# Alphonse Puthren (ആൽഫോൻസ് പുത്രൻ)
**Alphonse Puthren** (ആൽഫോൻസ് പുത്രൻ; born 1984) is an Indian film director, editor, writer, producer, actor, and commercial ad maker who works primarily in [Malayalam cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/malayalam-cinema). He is known for his debut *Neram* (2013), a Tamil-Malayalam bilingual, and for the blockbuster coming-of-age romance *[Premam](https://www.edgepedia.org/premam)* (2015), and he writes, directs, and edits his own films.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4733887/) • [2](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1171340-alphonse-puthren)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1984, Aluva, Kerala, India[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4733887/) |
| Directorial debut | *Neram* (2013), Tamil-Malayalam bilingual; won the 2014 Ananda Vikatan Cinema Award for Best Editor[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4733887/) • [2](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1171340-alphonse-puthren) |
| Breakthrough | *Premam* (2015), a blockbuster; 2016 Asianet Film Award for Best Director[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4733887/) |
| Third film | *Gold* (2022), released 1 December 2022 after a seven-year hiatus, starring Prithviraj Sukumaran and Nayanthara[3](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/alphonse-puthran/filmography.html) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4733887/) |
| Signature method | Writes, directs, and edits his own films; cutting keyed to music and internal tempo rather than dramatic beats[4](https://sightlines.media/film/341895/premam-2015) |
| Reunion project | *Vijayam* (announced June 2026) with Nivin Pauly, the actor's 50th film; Puthren writes, directs, and edits[5](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2026/06/27/nivin-pauly-alphonse-puthren-new-movie-vijayam.html) |
## Early life and education
Puthren completed his elementary and secondary education at Amrita Vidyalayam in Perumbavoor, Kerala, then moved to MES College Marampally in Aluva for a BCA degree. He enrolled for a filmmaking diploma at S. A. E. College in Chennai and afterward worked on short films and music videos.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4733887/) Among his early screen appearances, Cinegraph lists a small role in the Tamil film *[Dheena](https://www.edgepedia.org/dheena)* (2001).[6](https://cinegraph.org/people/alphonse-puthren)
## Neram and Premam
**Debut.** *Neram*, released 10 May 2013, was Puthren's debut as director and writer and received critical acclaim; he won the 2014 Ananda Vikatan Cinema Award for Best Editor for it.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4733887/) • [3](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/alphonse-puthran/filmography.html) On *Neram* he also handled dialogue, screenplay, story, color grading, and title design, an early sign of the single-author method that marks his features.[6](https://cinegraph.org/people/alphonse-puthren)
**Premam.** His second film, *Premam* (2015), was a blockbuster and won him the 2016 Asianet Film Award for Best Director.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4733887/) The film ran for months in Kerala and [Tamil Nadu](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-nadu), turned [Nivin Pauly](https://www.edgepedia.org/nivin-pauly) into a superstar, and is cited a decade later as a defining film of the Malayalam new wave.[4](https://sightlines.media/film/341895/premam-2015) Puthren wrote, directed, and edited it himself, building feature-length song-integrated montage on the director-as-editor method he had established with *Neram*, cutting scenes to a pop-scored internal tempo rather than dramatic beats.[4](https://sightlines.media/film/341895/premam-2015) Cinematographer Anend C. Chandran's warm, mobile imagery and composer Rajesh Murugesan's songs, cut by Puthren, were central to the film's identity.[4](https://sightlines.media/film/341895/premam-2015) A Kerala government publication credits the small-budget romantic comedy, produced by [Fahadh Faasil](https://www.edgepedia.org/fahadh-faasil), Nazriya Nazim, Dileesh Pothan, and Shyam Pushkaran, with sowing the seeds for Malayalam cinema's subsequent run of content-driven success, and notes that S. S. Rajamouli presented the Telugu version with appreciation.[7](https://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/sites/default/files/inline-files/KC%20April%202024%20Final%20LR-3.pdf) A Telugu remake followed in 2016.[4](https://sightlines.media/film/341895/premam-2015)
Puthren's editing style from *Neram* and *Premam* was widely imitated by Mollywood filmmakers and short-film makers.[8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/premams-8-year-reign-vs-golds-setback-analysing-alphonse-puthrens-directorial-hits-and-misses/photostory/100673745.cms) In a 2024 social media post he rejected a claim, relayed to the Tamil director Cheran by an unnamed Malayalam director, that *Premam* was a copy of *[Autograph](https://www.edgepedia.org/autograph-2004-film)*, saying he had copied not a frame, dialogue, song, costume, or line of writing from it.[9](https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/movie-news/2024/01/29/alphonse-puthran-s-shocking-revelations-on-malayali-director.amp.html)
## Gold and the long gap
After a seven-year hiatus, Puthren returned with *[Gold](https://www.edgepedia.org/gold-2022-indian-film)*, released 1 December 2022, starring [Prithviraj Sukumaran](https://www.edgepedia.org/prithviraj-sukumaran) and [Nayanthara](https://www.edgepedia.org/nayanthara).[3](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/alphonse-puthran/filmography.html) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4733887/) The film carried his signature elements, including quick edits, overlay text, insect visuals, caricaturish characters, and unrehearsed-sounding dialogue, but reviewers found it strained. At a runtime of 2 hours and 45 minutes, critics described it as stretched and overindulgent, with an abrupt shift to a moralizing ending.[10](https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/entertainment/gold-review-alphonse-puthrens-comedy-has-the-glitter-but-isnt-gold-9637891.html) Baradwaj Rangan, a film critic, wrote that the film had big ideas that did not come together as a satisfying whole.[11](https://baradwajrangan.wordpress.com/2022/12/06/alphonse-puthrens-gold-malayalam-has-a-lot-of-big-ideas-but-they-dont-come-together-as-a-satisfying-whole/) Puthren responded publicly to the negative reviews, saying a lot of jealousy, contempt, and mockery had been directed at him and that he had not called the film *Neram 2* or *Premam 2*.[12](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/alphonse-puthren-lashes-out-after-gold-gets-negative-reviews-8307108/)
In November 2023 he announced on social media that he was quitting films, writing that he was affected by autism and had no other option; the announcement drew wide discussion, and director [Karthik Subbaraj](https://www.edgepedia.org/karthik-subbaraj), a Tamil filmmaker, said publicly that he believed Puthren would still make films.[13](https://malayalam.samayam.com/malayalam-cinema/movie-news/alphonse-puthren-says-that-he-is-quitting-his-film-career/articleshow/104817768.cms) • [14](https://malayalam.indiatoday.in/amp/cinema/story/director-karthik-subbaraj-about-alphonse-puthren-711447-2023-11-15) In a 2024 interview with the Tamil media Kumudam, Puthren said he had had health problems, had recovered after hospital treatment, and was ready to make films again.[15](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/alphonse-puthren-opens-up-about-his-premam-and-gold-movie-experience-words-goes-viral-115519.html)
## Return: Paattu and Vijayam
Puthren's announced project *Paattu* stars Nayanthara and Fahadh Faasil, is to be produced by UGM Entertainment, and is to be shot by Anend C. Chandran, his collaborator on previous films.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4733887/) A planned straight Tamil film, *Gift*, with choreographer-turned-actor Sandy in the lead and [Ilaiyaraaja](https://www.edgepedia.org/ilaiyaraaja) as music director, was dropped in its initial stages.[16](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/malayalam/news/2026/Jun/27/vijayam-nivin-paulys-next-with-alphonse-puthren-announced-with-a-quirky-teaser-2)
In June 2026 the makers announced *Vijayam*, reuniting Puthren with Nivin Pauly for the first time since *Premam* and marking Pauly's 50th film. Puthren handles writing, direction, and editing; the film is set against the backdrop of the racing world, and the announcement teaser shows Puthren waiting by a roadside before Pauly arrives as a mud-bike racer.[5](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2026/06/27/nivin-pauly-alphonse-puthren-new-movie-vijayam.html) • [16](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/malayalam/news/2026/Jun/27/vijayam-nivin-paulys-next-with-alphonse-puthren-announced-with-a-quirky-teaser-2) Shinoz handles cinematography and Kerala-born Steve Kottoor the music.[16](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/malayalam/news/2026/Jun/27/vijayam-nivin-paulys-next-with-alphonse-puthren-announced-with-a-quirky-teaser-2)
## Acting and other work
Puthren has acted in his own and others' films: he played Roney Varghese in *Premam* (2015) and 'Spider' Suresh in *Gold* (2022), and his screen credits include *Balti* (2025, as Soda Babu), *[United Kingdom of Kerala](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-kingdom-of-kerala)* (2025, as Mathews), *Sarvam Maya* (2025), and *[Vaazha II: Biopic of a Billion Bros](https://www.edgepedia.org/vaazha-ii-biopic-of-a-billion-bros)* (2026, as Xavier).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4733887/) His IMDb credits run to 10 as writer, 9 as director, 8 as actor, and 8 as editor, with 5 wins and 1 nomination in total.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4733887/) He also works in advertising; his entry into the industry was an advertisement for the fast-food business Bangs Fried Chicken.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4733887/)
## References
1. [Alphonse Puthren, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4733887/)
2. [Alphonse Puthren, The Movie Database](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1171340-alphonse-puthren)
3. [അൽഫോൺസ് പുത്രൻ filmography, Filmibeat Malayalam](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/alphonse-puthran/filmography.html)
4. [Premam (2015), dir. Alphonse Puthren, Sightlines](https://sightlines.media/film/341895/premam-2015)
5. [Nivin Pauly's 50th film with Alphonse Puthren titled 'Vijayam', Onmanorama](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2026/06/27/nivin-pauly-alphonse-puthren-new-movie-vijayam.html)
6. [Alphonse Puthren, Cinegraph](https://cinegraph.org/people/alphonse-puthren)
7. [Kerala Cinema, April 2024, Kerala PRD](https://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/sites/default/files/inline-files/KC%20April%202024%20Final%20LR-3.pdf)
8. [Premam's 8-year reign vs. Gold's setback, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/premams-8-year-reign-vs-golds-setback-analysing-alphonse-puthrens-directorial-hits-and-misses/photostory/100673745.cms)
9. [Alphonse Puthren's revelations on a Malayali director, Manorama Online](https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/movie-news/2024/01/29/alphonse-puthran-s-shocking-revelations-on-malayali-director.amp.html)
10. [Gold review, Moneycontrol](https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/entertainment/gold-review-alphonse-puthrens-comedy-has-the-glitter-but-isnt-gold-9637891.html)
11. [Alphonse Puthren's 'Gold' review, Baradwaj Rangan](https://baradwajrangan.wordpress.com/2022/12/06/alphonse-puthrens-gold-malayalam-has-a-lot-of-big-ideas-but-they-dont-come-together-as-a-satisfying-whole/)
12. [Alphonse Puthren lashes out after Gold's negative reviews, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/alphonse-puthren-lashes-out-after-gold-gets-negative-reviews-8307108/)
13. [Alphonse Puthren announces exit from films, Samayam Malayalam](https://malayalam.samayam.com/malayalam-cinema/movie-news/alphonse-puthren-says-that-he-is-quitting-his-film-career/articleshow/104817768.cms)
14. [Karthik Subbaraj on Alphonse Puthren, India Today Malayalam](https://malayalam.indiatoday.in/amp/cinema/story/director-karthik-subbaraj-about-alphonse-puthren-711447-2023-11-15)
15. [Alphonse Puthren on Premam and Gold, Filmibeat Malayalam](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/alphonse-puthren-opens-up-about-his-premam-and-gold-movie-experience-words-goes-viral-115519.html)
16. [Vijayam: Nivin Pauly's next with Alphonse Puthren announced, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/malayalam/news/2026/Jun/27/vijayam-nivin-paulys-next-with-alphonse-puthren-announced-with-a-quirky-teaser-2)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Directors, producers, and screenwriters › Indian and South Asian film directors › Malayalam cinema directors*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license