Younger administrators Dinjith Ayyathan, Anand Ekarshi, Girish AD and Rahul Sadasivan headline 2024’s Malayalam cinema

The yr additionally noticed the Hema Committee report being launched shaking up the trade and highlighting ladies’s security on the units as a precedence. It additionally noticed an issue concerning the film Manjummel Boys the place the Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned the producers about an alleged cash laundering case. (Additionally learn: Parvathy Thiruvothu says Hema Committee is greater than Me Too half two: ‘We’re taking the house that’s rightfully ours’)

Nevertheless, the yr can be remembered for the sheer high quality of administrators that Malayalam cinema continues to supply whereas different film industries are busy seeking to make pan-India crowd pullers.

A cocktail of hits

Aavesham, Bramayugam, Manjummel Boys, Premalu, Kishkinda Kandam, Aattam, Aadu Jeevitham, Ullozhukku and Sookshmadarshini headlined Malayalam cinema in 2024, because it continued to tug forward of different film industries in content material, method and performances.

Aavesham noticed Fahadh Faasil placing out an influence packed, uninhibited efficiency as a gangster – a style not many individuals related to him. The film made substantial inroads within the field workplace interesting largely to the younger crowd, buoyed by Sushin Shyam’s music and background rating. Director Jithu Madhavan appear to know the heartbeat of his viewers and delivered one other superhit after Romancham.

Bramayugam, Rahul Sadasivan’s spectacular directorial effort after Bhoothakalam, noticed Mammootty in his components. The film, shot in black and white mode, added to the eeriness of the horror flick deeply immersed in Kerala’s folklore. Mammootty essayed his devilish character with finesse reminding folks of his efficiency in Vidheyan, the 1994 film directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan.

Manjummel Boys and its affect went past the Kerala market and made waves within the different southern industries, telling a story of friendship and sacrifice. The survival thriller directed by Chidambaram, based mostly on the Guna Cave rescue in 2006, featured an superior musical rating by Sushin Shyam and wonderful performances by virtually all of the actors led by Soubin Shahir, who was additionally the producer. The film is one among Malayalam cinema’s greatest grossers within the field workplace with some commerce reviews estimating collections upwards of ₹200 crore.

Premalu, the snicker riot directed by the extremely gifted Girish AD, positioned children Naslen and Mamitha Baiju as secure bets within the trade. The producers have introduced a sequel to the hit. Girish has been having a stellar run within the field workplace along with his distinctive model of humour hitting dwelling in films like Thannimathan Dinangal and Tremendous Sharanya. The comedy style had slipped within the Malayalam trade within the interim however in Girish’s hand the style is in secure custody.

Kishkinda Kandam and Aattam had been two of my private favourites this yr. Kishkinda Kandam completely blew my thoughts with its setting, uncommon story line, execution of the plot and excellent course. In Dinjith Ayyathan, Malayalam cinema has discovered one other gem of a director, and the trade appears to be producing these good technicians seemingly out of nowhere. Ayyathan’s splendid dealing with of the script, tight management on story-telling, capacity to extract the proper of performances with out dropping grip on the technical execution, make him probably the greatest administrators to have come out of Malayalam cinema in final one decade. Vijayaraghavan and Asif Ali stood out with their performing abilities within the film that underlines the complexities of human relations. Bahul Ramesh’s cinematography was prime class too.

Aattam, made on a shoe string price range, evoked the texture of world class cinema that may draw worldwide audiences. Helmed by a director fully accountable for his craft, the film handled a topic that was common. Director Anand Ekarshi surprised audiences with the best way wherein he logically argued numerous factors within the film about molestation, sufferer shaming, gaslighting and likewise critically examined how folks behave in a bunch versus individually. The film gained three Nationwide Awards – Greatest movie, Screenplay and Modifying – showcasing it as a film that may very well be watched by college students of cinema for years to return.

Aadujeevitham, Blessy’s lifelong dream of creating a film out of Benyamin’s novel based mostly on the struggles of a person who will get misplaced within the Arabian deserts, didn’t get the identical form of response that the trade anticipated it to obtain. The film was good in components however by some means didn’t attain the heights that it was designed to supply. Blessy nonetheless had his moments, Prithviraj performed the lead position to one of the best of his skills and AR Rahman got here up with a rating that was a bit underwhelming. However there aren’t any two opinions concerning the effort made to create a grand-scale manufacturing, with Blessy and Prithviraj spending over a decade making an attempt to finish the tough mission.

Urvashi’s good efficiency in Ullozhuku, directed by Crishto Tomy, was one other spotlight of 2024. The extraordinary household drama noticed Urvashi successful the Kerala state award for finest actress and the film obtained plaudits from the viewers and critics alike. Sookshmadarshini, directed by Jithin MC, introduced Nazriya and Basil Joseph collectively for the primary time as a lead couple. The homicide thriller, designed as an fringe of the seat thriller had sufficient plot twists to maintain the viewers engaged and showcased Basil’s expertise to maintain churning out performances of varied shades.

The continual rise of Basil Joseph and Sushin Shyam

Basil Joseph has been an enormous function of Malayalam movies in 2024, positively impacting the fortunes of most of the releases. Aside from Sookshmadarshini, he was concerned as an actor in Nunakuzhi, Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil, Ajayante Randam Moshanam (ARM) and some extra this yr, making him the busiest actor within the trade.

Basil is now thought-about the most secure wager in Malayalam films who can play the lead position or be part of the help forged. Having him within the forged appear to herald household audiences and children and gradual however steadily he has labored his approach up right into a slot the place his presence is starting to make sure good field workplace returns. However most of the cine-goers are ready for him to return to course and in 2025 he’s anticipated to make some bulletins in that regard.

Sushin Shyam’s scores are actually an instrumental a part of Malayalam films and any film that options him because the music composer is getting prime billing in theatres. Manufacturing homes are actually routinely utilizing ‘A Sushin Shyam Musical’ as a tagline to advertise their films. He has adopted up his excellent scores in Kumbalangi Nights, Varathan, Minnal Murali, Bheeshma Parvam and Romacham with rousing compositions in Manjummel Boys and Aavesham in 2024.

Bhavana Studios and Fahad Faasil & Buddies – 2 manufacturing powerhouses

Manufacturing home Bhavana Studios, with Dileesh Pothan, Fahadh Faasil and Syam Pushkaran as companions, bankrolled Premalu this yr. Their earlier tasks like Kumbalangi Nights and Joji had been superhits with the previous thought-about as one of many all-time nice films that has discovered resonance globally. Bhavana Studios will roll out Premalu 2 quickly and Karate Chandran with Fahadh within the lead can be within the works. Fahadh Faasil & Buddies is a film manufacturing enterprise owned by the actor and his actress spouse Nazriya.

This fulcrum of Fahadh, Dileesh and Syam has been instrumental in making classics like Maheshinte Prathikaram and Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum they usually have now fashioned a unit that may energy Malayalam cinema by the following 10 years a minimum of with top quality films. They’ve been largely profitable in figuring out the precise tasks to again and are actually the wind beneath the wings for a number of upcoming artists and administrators.