Sethu Madhavan
Born in 1969 in the town of Mannarkkad, Kerala, Sethu Madhavan—fondly known in the Malayalam film industry as Sethu Mannarkkad—is the elder son of Panchu and Panchali from the renowned Pookkuth family.
Early Life & Entry into Cinema
Raised in the film-loving household of Pookkuth Veedu, Sethu completed his schooling in Mannarkkad
before moving to Chennai in 1989. He began his film journey as an office assistant at Jubilee
Productions, gaining a ground-up understanding of set operations and finance.
Production Leadership
1991 – 1997 | Production Manager
Debuted with Cheppukilukkana Changathi, quickly becoming a trusted hand for budgets, logistics and
crew management.From then until 1997, he served as a dedicated production manager, eventually
transitioning to the role of production controller with Oral Mathram, directed by veteran filmmaker Sathyan
Anthikad.
1997 onward | Production Controller
This marked the beginning of a long-standing collaboration with Sathyan Anthikad, working together on a
series of critically and commercially successful films such as Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal, Kochu
Kochu Santhoshangal,Achuvinte Amma,manassinakkare, Vinodayathra, Oru Indian Pranayakadha, and
Ennum Eppozhum, among others.
He has since collaborated with leading filmmakers including Viji Thampi, Kamal, Sibi Malayil, Ranjith,
Venu, Boban Samuel, Akku Akbar, G. S. Vijayan and Jiju Ashokan
Full Moon Cinema
After nearly 27 years of rich experience in film production, Sethu Mannarkkad launched his own
production house—Full Moon Cinema—in 2016 with the blessings of his mentor, Sathyan Anthikad. The
banner’s first production, Jomonte Suvisheshangal (2017), directed by Anthikad and starring Dulquer
Salmaan, marked a successful debut. This was followed by Njan Prakashan in 2018, further cementing
Full Moon Cinema’s identity in the Malayalam film production space.
Njan Prakashan went on to win numerous awards in 2024, including recognitions for Best Popular Film,
solidifying Sethu Mannarkkad's name as a dependable and quality-driven producer. In 2023, Pachuvum
Athbhuthavilakkum, directed by Akhil Sathyan, reaffirmed Full Moon Cinema’s place in the industry. The
film received wide acclaim and was honored with multiple accolades, including Kerala State Film Awards.
Personal Life
Sethu’s personal journey has always been deeply supported by his family—his wife Jaya
Sethumadhavan, daughter Raveena Pookkuth, and son Siddharth Madhavan—who have been his pillars
of strength throughout.
From the small town of Mannarkkad to the heart of Malayalam cinema, Sethu Mannarkkad's 35-year-long
journey stands as a testament to dedication, gratitude, and an unwavering passion for storytelling. His
respect for mentors and love for cinema continue to inspire the next chapter of Full Moon Cinema.Sethu
remains deeply grateful to his hometown, the Malayalam film fraternity and the mentors who shaped his
path.
Awards
