# Theevandi (തീവണ്ടി)
**Theevandi** (തീവണ്ടി) is a 2018 Malayalam-language comedy drama directed by Fellini T.P. in his debut, starring [Tovino Thomas](https://www.edgepedia.org/tovino-thomas) as Bineesh Damodaran, a chain-smoker in a small Kerala village whose habit threatens his engagement and entangles the political fortunes of two rival politicians[1](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/theevandi-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc00mda3mdg) • [2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/theevandi-movie-review-tovino-thomas-star-rating-5345579/). The title is a nickname that means "train" and is used colloquially for a chain-smoker[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/theevandi-movie-review-tovino-thomas-star-rating-5345579/). The film was written by Vini Vishwa Lal, produced under the August Cinema banner, and released in India on 7 September 2018 during the Onam festival period[3](https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movie.php?i=5665) • [4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movie-reviews/theevandi/movie-review/65718624.cms).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Original title | തീവണ്ടി[5](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/theevandi) |
| Director / screenwriter | Fellini T.P. (debut) / Vini Vishwa Lal[1](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/theevandi-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc00mda3mdg) • [6](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2018/Sep/09/theevandi-review-a-film-designed-to-put-you-at-ease-1869783.html) |
| Release | 7 September 2018 (India); UK classification 17 September 2018[4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movie-reviews/theevandi/movie-review/65718624.cms) • [1](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/theevandi-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc00mda3mdg) |
| Runtime and certificate | Approximately 143 minutes; rated UA in India[1](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/theevandi-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc00mda3mdg) • [4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movie-reviews/theevandi/movie-review/65718624.cms) |
| Lead cast | Tovino Thomas (Bineesh Damodaran), Samyuktha Menon (Devi), Suraaj Venjarammoodu, Saiju Kurup, Sudheesh, Surabhi Lakshmi, Shammi Thilakan[1](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/theevandi-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc00mda3mdg) • [5](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/theevandi) |
| Music and camera | Kailas Menon (composer) and Gautham Sankar (cinematographer), both debuting with the film[7](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2018/09/08/theevandi-director-fellini-interview.html) • [3](https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movie.php?i=5665) |
| Awards | Kerala State Film Award for Best Lyricist (B.K. Harinarayanan); SIIMA Best Actor in a Leading Role (Tovino Thomas)[8](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7585270/awards/) |
## Spoilers
### Plot and premise
Bineesh Damodaran is an unemployed young man in the village of Pullinad, nicknamed Theevandi for his cigarette habit, which the film traces back to his adolescence[6](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2018/Sep/09/theevandi-review-a-film-designed-to-put-you-at-ease-1869783.html) • [2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/theevandi-movie-review-tovino-thomas-star-rating-5345579/). He even aspires to set a world record by smoking 16 packs of cigarettes at the same time[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/theevandi-movie-review-tovino-thomas-star-rating-5345579/). When his girlfriend and fiancée Devi (Samyuktha Menon, in her debut role) demands that he quit before they can marry, the habit becomes the pivot of the plot[6](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2018/Sep/09/theevandi-review-a-film-designed-to-put-you-at-ease-1869783.html). The film's origin scene explains Bineesh's addiction sardonically: when he is born, the midwife believes him stillborn, and his chain-smoking uncle (Sudheesh) revives him by blowing cigarette smoke on the newborn's face[9](https://www.thenewsminute.com/flix/theevandi-review-tovino-impresses-movie-strong-first-half-87965).
**A political frame.** The quitting question carries wider stakes. Two local politicians, one from Bineesh's family, Vijith (Saiju Kurup), and one from Devi's, Madhu (Suraaj Venjarammoodu), are BSCEL party-aligned rivals whose political futures depend on whether Bineesh quits or keeps smoking[6](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2018/Sep/09/theevandi-review-a-film-designed-to-put-you-at-ease-1869783.html) • [10](https://malayalam.indianexpress.com/entertainment/tovino-thomas-theevandi-saiju-kurup-sudheesh-interview/). Their mind games give the film its satirical layer, which reviewers compared, with qualifications, to the classic Malayalam political comedy *Sandesham*[6](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2018/Sep/09/theevandi-review-a-film-designed-to-put-you-at-ease-1869783.html).
## Production and intent
Fellini T.P. came to the project after studying filmmaking at the Asian Film Academy in Delhi and working as an associate director on *Second Show*, the debut film of [Dulquer Salmaan](https://www.edgepedia.org/dulquer-salmaan), where he first met screenwriter Vini Vishwa Lal[7](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2018/09/08/theevandi-director-fellini-interview.html) • [11](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2018/Aug/13/theevandi-is-not-a-dark-or-preachy-film-7414.html). The two had long discussed collaborating, and settled on cigarettes as the subject after realizing that few Malayalam films, and few films worldwide, had taken smoking as their central premise[12](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/interviews/tp-fellini-talks-about-theevandi-movie-045913.html). Fellini decided early that only Tovino Thomas could play the part, and the actor agreed before the script was fully developed[12](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/interviews/tp-fellini-talks-about-theevandi-movie-045913.html).
Deliberate tone. Both director and screenwriter pushed back on expectations of a moralizing anti-smoking film. Fellini described the picture as a feel-good entertainer and a coming-of-age drama in which "smoking is not the main focus"[13](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2018/apr/22/theevandi-is-not-a-dark-film-5659.html). Vini Vishwa Lal framed it as "not about smoking but rather the story of a chainsmoker", adding that it was intended as a political satire without claiming to be another *Sandesham*[11](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2018/Aug/13/theevandi-is-not-a-dark-or-preachy-film-7414.html). The birth scene that opens the film adapts the well-known story of [Pablo Picasso](https://www.edgepedia.org/pablo-picasso)'s birth, in which his uncle blew cigar smoke onto a baby believed stillborn and caused it to breathe; Fellini said the incident was used as a scene in the film's own setting rather than as history[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/theevandi-movie-review-tovino-thomas-star-rating-5345579/) • [12](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/interviews/tp-fellini-talks-about-theevandi-movie-045913.html).
**A delayed release.** The film was originally slated for Vishu (April) but missed that date because censor certification was incomplete; the director cited the June FIFA World Cup, the monsoon, and the Kerala floods of 2018 as reasons the release was pushed back repeatedly, finally landing on Onam[12](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/interviews/tp-fellini-talks-about-theevandi-movie-045913.html).
## Reception and awards
Critical ratings ranged widely. [The Indian Express](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-indian-express) gave 2 stars out of 5, calling the film "a feature-length statutory warning" whose ensemble performances made "otherwise lukewarm writing tolerable"[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/theevandi-movie-review-tovino-thomas-star-rating-5345579/). The Times of India gave 3 stars, crediting the film for tackling a little-explored subject and praising its comedy and music while criticizing a slow second half[4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movie-reviews/theevandi/movie-review/65718624.cms). Deccan Herald also gave 3 stars, noting that cigarettes get more screen time than every actor except the hero[14](https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/charm-tovino-your-lungs-691570.html). The New Indian Express was the most positive at 4 stars, describing a film built on conversations that "holds our attention" and comparing its structure to [Federico Fellini](https://www.edgepedia.org/federico-fellini)'s *I Vitelloni* (1953)[6](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2018/Sep/09/theevandi-review-a-film-designed-to-put-you-at-ease-1869783.html). Common points across reviews were strong praise for Tovino Thomas's dual portrayal of teenage and adult Bineesh, appreciation of Saiju Kurup's restrained comedy, and criticism of a half-written romance with Devi[9](https://www.thenewsminute.com/flix/theevandi-review-tovino-impresses-movie-strong-first-half-87965) • [6](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2018/Sep/09/theevandi-review-a-film-designed-to-put-you-at-ease-1869783.html).
**Recognition.** At the [Kerala State Film Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/kerala-state-film-awards) the film won Best Lyricist for B.K. Harinarayanan, a win shared with the film *Joseph*[8](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7585270/awards/). [Kailas Menon](https://www.edgepedia.org/kailas-menon)'s song "Jeevamshamayi", sung by [Shreya Ghoshal](https://www.edgepedia.org/shreya-ghoshal) and others, was singled out by reviewers as lifting the film's love story[3](https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movie.php?i=5665) • [15](https://silverscreenindia.com/movies/reviews/theevandi-review-a-hollow-comedy-drama-that-takes-a-beaten-track/). Tovino Thomas won the SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Malayalam), and the film received Filmfare Awards South nominations for Best Actor (Tovino Thomas) and Best Supporting Actor (Sudheesh)[8](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7585270/awards/).
## Where to watch
As of recent listings, Theevandi streams in India on Sun Nxt and VI movies and tv, with no free options; [JustWatch](https://www.edgepedia.org/justwatch) records a user rating of 6.6 from about 1,800 votes[5](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/theevandi).
## References
1. [Theevandi, BBFC classification record](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/theevandi-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc00mda3mdg)
2. [Theevandi movie review, The Indian Express (7 September 2018)](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/theevandi-movie-review-tovino-thomas-star-rating-5345579/)
3. [Theevandi (2018), Malayala Chalachithram](https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movie.php?i=5665)
4. [Theevandi Movie Review, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movie-reviews/theevandi/movie-review/65718624.cms)
5. [Theevandi streaming, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/theevandi)
6. ['Theevandi' review: A film designed to put you at ease, The New Indian Express](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2018/Sep/09/theevandi-review-a-film-designed-to-put-you-at-ease-1869783.html)
7. ['Theevandi' director Fellini opens up about his famous name, Onmanorama](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2018/09/08/theevandi-director-fellini-interview.html)
8. [Theevandi (2018) Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7585270/awards/)
9. ['Theevandi' review: Tovino impresses in a movie with a strong first half, The News Minute](https://www.thenewsminute.com/flix/theevandi-review-tovino-impresses-movie-strong-first-half-87965)
10. [അമ്മാവന് എന്ന സ്റ്റേഷനില് നിന്നും അളിയന് എന്ന ടെസ്റ്റിനേഷനിലേക്ക് പോകുന്ന 'തീവണ്ടി', Malayalam Indian Express](https://malayalam.indianexpress.com/entertainment/tovino-thomas-theevandi-saiju-kurup-sudheesh-interview/)
11. ['Theevandi is not a dark or preachy film', Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2018/Aug/13/theevandi-is-not-a-dark-or-preachy-film-7414.html)
12. [TP Fellini talks about Theevandi movie, Malayalam Filmibeat](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/interviews/tp-fellini-talks-about-theevandi-movie-045913.html)
13. ['Theevandi is not a dark film', Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2018/apr/22/theevandi-is-not-a-dark-film-5659.html)
14. ['Theevandi' movie review: Tovino charm in overdrive, Deccan Herald](https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/charm-tovino-your-lungs-691570.html)
15. [Theevandi Review, Silverscreen India](https://silverscreenindia.com/movies/reviews/theevandi-review-a-hollow-comedy-drama-that-takes-a-beaten-track/)
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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 2010s › Malayalam films of 2016 to 2019*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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