The film industry is unpredictable. One moment you’re riding high on a record-breaking success, and the next, you’re staring at a box-office disaster. Malayalam actor Tovino Thomas experienced this contrast first hand in 2025. Fresh off the success of Ajayante Randam Moshanam (ARM), which had grossed over Rs 100 crore worldwide, Tovino’s next big release, Identity, turned into one of the year’s biggest disappointments.
According to The Indian Express, Identity was mounted on a massive Rs 30 crore budget but managed to earn only Rs 3.5 crore in Kerala and Rs 16.51 crore worldwide during its theatrical run.
Despite a strong cast featuring Trisha Krishnan, Vinay Rai, Aju Varghese, and Shammi Thilakan, the film struggled to connect with audiences.
Industry tracker Sacnilk revealed that the film’s poor performance was especially shocking given the minimal competition it faced, as Unni Mukundan’s Marco had already slowed down at the box office and Mohanlal’s Barroz had failed to take off.
Directed by Akhil Paul and Anas Khan , the duo behind Tovino’s 2020 hit Forensic, Identity was expected to replicate that success.
The film also marked Trisha’s long-awaited return to Malayalam cinema after nearly seven years, since her 2018 outing Hey Jude with Nivin Pauly.
Expectations were sky-high, but the film’s creative choices didn’t land. While Identity earned praise for its technical quality, critics and audiences alike found the storytelling weak and the emotional engagement lacking.
As the report noted, “the Tovino Thomas and Trisha-starrer couldn’t capitalise on the favourable circumstances, mainly due to Identity’s poor creative aspects.”
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Within a week of its release, the arrival of Rekhachithram, starring Asif Ali and Anaswara Rajan, swept audience attention away, leaving Identity forgotten “soon enough.”
This dramatic fall came just months after Tovino’s biggest solo blockbuster, Ajayante Randam Moshanam. Directed by Jithin Laal, that film not only drew rave reviews but also crossed Rs 100 crore worldwide — a milestone for Malayalam cinema.
Tovino’s career appears unfazed by the setback. He went on to appear in L 2: Empuraan, which became the highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time before being surpassed by Lokah, another project featuring his presence.
Beyond acting, he has also expanded into production, backing Basil Joseph’s Maranamass and headlining the action drama Narivetta, both of which drew praise.
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