Success can become a trap if you start repeating yourself: JP Thuminad

Director of Su From So, JP Thuminad, who tied the knot with Rashmika last week, is still recovering from the whirlwind of celebrations. “Rashmika has always been my first audience. I share every idea with her, and only if she likes it do I move ahead. Incidentally, she had loved the idea of Su From So,” JP says. As for work after his directorial debut, JP, who is also an actor, tells us, “I’ve kept things quiet since then. I don’t believe in being loud or endlessly celebrating success. You have to move on to new chapters.”

The actor-director is now stepping into Malayalam cinema with Happiloop, directed by Anand Menen and co-starring Manju Warrier. “It took all of us a while to process what was happening after Su From So. The way the film kept growing week after week felt overwhelming, and it was heartening to see a simple story connect so deeply with audiences. After the film’s success, many producers approached me asking if I could make something along the same lines for them,” says JP. He recalls facing a similar situation after Saptha Saagaradaache Ello Side B. “Back then, I was constantly being offered roles of depressed husbands. That’s when you need to be careful. You can never take for granted that just because something worked once, you can recreate it again,” he points out.

Speaking about Su From So, he adds, “Though it was considered a small-budget film by industry standards, for us it felt massive. We treated it with utmost respect and gave it everything we had. Our only aim was to stay authentic, and I think Kannada audiences recognised that sincerity and embraced the film.”

Of his Malayalam innings, he tells us, “Having grown up in the coastal belt, Malayalam has always been familiar to me. Acting in a Malayalam film was a long-time dream, though it once felt distant. But then, at one point, even moving to Bengaluru and reaching Kannada audiences seemed far-fetched,” he says, adding, “Today, cinema has evolved to a stage where talent can move freely across industries, and I feel fortunate to be part of that change.”

Apart from Happiloop, JP has signed three new projects in Kannada. “I will definitely continue directing as well. I’m currently scripting my next film,” he says.
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