Actor Jitheesh Raichel Samuel kept his mother’s name as his middle name. “If I become famous, her name also becomes famous,” she laughs on the phone.
The actor is part of two projects that are currently in the center of attention. He plays Abey in the symptoms of love, a short film praised his convincing performance and aesthetics Paul Thomas Anderson and Simon in Khidki Gaava, who won the Hylife Vision Award at the Busan 2025 International Film Festival.
“While I worked on many projects, I get this kind of reaction for the first time. I signed my skills as an actor before signing the symptoms of love. But when I saw it I was happy,” says the actor about the short film directed by Sanjay Damodhar Renjith, released on Bhavan Youtube. “The actor Set Shahir called me after watching the movie. He told me he watched the movie twice.”
In the 28 -minute Jithesh film, he shows a restriction when Abey secretly prepares for his death and consequences. However, things change when they hit the Twinkle played by Ameesha Yashica.
Jitheesh Raichel Samuel like Abey | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The actor attributes Joseph and Sanjay to his performance. “I worked with them in 2022 in an unaccounted antological film. When they asked if I could make a movie, I agreed immediately. Their inputs were clear, which gave me an idea of how the audience perceives the film.”
Symptoms of love were premieres at 17.
The story of origin
Alumnus of the National Institute of Visual Science and Art Kr Narayanan in Kottayam (Krnnivsa), Jitheesh’s Tryst with playing in class II school games. When he saw his performance, Malaysian actor Tom Jacob even recommended him for several episodes of Pakid Pakid Pamparam, a series broadcast on Doordarshan at the age of 90.
“He stayed with me when (Tom) said I could act in several episodes of the show, even though I couldn’t take this opportunity,” says Jitheesh.
After graduation, Jitheesh worked for a year in the service center before the accident had taken him out of the event for some time. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
“I did not do much to class XII at school before I returned to the theater,” says Jithesh, who joined Krnnivsa after completing engineering and making a short stint at Kochi.
“When I worked, I dreamed of joining a film school and learning to act. My father encouraged me to study at the Indian movie and TV Institute in Pune. He was still pushing me to learn acting, even if the opportunities were slim. As a reigning student, Jitheesh says, he gained clarity in his personal life.
Jitheesh Raichel Samuel | Photo Credit: Harrison Newton
“When I was at the Institute, we introduced two games. We showed one of them, Court Martial, at the Delhi Theater Olympics.”
After graduation, Jitheesh worked for a year in the service center before the accident had taken him out of the event for some time. “I soon left the work and even considered moving to Kochi from my hometown Kottarakkara as a partner for food supply.”
Soon he began to act in commercials and presentations for the e-educational portal, which led him to become an anchor for the organization of news media in Malayalam, covering cricket and cinema. “People thought I was an anchor and a media person, but I didn’t want it to be my identity. I honestly did it for money.”
He adds: “I was unable to convince people that I was a good actor with my words, but my performance can do it. I know that if someone gives me a job I will do it well.”
In 2022 he made his debut in feature films, as a police officer in Aavasavyuham, directed by Krishand RK. At the beginning of this year he impressed his performance in Daveed, starring Antony Varghes.
Another commendable performance in Khidki Gaav (if in winter night) like Simon, Malaysian Migrant in Delhi, trying to achieve goals. One of his teachers in Krnnivsa, Sanja Surendran, directed a film. “They were looking for an actor to perform a role after starting the filming. I gave an audition and asked for the role of Sanjur. I was glad I acted even though there was no payment.”
Jitheesh Raichel Samuel in Khidki Gaav | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
He says about the big victory in Busan: “I knew the film would be in places because it was the film Sanju Sir. I enjoy working on such films, even on university projects, because students are ready to experiment.
Currently, Jitheesh is waiting for the Khidki Gaav theater edition and works in several short films. “I just want to make significant roles full of length. I hope to help the success of the symptoms of love and khidki Gaav.”
Published – October 7, 2025 11:11:11
