Actor Jiteesh Raichel Samuel on his position in Symptoms of Love, Khidki Gaav and extra

Actor Jitheesh Raichel Samuel, has stored his mom’s identify as his center identify. “In case I grow to be well-known, her identify turns into well-known too,” he laughs over the telephone.

The actor is a part of two initiatives at present within the highlight. He performs Abey in Symptoms of Love, a brief movie lauded for its convincing performances and Paul Thomas Anderson-esque aesthetics, and Simon in Khidki Gaav, which gained the Hylife Vision Award on the Busan International Film Festival 2025.

“While I’ve labored on many initiatives, I’m receiving this type of response for the primary time. I used to be questioning my skills as an actor earlier than signing Symptoms of Love. But after I noticed it, I used to be happy,” says the actor, concerning the quick movie directed by Sanjay Damodhar Renjith, launched on the Bhavana Studios YouTube channel. “Actor Soubin Shahir referred to as me after watching the film. He informed me he watched the film twice.

In the 28-minute movie, Jithesh shows restraint as Abey secretly prepares for his loss of life and the results. However, issues change when he runs into Twinkle performed by Ameesha Yashica.

The actor credit his efficiency to the writer-director duo of Nithin Joseph and Sanjay. “I collaborated with them in 2022 for an unreleased anthology movie. When they requested whether or not I might do the movie, I agreed straightaway. Their inputs had been clear, which gave me an thought of how the viewers would understand the movie.”

Symptoms of Love premiered on the seventeenth International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala just lately within the Malayalam Short Fiction class.

Origin Story

An alumnus of the KR Narayanan National Institute of Visual Science and Arts in Kottayam (KRNNIVSA), Jitheesh’s tryst with appearing started in Class II with college performs. Seeing his efficiency, Malayalam actor-director Tom Jacob even beneficial him for just a few episodes of Pakida Pakida Pamparam, a sequence telecast on the Doordarshan within the ‘90s.

“It stayed with me when he (Tom) stated I might act in just a few episodes of the present although I couldn’t take that chance,” says Jitheesh.

“Until class XII, I didn’t do a lot in class, earlier than returning to theatre,” says Jithesh, who joined KRNNIVSA after he completed engineering and did a brief stint at a startup in Kochi.

“When I used to be working, I dreamt of becoming a member of a movie college and studying appearing. My father inspired me to check on the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune. He stored pushing me to study appearing, although alternatives had been slim. He informed me how it will make me a greater individual; this has caught with me.” As an appearing scholar, Jitheesh says, he gained readability in his private life.

“When I used to be on the institute, we staged two performs. We carried out one in all them, Court Martial, at Theatre Olympics in Delhi.”

After graduating, Jitheesh labored at a service centre for a 12 months earlier than an accident put him out of motion for a while. “Soon, I stop the job and even thought-about transferring to Kochi from my hometown, Kottarakkara, as a meals supply accomplice.”

He quickly began appearing in ads and shows for an e-education portal, which led him to grow to be an anchor for a Malayalam on-line information media organisation, overlaying cricket and cinema. “People thought I used to be an anchor and a media individual, however I didn’t need that to be my id. I simply did this for the cash, actually.”

He provides, “I used to be unable to persuade people who I’m a superb actor with my phrases, however my efficiency can do this. I do know if somebody offers me work, I’ll do it effectively.”

In 2022, he debuted in function movies, as a police officer in Aavasavyuham, directed by Krishand RK. Early this 12 months, he impressed together with his efficiency in Daveed, starring Antony Varghese.

Another praiseworthy efficiency was in Khidki Gaav (If on a Winter’s Night) as Simon, a Malayali migrant in Delhi struggling to make ends meet. One of his academics at KRNNIVSA, Sanju Surendran, directed the film. “They had been trying to find an actor to do the position after the shoot had begun. I gave an audition and requested Sanju sir for the position. I used to be comfortable to behave, even when there was no fee.”

About the massive win at Busan, he says, “I knew the film would go locations, because it was Sanju sir’s film. I take pleasure in engaged on films like that, even school initiatives, as a result of college students are able to experiment.

Currently, Jitheesh is awaiting Khidki Gaav’s theatrical launch and is working in just a few quick movies. “I simply wish to do distinguished full-length roles. I’m hoping the success of Symptoms of Love and Khidki Gaav will assist with that.”