Rahul Riji Nair
Abhimanyu Ramanandan · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Born
- 1988 · Kollam.
- Nationality
- India
- Occupation
- film director · actor
In this article
Key facts
• Name — Rahul Riji Nair • Image Upright — yes • Born — 1988 03 21 • Birthplace — Kollam, Kerala, India • Occupation — * Film director • scriptwriter • producer • actor • lyricist • Years Active — 2017present • Spouse — Nithya Vijay Rahul Riji Nair is an Indian film director, scriptwriter, producer and actor active in the Malayalam film industry. His debut feature film Ottamuri Velicham won 4 awards at the 2017 Kerala State Film Awards, including Best Feature Film. Rahul won the 67th National Film Awards for Best Malayalam Film in 2019 for his third feature film Kalla Nottam. Popular works in his filmography include Kho-Kho (2021), Keedam (2022) and Jai Mahendran (2024). Rahul founded the production house First Print Studios in 2011. Through the company he has produced feature films, animation films and has pioneered the production of Malayalam streaming projects for global OTT platforms. He also distributes cinema under the banner of FPS Box office.
Personal life
Rahul was born in Kollam, Kerala on 21 March 1988 to Dr. Riji G. Nair and Rajasree Nair. He did his schooling from SN Trusts Central School, Kollam and graduated in engineering from Amrita School of Engineering in 2009. He worked as a Software Engineer and then as Marketing Manager with multiple companies in Technopark, Trivandrum before venturing into filmmaking. He is married to Nithya Vijay.
Career
Rahul started his career in the Malayalam film industry in 2017 as the writer, producer and director of the Malayalam feature film Ottamuri Velicham. This film won 4 awards in Kerala State Film Awards 2017, including Best Feature Film of the year. His third feature film, Kalla Nottam won the 67th National Film Award for Best Malayalam Feature Film. His films have premiered at prestigious film festivals in Mumbai, Kolkata, New York, Stuttgart, Chicago etc. He has also won multiple international wards including the prestigious Golden Royal Bengal Tiger Award for Best Feature Film at the 26th Kolkata International Film Festival and German Star of India Award for Best Feature film at the Indian Film Festival of Stuttgart. Rahul pioneered the production of mainstream Web Series in Malayalam. He created the first Originals for Major OTT platforms like Disney+, Hotstar, and Sony LIV. He is noticed for his diverse body of work that has successfully traversed both Independent and Mainstream Cinema. Rahul founded the production house First Print Studios in 2011 and is currently serving the company as its CEO. As a self taught filmmaker, he ventured into independent filmmaking through Documentaries, Short Films and Music Videos. Rahul's first independent directorial was the documentary The Human Boundaries in 2012 and it was widely screened across India, Europe and the United States. His Tamil Music Video titled Mounam Sollum Varthaigal gave his first major break through as it went viral with over 25 million views.
Filmography
• Denotes films that have not yet been released
Web series
• Year — Title — Credited As — Notes • Creator — Writer — Producer • 2023 — Kerala Crime Files [Season 1] — First Malayalam Originals on Disney+ Hotstar • 2024 — Jai Mahendran — First Malayalam Originals on Sony LIV • 2026 — Kappi Squad — Long Running Original Series on JioHotstar
As actor
• Year — Film — Role — Notes • 2021 — Kho-Kho — Vinod — Debut as Actor • 2022 — Keedam — Vijay • 2023 — Tholvi F.C. — CEO • 2024 — Jai Mahendran — Balagopal / Balu — Digital Debut As Actor
As lyricist
• Year — Film — Song name — Music director — Singers — Notes • 2021 — Kho-Kho — Theeram Thane Unarum — Sidhartha Pradeep — Nandagopan V — Debut As Lyricist • 2024 — Jai Mahendran — But Why — Sidhartha Pradeep — Sidhartha Pradeep • 2025 — Flask — Sadamaya Pahimam — Sidhartha Pradeep — Rekha Sreeream, Nithin Raj, Amrita Jayakumar • 2025 — Flask — Muthe Njan Pette — Sidhartha Pradeep — Nandagopan V
Music video
• Year — Film — Language — Notes • 2017 — Mounam Sollum Varthaigal — Tamil — Screenplay & Direction
Documentary
{| class="wikitable sortable"! Year! Film! Language! Notes |- | 2012 | The Human Boundaries | English-Hindi | Widely screened across India, UK & USA
Licensing
Text attribution
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The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Rahul Riji Nair, revision 1372088932 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
Feature films
• Year — Film — Credited As — Notes • Director — Writer — Producer • 2017 — Ottamuri Velicham — Kerala State Film Awards 2017 For Best Film • 2018 — Dakini • 2019 — Kalla Nottam • 2021 — Kho-Kho — Kerala Film Critics Award 2020 - Special Jury Award • 2022 — Keedam • 2025 — Flask
Animation films
• Year — Film — Credited As — Notes • Director — Writer — Producer • 2026 — Kingara Kavyam (Poem Of The Enslaved) — |
Short films
• Year — Film — Notes • 2020 — Survival Stories — Anthology created during the COVID-19 Lockdown • 2016 — Troll Life — Platinum Film of the Year - India Film Project 2016 • 2016 — Netaji — Musical Short • 2015 — Rs. 2 — Audience Choice Winner - 48 Hour Film Project, Mumbai • 2015 — MJ — Best Film #9 - India Film Project 2015 • 2014 — Malai Kofta
Awards
• National Film Awards • 2019 - 67th National Film Awards - Best Malayalam Film: Kalla Nottam • Kerala State Film Awards • 2017 - Kerala State Film Award for Best Film: Ottamuri Velicham • Kerala Film Critics Award • 2020 - Special Jury Award: Kho Kho • International Awards • 2026 - India Gold, 28th DigiCon6 Asia Awards: Kingara Kavyam • 2021 - Golden Royal Bengal Tiger Award for Best Feature Film, 26th Kolkata International Film Festival: Kalla Nottam • 2021 - Best Screenplay, Yellowstone International Film Festival: Kalla Nottam • 2020 - Best Film Innovation Award, Indian Film Festival of Cincinnati: Kalla Nottam • 2018 - German Star of India [Best Feature Film], 15th Indian Film Festival Stuttgart: Ottamuri Velicham • 2018 - Second Best Feature Film, Chicago South Asian Film Festival: Ottamuri Velicham • Popular Awards • 2026 - Best Animated Short Film, ANN Awards 2026 (Service Category): Kingara Kavyam • 2024 - Best Malayalam Web Series (Silver), E4M Play Streaming Media Awards 2025: Jai Mahendran • Nominations • 2020 - Best Film, Indian Film Festival of Cincinnati: Kalla Nottam • 2020 - Best Screenplay, Indian Film Festival of Cincinnati: Kalla Nottam • 2020 - Best Screenplay, New York Indian Film Festival: Kalla Nottam • 2018 - Best Film, New York Indian Film Festival: Ottamuri Velicham • 2018 - Best Director, New York Indian Film Festival: Ottamuri Velicham • 2018 - Director's Vision Award, 15th Indian Film Festival Stuttgart: Ottamuri Velicham • 2018 - Oxfam Award for Best Film on Gender Equality, Mumbai Film Festival: Ottamuri Velicham
Director Rahul Riji Nair at IFFK 2022
Sai K shanmugam
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