Tovino Thomas is one of the rare few examples in Malayalam cinema who can sport six-pack abs and yet make himself like one among us. For those who are unaware, Malayali movie buffs want their leading men to be not Greek Gods, but be someone like them. So the rise of stardom for Tovino Thomas, who has no qualms in taking off his shirt and displaying his physique (giving us gym goals in the process), is an endearing exception. Virus Movie Review: Critics Are Raving About Aashiq Abu’s Film on NIPAH, Starring Parvathy and Tovino Thomas.

Tovino, who made his debut in 2012 with the drama Prabhuvinte Makkal, started off with supporting and antagonist roles, before he quickly transitioned to parallel leads and then to main leads. Now he is one of the busiest actors in the industry, and very much-in-demand star. Tovino has also made inroads to Tamil cinema with his roles in Abhiyum Anuvum and Maari 2.

On January 21, 2020, Tovino is turning 31. Let's celebrate his birthday by looking back at 11 performances of his that endeared Tovino to the Malayalam movie lovers.

ABCD

If Prabhuvinte Makkal was his debut as an actor, then this Dulquer Salmaan-starrer was his breakout success. Playing a young Minister-in-the-making, Tovino was the antagonist in the film, but going with the film's satirical tone, he isn't the meanie that you expect him to be.

You Too Brutus

ABCD may have given a hint of it, but Tovino's comic timing shone first in this multi-starrer ensemble comedy. He plays a youngster who is high on brawns but no so much on brains, and is the reason for some of the film's best laughs.

Ennu Ninte Moideen

Prithviraj Sukumaran and Parvathy gave exemplary performances in this tragic real-life based love story. But let's also not forget how good Tovino was in the film as the heroine's besotted cousin. He had won the Filmfare Award for the Best Supporting Actor for his act in the movie.

Guppy

Guppy is a lovely film about a friendship between two unlikely individuals that develop over a series of ego hassles. Tovino plays a hippie-like engineer who is sent to a hamlet to overlook the work of a railway overpass bridge there. At the place, he gets into an ego match with a young boy, the titular Guppy, as both try to create trouble for each other only to realise that they are getting hurt more in the process.

Oru Mexican Aparatha

Oru Mexican Aparatha was a smash hit when it came out in 2017. Tovino had dual roles in the movie - a strong leftist leader during the Emergency period, and a young, confused youth with Left leanings. Tovino excelled in both the roles, with strong support from Neeraj Madhav and Rupesh Peethambaran.

Godha

By the time this romantic light-hearted entertainer with a sports background came out, Tovino was already on the way of establishing himself as a hotshot leading man. Tovino is simply affable as the youngster who doesn't want to follow his father's assigned path of being a wrestler. But has a change of heart when a young Punjabi girl with wrestling ambitions comes in his life and his village.

Mayanadhi

This Aashiq Abu film is simply a masterpiece; a tragic, bold love story about brittle relationships and if love can overpower the basic human spirit of survival. The movie features incredible performances from both the lead stars - Aishwarya Lekshmi, playing a struggler, and Tovino, as her former lover who is also a conman.

Theevandi

Theevandi was a big hit in Tovino's career as a leading man, more empowered by the lovely duet, "Jeevamshamayi Thaane", composed by Kailash Menon. Tovino is fantastic as the chain-smoker whose addiction to the cigarette threatens to wreck his love life.

Ente Ummante Peru

This adorable dramedy has Tovino play a simpleton who recently lost his father, and then decides to search for his real mother. Ente Ummante Peru works purely for some really lovely moments between Tovino's character and Urvashi's, who could or could not be his mother.

Uyare

There is no doubt that Uyare belongs to Parvathy who delivers a wondrous performance as the braveheart acid-attack survivor. Tovino has a more endearing role to play in the film - a good-hearted entrepreneur, looking for an opportunity to prove himself in front of his cynical father, and becoming the lead's support system.

Virus

To point out one performance among the many good ones in this gripping but fantabulous medical thriller by Aashiq Abu is not right. But Tovino, who plays a righteous Collector in the movie, does win our hearts in that one scene where he convinces a group of drivers for some of the riskiest rides of their lives.

 

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 21, 2020 03:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).