From iconic ads to the big screen: The man behind Vodafone’s 'ZooZoos' and Hutch’s 'Boy and Puppy' shines as George Sir in Thudarum

After Empuraan, Mohanlal’s film Thudarum has hit theatres and is receiving tremendous response. The film is running to packed houses across the globe. Directed by Tharun Moorthy, the film features Mohanlal as Shanmughan, a taxi driver. On social media, the film is being celebrated with fans saying it feels like the return of "vintage Mohanlal."

Amidst this celebration, a post about another standout character from the film, George Sir, is also gaining attention.

A viewer, Shibu Gopalakrishnan, wrote:

'In Thudarum, Mohanlal isn't the unexpected marvel — he’s a legend whose brilliance we’ve admired countless times before. But the true revelation is the man who brought 'George Sir' to life. From the moment he appears on screen, the film feels completely in his grasp.

From there, Thudarum only soars higher, tightening its hold on the audience. With remarkable physicality and depth, he crafts a performance so gripping that it becomes impossible to look away or lose focus even for a second.

Malayalam cinema lost a rare intensity with the passing of N.F. Varghese, especially his powerful vocal delivery that breathed life into every character. That same rare edge is strikingly present in Prakash Varma’s portrayal of George Sir.

And yet, watching him, one can't help but wonder — dear George Sir, where have you been hiding all this time?'

The actor who played George Sir in Thudarum isn't just an actor. He is Prakash Varma, founder and director of the Nirvana ad film company based in Bangalore. Prakash Varma is well-known in the advertising world for creating iconic commercials such as Vodafone's "ZooZoo" series and Hutch's famous “boy and puppy” ads that once captivated TV audiences.

He has also worked on commercials for brands like Cadbury, Bisleri, iPhone, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and even directed ads for Dubai Tourism featuring Shah Rukh Khan. Besides advertising, Prakash Varma has experience in Malayalam cinema as well — he was an assistant director and producer for the film Ezhu Sundara Rathrikal directed by Lal Jose, starring Dileep. He started the Nirvana ad production company in 2001 along with his wife, Shiny Iype.