Parvathy Thiruvothu Completes 20 Years in Malayalam Cinema on Her Own Terms

Actor Parvathy Thiruvothu, who has completed two decades in Malayalam cinema, says she was “almost written off” for speaking her mind but chose to remain in the industry on her own terms, relying on her “stubbornness” and a “sacred bond” with the Malayalam audience.

Parvathy, 38, said speaking out comes with a price, but she cannot imagine having influence and choosing not to use it to make society better. She recalled facing severe criticism and trolling over her views, particularly after she criticised a scene in the 2016 Malayalam film “Kasaba” for being misogynistic.

“I was almost written off... I was at the edge but I built a house there. This is my stubbornness, I'm not going to leave,” she told PTI in an interview.

The actor is currently enjoying the success of “Pradhama Drishtya Kuttakkar”, her first film in which she plays a police officer. Released last month, the film has crossed ₹50 crore at the box office. She portrays Aleena Abraham, a single mother who becomes a police officer after her husband dies on duty and becomes involved in a complex investigation.

Parvathy said the response to the film exceeded her expectations, adding that Malayalam cinema does not follow a fixed formula. According to her, even films featuring major stars and large budgets can fail if they do not connect emotionally with audiences.

She also reiterated her hope for a more equitable approach to storytelling, where films are not categorised as “female-oriented”. She wants a future in which stories are not defined by gender, caste or religion.

Parvathy acknowledged that while she can usually deal with online criticism, death threats, rape threats and stalking are different and can create genuine fear.

A founding member of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), formed in 2017, she has consistently advocated for greater equality and safety for women in Malayalam cinema.

Recalling her early career, Parvathy said she was told actresses had a short shelf life and should focus on song-and-dance films and making money. Instead, she created her own path. She believes the industry has changed, pointing to actresses such as Konkona Sensharma and Radhika Apte continuing to find meaningful roles.

Parvathy, who works in five languages, also welcomed Kareena Kapoor Khan’s interest in Malayalam cinema. She recently dubbed for Kareena in the Malayalam version of Meghna Gulzar’s crime drama “Daayra.”