Who is Geethu Mohandas, internationally-acclaimed director of ‘Rocking Star’ Yash’s latest? 5 Points- The Week

‘Rocking Star’ Yash’s upcoming movie Toxic: A fairy tale for grown-ups has hit a roadblock after being accused of felling trees in Bengaluru for film-set construction sans approval from the the Karnataka forest department. “Hundreds of trees have been removed without permission, and we are seeking strict legal repercussions,” Karnataka forest minister Eshwar Khandre said. The minister added that disciplinary action would be taken against officers who gave permission to fell trees inside the reserve forest, and cases would be registered against the persons responsible for cutting the trees.

FULL REPORT | ‘Rocking Star’ Yash’s new movie lands in hot water over dubious felling of trees in reserve forest

Yash in Geethu Mohandas directorial

After the immense success of the bipartite KGF series, fans were excited about the return of the ‘Rocking Star.’ Yash took his time off after portraying Rocky Bhai of KGF, spending quality time with his family and analysing multiple scripts. Thus, fans were excited after Toxic was announced. Directed by Geethu Mohandas, the movie is scheduled to hit theatres on April 10, 2025.

While KGF was helmed by Prashanth Neel, someone who needs no introduction. Geethu Mohandas is not a household name among Kannada moviegoers. However, she is no rookie and is an internationally acclaimed director. Here are five things that hardcore fans of Yash would love to know about Geethu Mohandas — the director of the Rocking Star’s upcoming flick!

1. Geethu Mohandas, 43, is a Malayali. The actor-turned-moviemaker has been part of Mollywood since her childhood. When she acted alongside Mohanlal in Onnu Muthal Poojyam Vare in 1986, she was just 5-years-old. Two years later, her Tamil debut happened with En Bommukutty Ammavukku as the title role, which was the remake of the Malayalam family drama Ente Mamattikkuttiyammakku.

2. Her first adult role was once again opposite Mohanlan in Life is Beautiful. The 2000 family drama, which also featured Samyukta Varma, marked the beginning of her acting career that lasted a decade. Some of her noted movies include Pakalppooram, Valkannadi, Thenkasipattanam, Rappakal and Naalu Pennungal.

ALSO READ | Yash’s ‘Toxic’ row: When makers insisted on shooting ‘Rocking Star’ movie locally in Karnataka

3. Geethu Mohandas played the lead role in Shyama Prasad’s The old ones. An adaptation of the noted play The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, Akale won two National Film Awards and six Kerala state film awards. Her portrayal of Rose, a mentally fragile and physically challenged sister of Neil (Prithviraj). Geethu Mohandas won the 2004 Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress for her performance in the movie that went on to win the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam.

4. Geethu’s directorial debut was the 2009 Malayalam short film Kelkkunnundo. In 2014, her Hindi feature Liar’s Dice brought Indian cinema international acclaim. Starring Geetanjali Thapa and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in lead roles, Liar’s Dice won two honours at the 61st National Film Awards apart from winning big at the 2014 Sofia International Film Festival, 2014 Pesaro International Film Festival and the 2014 New York Indian Film Festival, among other international venues.

Then came her Malayalam feature Moothonanother critically acclaimed movie featuring Nivin Pauly in the lead role. The movie, a brave portrayal touching multiple sensitive subjects, won her the 2016 Global Filmmaking Award for Story at Sundance Film Festival apart from three honours at the 2020 New York Indian Film Festival.

5. Yash, earlier this year, hinted that Toxic was going to be a film with a unique vision. “Each film has a different vision. ‘Toxic’ is also different.” Recollecting his meeting Geethu Mohandas and agreeing to get on board for the movie. “When I do a project, I look at the passion and the kind of project it is, before committing to the film. Geethu came with the right passion and vision. I also admired how she invested her time into the project,” he reportedly told Hollywood Reporter India. The actor also claimed that the time was ripe for art films and commercial cinema to come together.