Pani (film)

When the peaceful married life of a couple is unexpectedly disrupted by two youngsters with criminal inclination, the trials and tribulations connect the mobster lives of Thrissur by becoming a part of vengeance.

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• Joju George as Mangalath Giri, a powerful and wealthy businessman{{Cite news |title='Pani': Makers share photos of Giri and Gauri from Joju George's directorial debut |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/pani-makers-share-photos-of-giri-and-gauri-from-joju-georges-directorial-debut/article68339948.ece |access-date=27 June 2024 |website=The Hindu |language=en |archive-date=28 June 2024 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240628022407/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/pani-makers-share-photos-of-giri-and-gauri-from-joju-georges-directorial-debut/article68339948.ece |url-status=live}}
• Abhinaya as Gowri, Giri's wife
• Sagar Surya as Don Sebastian
• Junaiz V. P. as Siju K. T.
• Seema as Mangalath Devaki Amma, Giri and Karthika's mother, Gowri and Kuruvila's mother in law
• Prashanth Alexander as Kuruvila, Giri's best friend, brother in law and partner
• Sujith Shankar as Saji, Giri's cousin and partner
• Bobby Kurian as David Antony "Warrant Davi", a notorious gangster and Giri's partner
• Ranjith Velayudhan as Commissioner Ranjith Velayudhan
• Chandini Sreedharan as ACP Kalyani Prakash, Giri's cousin
• Bitto Davis as Sulochanan, ATM murder witness
• Abhaya Hiranmayi as Jaya, Davi's wife
• Sona Maria Abraham as Karthika Kuruvila, Giri's sister and Kuruvila's wife
• Jayashankar Karimuttom as Don's father
• Lanka Lakshmi as Lakshmi
• Merlet Ann Thomas as Sneha, Don's girlfriend
• Anoop Krishnan as Joshi
• Jayaraj Warrier as himself
• Babu Namboothiri as Suresh's brother
• Rinosh George as Kalyani's fiancé
• Ramesh Girija as Karikk Suni aka Sunil Kumar
• Ashraf Mallisery as Aashan

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The film marks the directorial debut of Joju George.{{Cite news |title=New Poster From Joju George Directorial Pani |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment-news/malayalam/new-poster-from-joju-george-film-pani-released-article-111943366 |access-date=23 July 2024 |website=Times Now |language=en |archive-date=23 July 2024 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240723144647/https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment-news/malayalam/new-poster-from-joju-george-film-pani-released-article-111943366 |url-status=live}} The film was officially announced in October 2023.{{Cite news |title=Joju George's directorial movie 'Pani' to hit screens soon |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/interview/joju-george-movie-pani-shooting-completed-1.9363517 |access-date=27 February 2024 |website=Mathrubhumi |language=en |archive-date=27 May 2024 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240527142249/https://english.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/interview/joju-george-movie-pani-shooting-completed-1.9363517 |url-status=live}} On 16 December 2023, Joju George announced his collaboration with several newcomers for this project. M Riaz Adam and Sijo Vadakkan jointly produced the movie.{{Cite news |title=Joju George's directorial debut 'Pani' wrapped up |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2024/Feb/29/joju-georges-directorial-debut-pani-wrapped-up |access-date=29 February 2024 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en |archive-date=2 March 2024 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240302115755/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2024/Feb/29/joju-georges-directorial-debut-pani-wrapped-up |url-status=live}} Venu ISC joined the team to handle cinematography, while editor was Manu Antony.

Joju George was signed to direct and play a lead role in this film. Some of the major cast members were selected from Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 5,{{Cite news |title=Joju George's Film Pani To Launch 60 New Faces: Report |url=https://www.news18.com/movies/joju-georges-film-pani-to-launch-60-new-faces-report-8927716.html |access-date=10 June 2024 |website=News18 |language=en |archive-date=13 June 2024 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240613032942/https://www.news18.com/movies/joju-georges-film-pani-to-launch-60-new-faces-report-8927716.html |url-status=live}} such as Junaiz V. P. and Sagar Surya.

Abhinaya plays the female lead in this movie. The cast also includes Abhaya Hiranmayi, Seema, Chandini Sreedharan, Prashanth Alexander, Sujith Shankar in prominent roles.{{Cite news |title='Pics From Joju George's Directorial Debut Pani Shoot Viral |url=https://www.news18.com/movies/pics-from-joju-georges-directorial-debut-pani-shoot-viral-8945307.html |access-date=27 June 2024 |website=News18 |language=en |archive-date=27 June 2024 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240627013340/https://www.news18.com/movies/pics-from-joju-georges-directorial-debut-pani-shoot-viral-8945307.html |url-status=live}}

Principal photography began on 9 October 2023, with a puja ceremony. It took more than 100 days to complete the shoot, wrapping up on 27 February 2024. Shooting took place in and around Thrissur, Kerala.{{Cite news |title=Joju George pens a gratitude note as he wraps up the shoot of his directorial 'Pani |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/joju-george-wraps-up-shoot-of-directorial-pani-pens-gratitude-note/articleshow/108078041.cms |access-date=28 February 2024 |website=The Times of India |language=en |archive-date=28 February 2024 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240228230802/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/joju-george-wraps-up-shoot-of-directorial-pani-pens-gratitude-note/articleshow/108078041.cms |url-status=live}}

The music was composed by Vishnu Vijay, Sam C. S. and Santhosh Narayanan.{{Cite news |title=Superhit music directors Vishnu Vijay and Sam CS unite: Expectations for 'Pani' rise |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/music/pani-movie-music-directors-joju-george-movie-1.9685704 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240704114208/https://english.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/music/pani-movie-music-directors-joju-george-movie-1.9685704 |archive-date=4 July 2024 |access-date=27 February 2024 |website=Mathrubhumi |language=en}} The lyrics for all the songs in the film were penned by Muhsin Parari. The soundtrack consists of four tracks.

;Track listing

Pani was released in theatres on 24 October 2024.{{Cite news |title=First Look Poster of 'Pani' by Joju's directorial debut is out and the response is overwhelming |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/business/first-look-poster-of-pani-by-jojus-directorial-debut-is-out-and-the-response-is-overwhelming20240529174637/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240529142427/https://www.aninews.in/news/business/first-look-poster-of-pani-by-jojus-directorial-debut-is-out-and-the-response-is-overwhelming20240529174637/ |archive-date=29 May 2024 |access-date=29 May 2024 |website=ANI |language=en}}{{Cite news |title=First Look Of Joju George's Directorial Debut Pani Promises A Tale Of Revenge |url=https://www.news18.com/movies/first-look-of-joju-georges-directorial-debut-pani-promises-a-tale-of-revenge-8908987.html |access-date=29 May 2024 |website=News18 |language=en |archive-date=31 May 2024 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240531012548/https://www.news18.com/movies/first-look-of-joju-georges-directorial-debut-pani-promises-a-tale-of-revenge-8908987.html |url-status=live}}

Swathi P. Ajith of Onmanorama wrote that "the movie is undoubtedly a mass entertainer that seeks to tap into your emotions, skillfully triggerring various feelings throughout".{{cite web | url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/2024/10/24/pani-movie-review-joju-george-malayalam-film-sagar-surya-junaiz.html | title=Violence and emotion collide in Joju George's directorial debut, 'Pani' | Movie Review }} Sanjith Sidhardhan of OTT Play rated 3.5 out of 5 stars, stating that "Joju George aces the directorial test with Pani, which turns into a thrilling ride once it gets going. Backed by solid performances and good writing, Joju makes a confident debut as a director".{{cite web | url=https://www.ottplay.com/review/pani-movie-review-joju-george-aces-directorial-test-with-a-relentless-thrilling-revenge-drama/483068db9296 | title=Pani review: Joju George aces directorial test with a thrilling revenge drama }} Anna Mathews of The Times of India rated 3 out of 5 stars and said: "With violence being the new hero of massy entertainers, Joju is probably giving audiences what they want and he succeeds fairly well in this".{{cite news |last1=Mathews |first1=Anna |title=Pani Movie Review : Joju keeps audiences invested in this revenge thriller |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movie-reviews/pani/movie-review/114732699.cms |access-date=31 October 2024 |work=The Times of India |date=24 October 2024}} S. R. Praveen of The Hindu stated that "Joju George's gory drama works despite its typical revenge plot" as "[Joju] has quite a hold on the progression of events which keeps coming at almost the right pace and timing".{{cite news |last1=Praveen |first1=S. R. |title='Pani' movie review: Joju George's gory drama works despite its typical revenge plot |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/pani-movie-review-joju-georges-gory-drama-works-despite-typical-revenge-plot/article68794929.ece |work=The Hindu |date=25 October 2024}}

Rating 3 in a scale of 5, Vignesh Madhu of The New Indian Express wrote that "Despite some generic writing and blips in crafting a thrilling latter half, Joju makes an assured debut with Pani [...] Sagar Surya and Junaiz V. P. are exceptional as the antagonists, elevating the film's otherwise generic writing".{{cite news |last1=Madhu |first1=Vignesh |title='Pani' movie review: Director Joju promises much with this effective revenge tale |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2024/Oct/25/pani-movie-review-director-joju-promises-much-with-this-effective-revenge-tale |access-date=31 October 2024 |work=The New Indian Express |date=25 October 2024}} Anandu Suresh of The Indian Express gave 2.5 out of 5 stars and said: "While the first act is solid, suggesting that Joju George is on track to deliver an outstanding actioner, the script falters very soon and begins bombarding viewers with stale moments, incidents and dialogues".{{cite web | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/pani-movie-review-joju-georges-directorial-debut-falls-flat-due-to-subpar-writing-9635864/ | title=Pani movie review: Joju George's directorial debut falls flat due to subpar writing }} Latha Srinivasan of Hindustan Times wrote that "Joju George has made a good directorial debut, and Pani presents it well on screen, even though the story is not new for the audience".{{cite news |last1=Srinivasan |first1=Latha |title=Pani review: Joju George's violent gangster flick may be old wine in new bottle but is a good directorial debut |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/others/pani-review-joju-george-s-violent-gangster-flick-may-be-old-wine-in-new-bottle-but-is-a-good-directorial-debut-101729825183300.html |access-date=31 October 2024 |work=Hindustan Times |date=25 October 2024}}

The film grossed {{INR}}36.4 crore worldwide, of which {{INR}}13.4 crore were from outside India.{{cite news |title=Pani OTT Release: When and where to watch Joju George's Malayalam action thriller movie online {{!}} Today News |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/trends/pani-ott-release-when-and-where-to-watch-joju-georges-malayalam-action-thriller-online-11735882770331.html |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=Mint |date=3 January 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ottplay.com/news/pani-box-office-collection-day-8-joju-georges-film-is-a-clear-winner/bd75bbb5d785|title=Pani box office collection Day 8: Joju George's film is a clear winner|work=OTTPlay|date=2 November 2024}}

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Category:2024 action thriller films

Category:2020s Malayalam-language films

Category:Films shot in Thrissur

Category:Indian action thriller films