Ad Filmmaker | Writer-Director
Vinil Mathew is regarded as one of India’s leading advertising and film directors, noted for transforming everyday moments into memorable narratives that have become cultural reference points. A graduate from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, he later studied as an exchange scholar at the HFF, Munich. Mathew’s early long-form work includes The Chosen One (2003), an award-winning coming-of-age film for STAR TV. He made his feature debut with the widely admired romantic comedy Hasee Toh Phasee (2014), recognised for its distinctive tone, strong performances and popular music. His most recent film, the pulpy romantic thriller Haseen Dillruba (2021), released on Netflix, became one of the platform’s most-watched Indian titles. In parallel with his feature work, Mathew has directed more than 500 commercials, shaping several iconic campaigns for Cadbury, Vodafone, Nescafé (including the award-winning “stammering stand-up”), Imperial Blue’s “Men Will Be Men,” MP Tourism’s hand-shadowgraphy film and the Times of India’s “Aman Ki Asha,” among many others. His recent two-minute Flipkart ensemble spot featuring 14 celebrities trended widely for its scale, humour and music. Through his production house, Breathless Films, he continues to create work defined by warmth, humour and characters rooted in everyday life.
"Rajesh Ramaswamy (RamSam) & Vinil Mathew In Conversation with Namrata Mohindra"