The casting change is now official. The makers of Santhosh Trophy have released the first look of Joemon Jyothir as the film’s lead, confirming what industry reports had been suggesting for weeks — that Prithviraj Sukumaran has exited the project and Joemon has stepped in to replace him. Director Vipin Das, who has worked with both actors previously, continues at the helm.
The first look image has been released to coincide with the official announcement, giving audiences their first visual of Joemon in the film’s world. The contrast with the original first look — which featured Prithviraj in a striking masked avatar surrounded by folk-style ritual masks in the Theyyam tradition — will not be lost on those who followed the original announcement closely.
Why Prithviraj Left
According to reports circulating in industry circles, Prithviraj’s exit came down to date conflicts caused by the extended shoot schedule of Vysakh’s Khalifa. When Khalifa’s production ran longer than anticipated, the dates for Santhosh Trophy’s next schedule — planned to begin in June across Thiruvalla and Vaikom — could no longer be accommodated. Prithviraj was expected to join that schedule before the conflict made it impossible.
The production structure of the film has also changed. Prithviraj Productions, which was initially backing Santhosh Trophy financially, is no longer attached to the project. The film is now to be jointly produced by Magic Frames and Vipin Das himself — a significant restructuring that suggests the exit was not purely a scheduling issue but involved the broader production relationship.
Prithviraj is now moving forward with Rahul Sadasivan’s next horror film, which also stars Manju Warrier, after completing Khalifa.
Why Joemon Makes Sense
Vipin Das’s decision to turn to Joemon Jyothir is not arbitrary. The director and actor have an existing working relationship — Guruvayoorambala Nadayil, one of the films that built Joemon’s profile with general audiences, was also directed by Vipin Das and happened to star Prithviraj in the lead role. The same director who introduced Joemon to wider Malayalam audiences in a supporting capacity is now handing him the lead in his next project.
Joemon’s career trajectory has been building quietly and consistently. His work in Vaazha established him as an actor capable of holding his own in ensemble situations. His social media presence, which predates his film career, gives him an existing relationship with younger audiences that translates into pre-release visibility for any film he leads. He most recently appeared in Vaazha 2: Biopic of a Billion Bros in a cameo reprising his original role.
Prem Patta, the Vipin Das campus romance that was announced earlier and has Joemon as lead, is also in the pipeline — meaning this is now Joemon’s second lead film with the same director in a short window. That density of collaboration, in Malayalam cinema, is usually a signal of genuine creative alignment rather than circumstantial casting.
What the Film Is
Santhosh Trophy is a comedy directed by Vipin Das, who wrote the script, screenplay, and dialogues. The film features approximately 60 newcomers alongside Joemon in the ensemble — a format that Vipin Das has used before to create busy, character-rich comedies that reward ensemble chemistry. The next shooting schedule is expected to begin in June across Thiruvalla and Vaikom in central Kerala.
Cinematography is by Aravind Puthussery, editing by Johnkutty, and music is composed by Ankit Menon. The technical crew remains unchanged from the original announcement.
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