Nirmal Baby Varghese is an Indian film director in Malayalam. He is known for the documentary film Thariode. His feature directorial debut Vazhiye, was the first found footage movie in Malayalam. He is also script writer, film editor, and public relations officer. He is the younger brother of film producer Baby Chaithanya. He runs the independent film production company Casablanca Film Factory.
Early life Nirmal was born to Baby P K and Lilly Baby on 13 January 1994 at Kavummannam, in Wayanad district, in Kerala.
Film career In 2016, Nirmal directed two short films,Mirror of Reality and Mattam the Change, which were later released on Amazon Prime Video on 2020.
He began his career in Malayalam film industry in 2017 as the associate editor of the film Kalippu. He has also worked as a public relations officer for the films Moppala, Deira Diaries, Sarcas Circa 2020, and Salmon 3D.
He made his third directorial venture in Thariode, a documentary film about gold mining in Thariode. The film found critical acclaim in the festival circuit. He also announced a fictionalization of Thariode. He later announced the title of this cinematic remake as Thariode: The Lost City with a mainly foreign cast list including Bill Hutchens, Luing Andrews, Alexx O'Nell, Courtney Sanello, Amelie Leroy, Brendan Byrne and Roger Ward.
His feature directorial debut film Vazhiye is the first found footage movie in the Malayalam language. The film marked the debut of Hollywood music director Evan Evans in Indian cinema.
Filmography YearTitle Credited as NotesDirectorProducerWriterOther2016Mirror of RealityEditor Short film Later released on 20 March 2020 on Amazon Prime Video2016Mattam the ChangeEditor Short film Later released on 22 March 2020 on Amazon Prime Video2019KalippuAssociate film editor2020MoppalaPublic relations officer2021Deira DiariesPublic relations officer2021Sarcas Circa 2020Public relations officer2021Salmon 3DPublic relations officer2021ThariodeEditor and sound designerDocumentary film2022VazhiyeEditor and sound designerFirst found footage film in Malayalam Language2024Dreadful ChaptersEditor and sound designer Time-loop horror film2025Alien Genesis: Beyond the StarsEnglish documentary film Streaming on Plex2025Anthima KshanagaluKannada film Streaming on BookMyShow Stream2026Disease X: The Zombie ExperimentEditor and sound designerZombie filmTBAThariode: The Lost CityAnnounced (Based on the 2020 documentary film Thariode by himself)
Bibliography Thariode: History & Prospects Of Wayanad Gold Rush - String Productions, 2024.
Awards and accolades
Year Award Category Work Result 2021 Kerala State Television Award Best Educational Programme Thariode
Film festival official selections Year Festival Work Notes 2022 Toronto Indie Horror Fest Vazhiye Official Selection 2022 Festival del Cinema di Cefalù Thariode Official Selection 2022 One Earth Awards Thariode Official Selection 2022Clapperboard Golden Festival Mirror of Reality Official Selection 2022 Mattam the Change Official Selection 2021 Golden Tree International Documentary Film Festival Thariode Official Selection 2021 Standalone Film Festival & Awards Thariode Official Selection 2021 Lift-Off Global Network Sessions Thariode Official Selection 2020 Košice International Monthly Film Festival Thariode Official Selection
References
External links