadhasena, the community volunteer program launched by the Government of Kerala. The community volunteer program was launched to tackle natural disasters by imparting training to volunteers and provide aid to the public in times of crisis. Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala appreciated Tovino's involvement in flood relief activities and noted that his presence will influence the youth to join in the community volunteer program.

Tovino had volunteered during 2018 Kerala floods to lead rescue and rehabilitation missions. In 2021, Tovino received golden visa from the Government of UAE.

After Mammootty and Mohanlal, Tovino became the third Malayalam film actor to receive the Golden Visa issued by the United Arab Emirates.

Personal life Tovino married his longtime girlfriend, Lidiya at St. Thomas Cathedral, Irinjalakuda, on 25 October 2014. The duo had met during their school days and married after nine years. The couple has a daughter and a son born in 2016 and 2020 respectively.

Filmography All films are in Malayalam language unless otherwise noted.

As actor

Year Title Role Notes Ref 2012 Prabhuvinte Makkal Che Guevara Sudheendran 2013 ABCD Akhilesh Varma August Club Mahesh 2014 7th Day Eby Ebineser Koothara Tharun 2015 You Too Brutus Tovino Onnam Loka Mahayudham Jacob Ennu Ninte Moideen Perumpparambil Appu Charlie Georgy 2016 Monsoon Mangoes Sanjay 2 Penkuttikal Sanju Style Edgar and Fletcher Kelly Dual role Guppy Engineer Thejus Varkey 2017 Ezra Shafeer Ahammed Oru Mexican Aparatha Paul and Kochaniyan Dual role Godha Anjaneya Das aka Dasan Tharangam G. Padmanabhan Pillai Mayanadhi Mathews aka Mathan 2018 Aami Lord Krishna Naam Himself Cameo Abhiyum Anuvum Abhimanyu / Abhi Tamil film Maradona Maradona Theevandi Bineesh Damodaran Oru Kuprasidha Payyan Ajayan Ente Ummante Peru Hameed and Khalid Maari 2 Gangadhar Beeja aka Thanatos Tamil film 2019 Lucifer Jathin Ramdas Uyare Vishal Rajashekharan Virus Paul K Abraham And the Oscar Goes To... Issak Ebrahem Luca Luca Kalki K / Kalki Edakkad Battalion 06 Shafeeque Mohammad 2020 Forensic Samuel John Kattookkaran Kilometers and Kilometers Josemon 2021 Kala Shaji Kaanekkaane Alan Kurup Charlie Cameo appearance Minnal Murali Jaison Varghese / Minnal Murali and Martin Rangakala Dual role 2022 Naaradan Chandraprakash Dear Friend Vinod Vaashi Ebin Mathew Vazhakku Siddharthan Thallumaala Manavalan Wazim "Wazi" 2023 Neelavelicham Vaikom M. Basheer 2018 Anoop Adrishya Jalakangal Unnamed young Man 2024 Anweshippin Kandethum SI Anand Narayanan Pillai Nadikar David Padikkal ARM Ajayan, Maniyan & Kunjikelu 50th film; Triple role 2025 Identity Haran Shankar L2: Empuraan Jathin Ramdas MaranamassPuthanthottil UmeshCameo appearance; Also producer Narivetta Varghese Peter Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra Michael / Maathan Dual role; Cameo appearance 2026 Pallichattambi Krishna Pillai / Pothan Christopher Athiradi Sreekuttan Vellayani Balan: The Boy Abbas Extended Cameo appearance Khalifa: The Ruler Iver Alexander Cameo appearance

Voice actor Year Title Role Notes 2025 Pennum Porattum Suttu (voice)

Music Videos Year Title Role Language Notes Ref 2018 Ulaviravu Tarun Tamil Ondraga Original

As playback singer

Year Film Song NotesRef2022 Thallumaala "Tupathu" Co-sung with Shakthisree Gopalan and Vishnu Vijay

As producer

Year TitleNotes Ref 2020 Kilometers and Kilometers 2021 Kala 2022 Vazhakku 2023 Adrishya Jalakangal

Awards and nominations In 2024, Tovino Thomas became the first and only Indian actor to win the Septimius Award'', an international recognition based in Amsterdam.

Year Award Category Work Result 2015 Asiavision Awards Best Supporting Actor Ennu Ninte Moideen 2016 Asianet Film Awards Best Supporting Actor CPC Cine Awards Best Character Actor Filmfare Awards South Best Supporting Actor – Malayalam IIFA Utsavam Best Supporting Actor – Malayalam South Indian International Movie Awards Best Supporting Actor – Malayalam Asiavision Awards Outstanding Performance of the Year Guppy 2017 Asianet Film Awards Best Supporting Actor Filmfare Awards South Best Supporting Actor – Malayalam South Indian International Movie Awards Best Supporting Actor – Malayalam Asianet Comedy Awards Youth Icon Godha, Oru Mexican Aparatha Asiavision Awards Man of the Year (Malayalam) Godha, Oru Mexican Aparatha 2018 Asianet Film Awards Performer of the Year Various films Filmfare Awards South Best Actor – Malayalam Mayanadi Critics Best Actor – Malayalam Flowers Indian Film Awards Star of the Year Kerala Film Critics Association Awards Second Best Actor South Indian International Movie Awards Best Actor – Malayalam Vanitha Film Awards Most Romantic Hero 2019 Asianet Film Awards Performer of the Year Various films Most Popular Actor Asiavision Awards Best Actor – Malayalam Mayanadi, Maradona,Theevandi, Oru Kuprasidha Payyan Filmfare Awards South Best Actor – Malayalam Various films Mazhavil Entertainment Awards Best Actor South Indian International Movie AwardsBest Actor – Malayalam 2022 South Indian International Movie Awards Minnal Murali 2025 Kerala Film Critics Association Awards Best Actor ARM 2025Kerala State Film Awards Special MentionARM