Biggest Malayalam Flop: The Malayalam film industry began the year 2025 with high confidence and hopes but the action thriller Identity by Tovino Thomas turned out to be a huge letdown. The film had a huge budget of 30 crores and made just 3.5 crores in Kerala and was withdrawn in just a few days.
High Expectations After a Blockbuster Year
Having produced a 100-crore global hit with Ajayante Randam Moshanam (ARM) in 2024, Tovino Thomas was now one of the most bankable Malayalam film stars. Of course, people were looking forward to his next release, Identity, which is directed by Akhil Paul and Anas Khan, the creators of the 2020 hit Forensic.
Coming to the hype was the fact that Trisha Krishnan was again in Malayalam cinema after almost seven years since Hey Jude (2018). It all appeared to set up another blow all right.
Why ‘Identity’ Failed at the Box Office
Although the film had to contend with little competition, mostly by Unni Mukundan in Marco which had already launched two weeks before, Identity was unable to resonate with audiences.
Here’s what went wrong:
- Weak screenplay with little emotional depth
- Overemphasis on style and technicality, lacking strong storytelling
- A sluggish second half that tested audience patience
- Trailer promised action that didn’t translate well on screen
Even though the movie had top-notch production quality and big names, it failed to create the excitement expected from a Tovino-helmed project.
Budget vs Box Office Reality
The Kerala Film Producers Association reported that Identity was filmed on a 30 crore budget, yet had received 3.5 crore in theatres share in Kerala. The movie earned a total of only 16.5 crore globally, which is hardly half the price. Though it was hyped, the film could not hold its head against other films that were to be released shortly such as Rekhachithram that overtook the movie in no distant future.
Impact on Tovino Thomas’ Career
Although Identity did not achieve success, it did not hurt the stardom of Tovino much. Later that year he featured in Empuraan and Lokah: Chapter 1 -Chandra, the two movies that became the biggest grossers in the history of Malayalam cinema.
Tovino Thomas – The Symbol of Resilience
Tovino Thomas has become a name of being one of the most versatile and bold actors of Malayalam film industry. At the time a project such as Identity fails, he comes back better with performances that keep audiences in mind of his commitment and talent. This removal of Identity failed, but it taught them a lesson that in movies, it is the script and the feeling that counts much higher than the budgets and the stars.
Conclusion
There are always ups and downs in every film industry, and the Identity by Tovino Thomas is an ideal example of such uncertainty.Although it was a box office failure, it did not rattle the position of Tovino in the hearts of Malayalam movie fans.His stable performances and risky decisions contribute to his status in the list of the most popular stars today- and people are looking forward to his next major success.