Interview | Malayalam director Jofin T Chacko: ‘Rekhachithram’ being embraced by the new generation was unexpected

Jofin T Chacko's success with Rekhachithram, a film connecting generations with alternate history and AI technology.

Jofin T Chacko confesses that he did not anticipate this reception to his sophomore film, Rekhachithram. Although he, with the team, was confident that it would resonate with people who grew up in the 1980s-90s, the response from the ‘new generation’ was unexpected. “We were 100% sure that the film would connect with the generation that grew up watching movies of Bharathan and Padmarajan and/or consuming film-based content in Nana and Chithrabhumi [popular vernacular film magazines of the period]. But from this generation … it is a surprise!”

That said, he clarifies, Rekhachithram was not made only for cineastes and movie buffs: “It is for everybody. We wanted the film to connect with anyone who watches films and it has.”

Rekhachithram, starring Asif Ali and Anaswara Rajan, is running to packed houses and the feedback pouring in has been glowing. The movie cleverly uses the alternate history genre, pivoting the plot around the shooting of the 1984 Bharathan-film Kathodu Kaathoram. 

Though Jofin debuted as director with The Priest (2021), Rekhachithram was the first film he and long-time friend Ramu Sunil had discussed in 2018. Ramu has co-written the film with John Manthrickal. 

“Ramu and I had discussed the basic idea back then — that a movie from the past would be the backdrop of the plot and the use of a popular song of the time. We had even fixed the name of the lead character, Rekha, and the name of the film.” However, they decided to make the film later. “We felt that maybe it was not the film to be made as one’s first work. But I was certain that I would make this movie at some point!”  

In retrospect, it was a good call. The film, with its fresh take, may not have found the acceptance it has today back then. Over the past five years, since the pandemic, the taste of the audience has changed and differently-told stories have found more acceptance. In 2025, the audience was ready for Rekhachithram. 

The Palakkad-native who studied filmmaking and has assisted Jis Joy on Bicycle Thieves says, “This [Rekhachithram] is my third location experience!”