Ponman (Kingfisher)
Ponman (transl. Kingfisher; lit. 'Gold Man') is a 2025 Indian Malayalam-language dark comedy action film directed by Jothish Shankar. Based on the novel Naalanchu Cheruppakar by G. R. Indugopan, the film explores themes of dowry, societal pressures, and the cultural obsession with gold. Starring Basil Joseph, Sajin Gopu, Lijomol Jose, Anand Manmadhan, and Deepak Parambol, the movie was released on 30 January 2025 to critical acclaim and audience praise.
Table: Overview of Ponman
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | Ponman (Kingfisher) |
| Release Date | 30 January 2025 |
| Language | Malayalam |
| Genre | Dark Comedy, Action |
| Director | Jothish Shankar |
| Writer | G. R. Indugopan, Justin Mathew |
| Based on | Naalanchu Cheruppakar by G. R. Indugopan |
| Producer | Vinayaka Ajith |
| Production Co. | Ajith Vinayaka Films |
| Distributor | Ajith Vinayaka Release |
| Cinematography | Sanu John Varghese |
| Editor | Nidhin Raj Arol |
| Music | Justin Varghese |
| Runtime | 127 minutes |
| Box Office | ₹10.45 crore (Kerala) |
Plot Summary
Set in the coastal region of Kollam, the film follows PP Ajesh (Basil Joseph), a jewelry sales agent who advances gold jewelry to brides' families on the condition that they repay him with the cash gifts received during the wedding. Ajesh lends 25 sovereigns of gold to Steffi's (Lijomol Jose) family for her marriage to Mariyano (Sajin Gopu). However, after the wedding, the family can only repay 13 sovereigns, leaving Ajesh to demand the return of the remaining 12. This leads to a tense and humorous pursuit, exposing societal issues related to dowry and the community's obsession with gold.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Basil Joseph | PP Ajesh |
| Sajin Gopu | Mariyano |
| Lijomol Jose | Steffi Graf |
| Anand Manmadhan | Bruno |
| Deepak Parambol | Markandeya Sharma |
| Sandhya Rajendran | Agnes |
| Rajesh Sharma | – |
| Kiran Peethambaran | – |
| Reju Sivadas | – |
| Jaya Kurupp | – |
| Midhun Venugopal | – |
| Thankam Mohan | – |
| Shylaja P. Ambu | – |
Production Details
Announcement: February 2024
Director's Debut: Jothish Shankar, previously a production designer for films like Kumbalangi Nights, Android Kunjappan Version 5.25, and Nna Thaan Case Kodu.
Filming Locations: Kollam, including Munrothuruth (Munroe Island), Thanni, Chinnakada, Kundara, and Thekkumbhagam.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack, composed by Justin Varghese, was released on 30 January 2025 under the label Think Music.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singers | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Kollam Pattu" | Anwar Ali | Resmi Sateesh | 4:06 |
| 2 | "Braidaathi" | Suhail Koya | Bineetha Ranjith | 3:48 |
| 3 | "Paka" | Suhail Koya | K. S. Chithra, Justin Varghese | 4:36 |
| 4 | "Arbhadam" | Suhail Koya | Zia Ul Haq | 3:38 |
| Total Length | 16:08 |
Release and Reception
Theatrical Release: Originally scheduled for 6 February 2025, the film was released earlier on 30 January 2025.
Digital Streaming: Acquired by JioHotstar, streaming began on 14 March 2025.
Critical Reception
Anna Mathews (The Times of India): Rated 4.5/5 – "Ponman is cinematic gold with its brilliant script, acting, and direction."
Sajin Shrijith (The Week): Rated 4/5 – "Every character has a purpose; not a single dull moment."
Vivek Santhosh (Cinema Express): Rated 4/5 – "A tense pursuit of gold, laced with humour and deep-rooted emotions."
Kirubhakar Purushothaman (News18): Rated 4/5 – "Leaves a lot to ponder about resilience and survival."
Janani K. (India Today): Rated 3.5/5 – "A realistic film that holds a mirror to society."
S. R. Praveen (The Hindu): "An engrossing, non-judgemental study of characters."
Vishal Menon (The Hollywood Reporter India): "Great writing decisions complemented with equally great performances."
Basil went god mode in this scene. What a fiery performance 🔥
— Haricharan Pudipeddi (@pudiharicharan) March 15, 2025
It is with #Ponman, Basil proved that he can do more than just comedy.
pic.twitter.com/e8gftPbyYb
.jpeg)
