Joemon Jyothir joins Vipin Das's 'Santhosh Trophy' after Prithviraj exit
Synopsis
Vipin Das's 'Santhosh Trophy' has a new lead — and it is not who fans expected. With Prithviraj Sukumaran reportedly out due to 'Khalifa' schedule clashes, the director has brought in Joemon Jyothir, teasing the casting with 'New face. Same chaos.' It is a bold pivot for one of Malayalam cinema's most anticipated upcoming projects.
Key Takeaways
Joemon Jyothir has officially joined the cast of 'Santhosh Trophy' , confirmed via an Instagram post by director Vipin Das .
Prithviraj Sukumaran , originally signed as the lead, has reportedly exited the film due to scheduling conflicts with 'Khalifa' .
It is not yet confirmed whether Joemon replaces Prithviraj in the same role or joins in a different capacity.
The film is produced by Listen Stephen and Justin Stephen under Magic Frames .
Music is by Ankit Menon , cinematography by Aravind Puthussery , and editing by John Kutty .
Actor Joemon Jyothir has officially joined the cast of director Vipin Das's upcoming Malayalam film 'Santhosh Trophy', with the announcement made on Friday via an Instagram post by the director. The development comes shortly after it emerged that actor Prithviraj Sukumaran, who was originally signed to lead the film, is no longer attached to the project.
The Announcement
Vipin Das, best known for directing the hit Malayalam film 'Jeya Jeya Jeya Jaya Hey', took to his Instagram timeline to confirm Joemon Jyothir's inclusion. His post featured the caption '#inception #santoshtrophy' alongside a poster of Jyothir carrying the tagline, 'New face. Same chaos.' The announcement has generated significant buzz among Malayalam film audiences.
Prithviraj's Departure
Sources close to the production confirmed that Prithviraj Sukumaran has exited 'Santhosh Trophy', though the exact circumstances remain officially unaddressed by either camp. Industry sources suggest that scheduling conflicts arising from the extended shoot of his other film 'Khalifa' — directed by Vysakh — reportedly led Prithviraj to opt out. It is not yet confirmed whether Joemon Jyothir steps directly into Prithviraj's original role or joins the project in a different capacity.
The Creative Team
The film is being produced by Listen Stephen and Justin Stephen under the banner Magic Frames, with Santhosh Krishnan and Naveen P Thomas serving as executive producers. Sunil Kumaran is the production designer, while Aravind Puthussery handles cinematography. Music is being composed by Ankit Menon, editing is by John Kutty, and costumes are by Aswathy Jayakumar. Sound design is by Arun S Mani, with sound mixing handled by M R Rajakrishnan. Notably, Rajesh Narayanan serves as the film's dedicated casting director — a relatively uncommon role in Malayalam productions.
Why 'Santhosh Trophy' Is Eagerly Awaited
'Santhosh Trophy' has drawn considerable anticipation since its first announcement, buoyed by the commercial and critical success of Vipin Das's previous directorial. The casting of Joemon Jyothir — a fresh face — signals a deliberate creative choice by the team to chart a distinct identity for the film rather than lean on established star power. How audiences respond to this pivot will be closely watched as the project moves forward.
Point of View
With the 'New face. Same chaos.' tagline doing deliberate reputational work. Whether Joemon Jyothir can carry the weight of audience expectations built around a Prithviraj-led project is the central question. Vipin Das's track record with 'Jeya Jeya Jeya Jaya Hey' buys him goodwill, but this casting gamble will define early buzz for the film.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Joemon Jyothir and why is he joining 'Santhosh Trophy'?
Joemon Jyothir is a Malayalam film actor who has been officially confirmed as part of the cast of 'Santhosh Trophy', directed by Vipin Das. His addition comes after Prithviraj Sukumaran reportedly exited the project due to scheduling conflicts.
Why did Prithviraj Sukumaran leave 'Santhosh Trophy'?
Prithviraj Sukumaran reportedly opted out of 'Santhosh Trophy' due to date issues caused by the extended schedules of his other film 'Khalifa', directed by Vysakh. Neither Prithviraj nor the production has officially confirmed the reason.
Who is directing and producing 'Santhosh Trophy'?
'Santhosh Trophy' is directed by Vipin Das, best known for 'Jeya Jeya Jeya Jaya Hey'. The film is produced by Listen Stephen and Justin Stephen under Magic Frames, with Santhosh Krishnan and Naveen P Thomas as executive producers.
Who are the key crew members of 'Santhosh Trophy'?
The film's crew includes cinematographer Aravind Puthussery, music composer Ankit Menon, editor John Kutty, costume designer Aswathy Jayakumar, production designer Sunil Kumaran, and casting director Rajesh Narayanan. Sound design is by Arun S Mani and sound mixing by M R Rajakrishnan.
Has Joemon Jyothir replaced Prithviraj Sukumaran in 'Santhosh Trophy'?
It is not officially confirmed whether Joemon Jyothir steps into Prithviraj Sukumaran's original role or joins the film in a different capacity. Sources close to the unit confirmed Prithviraj's exit, but the exact nature of Joemon's role has not been disclosed.
