Mollywood’s 2024 Rewind: A 12 months of daring tales and stellar directorial debuts
When Mammootty determined to star and produce director Joe Child’s movie, Kaathal – The Core, in 2023, most individuals didn’t assume an excessive amount of about it – until it launched in December. After his fantastically written movie, The Nice Indian Kitchen, Joe Child (his fourth movie) got here again with a narrative round a pair the place the husband was homosexual and the spouse desires a divorce so he will be free to reside his life and vice versa. Kaathal – The Core was extremely praised for its theme and the truth that one in every of Malayalam trade’s legends, Mammukka aka Mammootty, 73, would settle for to play the function of the homosexual husband. Nevertheless, this movie confirmed that Malayalam cinema continues to evolve and be the harbinger of change in Indian cinema and that this voyage would proceed in 2024. (Additionally learn: Finest appearing performances of 2024: From Fahadh Faasil in Aavesham to Kani Kusruti in All We Think about As Mild)
Nice beginnings
This 12 months noticed a number of new Malayalam administrators emerge with some brilliantly crafted movies that captivated the viewers’s creativeness. Debutant director Anand Ekarshi’s Aattam (The Play) set the tone for the 12 months with its January launch. A movie revolving round 12 males and a sole girl who’re a part of a theatre group, the story explores how an incident of sexual harassment brings to mild the strains and variations within the group’s relationships. Given his theatre background, Ekarshi seamlessly combines components of theatre and cinema within the movie. This extremely thought-provoking and nuanced movie noticed Ekarshi win the Nationwide Award for Finest Movie in 2024.
Lower to February and we noticed an exciting black and white horror film that’s nonetheless being talked about. Director Rahul Sadasivan shouldn’t be a debutant filmmaker however his third movie, Brahmayugam, shocked audiences throughout India. He has a penchant for horror flicks and in Brahmayugam mixed interval folklore with horror and offered it in monochrome! The mix of those components, together with splendid performances by Mammootty, Arjun Asokan and Siddharth Bharathan, noticed this movie gather almost ₹85 crore on the field workplace. Sadasivan’s horror tales flex simplicity, but depth and that is what makes them compelling.
A win in each style
Police procedural dramas are a profitable style throughout all regional movie industries and director Darwin Kuriakose selected to take the trodden path together with his first movie, Anweshippin Kandethum. Starring Tovino Thomas the film was successful and made Kuriakose one of many administrators to be careful for within the coming years.
Now, it isn’t straightforward to get into the ₹100 crore membership in Malayalam cinema and notably along with your directorial debut. Nevertheless, Jithin Lal managed to just do that with Ajayante Randam Moshanam, once more starring Tovino Thomas. Launched for Onam this 12 months, this visible spectacle mixed components of folklore and the Nineteen Nineties to current a singular love story-cum-adventure. The success of this movie, which noticed Tovino Thomas play a twin function, proved that Jithin Lal’s aptitude for spectacles was cherished by the viewers.
Who doesn’t know Malayalam actor Joju George? Given that he’s now working in Tamil and Telugu cinema as nicely, Joju George has turn out to be a well-liked and well-loved determine among the many south viewers. This 12 months Joju George made his directorial debut with Pani, a movie round Thrissur mobster gang when its life is located by two petty criminals. The gangster drama story is probably not new however Joju George’s localised presentation was participating and confirmed that he was proficient as a director too. And on this movie, he performed the lead function as nicely as well.
What’s subsequent?
Kids’s movies are rarely given a lot thought with regards to Indian cinema however Malayalam cinema has all the time strived to make films for youths. Does anybody keep in mind the tremendous hit 1984 movie, My Pricey Kuttichathan?
And Malayalam appearing legend Mohanal is all set to launch his magnum opus Barroz on December 25 and that is the stalwart’s directorial debut! Touted as a movie for each adults and children, the fantasy film has been shot in 3D and presents Mohanlal as Barroz, the guardian of treasure. There’s lots of anticipation for this movie not simply because it’s Mohanlal’s directorial debut however the truth that it’s set to be never-seen-before large-scale visible spectacle in 3D from Malayalam cinema.
Whereas we anticipate December 25 to catch Barroz, one other youngsters’s movie, Pallotty’s 90s Youngsters, made headlines this 12 months for successful a number of honours on the Kerala State Awards. Jithin Raj made his directorial debut with Pallotty’s 90s Youngsters and given the accolades it garnered, it reveals that the he has a great future in Malayalam cinema.
Mollywood could have had its share of controversies this 12 months due to the Hema Committee Report however its cinema is prospering as all the time.
