Housefull (also stylized as House Full) is a 2013 Indian Malayalam-language family drama film directed by Linson Antony.[1][2] The film stars Tini Tom, Jyothirmayi and Shammi Thilakan,[3] and released on 15 February 2013.[4] Filming for Housefull had begun in mid-2012,[5] with the film marking Tom's first leading role.[6]
Ananthan, a 36-year-old police constable who has experienced multiple failures at trying to find a woman to marry. He eventually meets and marries Emily, a textile worker, much to the chagrin of both of their families. The couple tried for a baby in the hopes of placating their family, but were unable to conceive and began a series of fertility treatments. Initially overjoyed when the treatments are successful, Ananthan and Emily are shocked to discover that she was now pregnant with quadruplets.[7]
Tini Tom, after doing comic and character roles in over 30 films,[8] was given his first lead role in a film by debutant director Linson Antony, who had previously directed several devotional videos.[6] Jyothirmayi, who was not seen in a commercial film for a longer time, was chosen to portray the character of a saleswoman at a textile shop.[9] Four babies were reported to be playing the lead alongside actors Tini Tom and Jyothirmayi, with auditions being held in July 2012 to find "the best ones".[5] The actors were continuously shooting for Housefull for 40 days throughout September and October 2012,[10] with Jyothirmayi stating that the shoot took more days than what was initially planned, because of the four children involved.[11]
Housefull was received mixed review, with a reviewer for Sify giving a neutral review and stating that it was a "meek entertainer, which treads along a rather safe path".[12] Sreenath Nair of The Hindu was critical of the film, citing that there were "no situations in the script and screenplay by Shiju Nambiath which offer the director a challenge. The duo walks down the much-tread and familiar story lanes to reach a commonplace end".[13]