# Pani (പാനി) (film)
**Pani** (പണി) is a 2024 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film written and directed by [Joju George](https://www.edgepedia.org/joju-george) in his directorial debut, in which he also stars as the Thrissur underworld figure Giri.[1](https://filmyfocus.com/movies/pani) • [2](https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/movies/pani/cast-crew.html) It was released in theaters on 24 October 2024 and streamed on SonyLIV from 16 January 2025.[3](https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/movies/pani/ott.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Director / writer | Joju George, in his directorial debut[1](https://filmyfocus.com/movies/pani) |
| Release | 24 October 2024 (India, theatrical); SonyLIV from 16 January 2025[4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/news/2024/Oct/05/release-date-announced-for-joju-georges-pani) • [3](https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/movies/pani/ott.html) |
| Languages | Malayalam original; dubbed into Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi[4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/news/2024/Oct/05/release-date-announced-for-joju-georges-pani) |
| Runtime / certificate | 143 minutes; U/A (16+)[2](https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/movies/pani/cast-crew.html) |
| Lead cast | Joju George (Giri), Abhinaya (Gowri), Sagar Surya (Don Sebastian), Junaiz V. P. (Siju K. T.)[2](https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/movies/pani/cast-crew.html) |
| Music | Vishnu Vijay, Sam C. S., and Santhosh Narayanan[2](https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/movies/pani/cast-crew.html) |
| Awards | Filmfare Award South 2025 for Best Debut Director and SIIMA Award for Best Debutant Director, both to Joju George[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29461220/awards/) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
The film is set in Thrissur, Kerala. Two young mechanics, Don (Sagar Surya) and Siju (Junaiz V. P.), take a contract killing job for a quick ₹1 million (₹10 lakhs); they kill a man and stuff the body into an ATM, making headlines in a city that had been quiet for a long time.[6](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) Their paths cross Giri (Joju George), one of the city's best-known dons, and his wife Gouri (Abhinaya), and things take a violent turn.[6](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) SonyLIV summarizes the story as a cat-and-mouse hunt for retribution in a tale of power, loyalty and vengeance.[7](https://www.sonyliv.com/movies/pani-1090428922) The second half turns into a psychological game of cat-and-mouse with themes of vengeance, survival, and loss.[8](https://www.digit.in/digit-binge/movies/pani-871704.html)
## Production
Filming began on 9 October 2023 in Thrissur, Kerala.[1](https://filmyfocus.com/movies/pani) The shoot wrapped in late February 2024.[9](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2024/Feb/29/joju-georges-directorial-debut-pani-wrapped-up) Joju George said in an interview that he had wanted to direct since his days as an assistant director, took about a year away from acting for the project, and decided to play the lead himself after other actors he approached did not commit.[10](https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/interview/2024/10/20/joju-george-directorial-debut-interview.html) He cast more than 60 newcomers, selected over about three months of training, and singled out the young actors Sagar and Junaiz, whose performances were praised at preview shows by [Kamal Haasan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kamal-haasan) and [Mani Ratnam](https://www.edgepedia.org/mani-ratnam).[10](https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/interview/2024/10/20/joju-george-directorial-debut-interview.html)
The film is produced by M. Riaz Adam and Sijo Vadakkan under Joju's banner Appu Pathu Pappu in collaboration with AD Studios and Sree Gokulam Movies.[2](https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/movies/pani/cast-crew.html) Venu ISC and Jinto George handled cinematography, Manu Antony edited, and the music was composed by Vishnu Vijay, Sam C. S., and [Santhosh Narayanan](https://www.edgepedia.org/santhosh-narayanan).[2](https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/movies/pani/cast-crew.html)
## Release
The makers announced a 24 October 2024 theatrical release in October 2024, with versions planned in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada.[4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/news/2024/Oct/05/release-date-announced-for-joju-georges-pani) The film later began streaming on SonyLIV on 16 January 2025.[3](https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/movies/pani/ott.html)
## Reception
**Critical response.** The Hindustan Times called it a good directorial debut whose story is "old wine in a new bottle", praising the action choreography, the Thrissur setting, and the cinematography of Venu ISC and Jinto George.[6](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) The South First rated it 3 out of 5, calling it an engaging revenge saga with a predictable story that excels in its making and presentation.[11](https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/malayalam/pani-movie-review/) The New Indian Express and The Times of India each rated it 6 out of 10.[12](https://in.bookmyshow.com/movies/kozhikode/pani-2024/ET00404167) On BookMyShow the film held a user rating of 8.5 out of 10 from more than 25,500 votes, with the most common review tags being #SuperDirection and #GreatActing.[12](https://in.bookmyshow.com/movies/kozhikode/pani-2024/ET00404167) Filmy Focus reported that the film achieved commercial success at the box office.[1](https://filmyfocus.com/movies/pani)
## Awards
At the [Filmfare Awards South](https://www.edgepedia.org/filmfare-awards-south) 2025, Joju George won Best Debut Director in the Malayalam film industry.[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29461220/awards/) At the [South Indian International Movie Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/south-indian-international-movie-awards) 2025 he won Best Debutant Director, and the film received four further SIIMA nominations: Seema for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female), Bobby Kurian for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Male), Abhaya Hiranmayi for Best Debutant Actor (Female), and Sagar Surya for Best Actor in a Negative Role.[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29461220/awards/)
## Controversy
In early November 2024, a voice clip spread in which Joju George was purportedly heard threatening and mocking a social-media user who had posted a negative review of the film criticizing its on-screen depiction of sexual violence; the review and the call both went viral, and Joju George offered a clarification.[13](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/joju-george-under-fire-for-threatening-call-to-netizen-over-negative-pani-review-9650941/) Actress Abhinaya also spoke publicly about criticism the film received over its portrayal of a rape scene.[14](https://jammubulletin.com/epaper/admin/paper/1737310543Page%207.pdf)
## References
1. [Pani: Cast, Crew, Movie Review, Release Date, Teaser, Trailer, Filmy Focus](https://filmyfocus.com/movies/pani)
2. [Pani Cast & Crew, FilmiBeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/movies/pani/cast-crew.html)
3. [Pani OTT Release: Streaming Platform, Satellite Rights, FilmiBeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/movies/pani/ott.html)
4. [Release date announced for Joju George's Pani, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/news/2024/Oct/05/release-date-announced-for-joju-georges-pani)
5. [Pani (2024) - Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29461220/awards/)
6. [Pani review: Joju George's violent gangster flick may be old wine in new bottle but is a good directorial debut, Hindustan Times](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)
7. [Watch Pani (Malayalam) Action Thriller Movie Online, Sony LIV](https://www.sonyliv.com/movies/pani-1090428922)
8. [Pani (പണി) Movie (2024), Digit Binge](https://www.digit.in/digit-binge/movies/pani-871704.html)
9. [Joju George's directorial debut 'Pani' wrapped up, The New Indian Express](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2024/Feb/29/joju-georges-directorial-debut-pani-wrapped-up)
10. [ഇത് പണി! സംവിധായകനായി അരങ്ങേറ്റം കുറിക്കുന്ന ജോജു ജോർജ്; അഭിമുഖം, Manorama Online](https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/interview/2024/10/20/joju-george-directorial-debut-interview.html)
11. [Pani review: Joju George's directorial debut is an engaging revenge saga with a predictable story, The South First](https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/malayalam/pani-movie-review/)
12. [Pani (2024) - Movie, Reviews, Cast & Release Date, BookMyShow](https://in.bookmyshow.com/movies/kozhikode/pani-2024/ET00404167)
13. [Joju George under fire for 'threatening' call to netizen over negative Pani review, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/joju-george-under-fire-for-threatening-call-to-netizen-over-negative-pani-review-9650941/)
14. [Abhinaya on controversy over portrayal of rape scene in Pani, Jammu Bulletin](https://jammubulletin.com/epaper/admin/paper/1737310543Page%207.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Malayalam films of the 2020s › Malayalam films of 2024*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 19, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license