There are dialogues you remember because of the film, and then there are those you start hearing everywhere — in chats, reels, memes and random conversations.
Malayalam cinema has had plenty of such lines, with people finding a way to use them in almost every situation. The latest one doing the rounds is “Don’t produce too much…” from ‘Soulmates – Oru Sathukkudi Pranayam’.
Released on YouTube by Bhavana Studios as part of the promotional campaign for ‘Bethlehem Kudumba Unit’, the short film has been widely picked up by youngsters online, turning the dialogue into a viral meme and Parvathy Ayyappadas into the face of the trend.
Parvathy, who first caught attention through TikTok before appearing in films and television, also played Sayoojya in ‘Bethlehem Kudumba Unit’.
She talks to TNIE about the film’s journey, the making of ‘Oru Sathukkudi Pranayam’, the surreal experience of seeing her line from the short film become part of the internet’s lingo and the dreams she hopes to chase next.
‘Bethlehem Kudumba Unit’ became a huge hit, bringing audiences of all ages to theatres this Onam. How did you become part of it?
I had wanted to act since childhood, but I had never even acted in theatre. For a girl from a village in Pathanamthitta, cinema felt very distant. So I didn’t even know if I should dream about it. During Covid, I started making TikTok videos, and Girish ettan saw them and called me for an audition for ‘Super Sharanya’. That was my entry into cinema, as a senior student, who ragged Anaswara and Mamitha’s characters.
After that, I did several short films, music videos and web series. My role in ‘Uppum Mulakum’ also brought me more attention. Then came similar roles in ‘Baby Girl’, ‘Engilum Chandrike’ and ‘Perilloor Premier League’.
For ‘Bethlehem Kudumba Unit’, Girish ettan called me saying there was a small role. I attended the audition and got the character. Knowing that Girish ettan had considered me meant a lot. So, getting such a substantial role was a complete surprise.
Like the film, ‘Oru Sathukkudi Pranayam’ has also received a huge response. Did you expect this?
Everyone was confident about the short film and excited for its release. Even before its release, people who watched it were laughing, so we hoped it would go viral. But I never imagined it would cross 10 million views so quickly or that people would pick up the dialogue. I never expected such a massive response. It has been overwhelming, and I still don’t know how to react.