Switch to Smart TV or Tablet. Have some snacks ready. And, start watching a Malayalam movie.
This has been the schedule of many cine-goers over the past year and a half, as several pandemic-hit lockdowns have forced them to ditch film material that they don’t normally do.
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Prominent Malayalam stars like Mohanlal and Mammootty are still around to make interesting films, but the new crop of actors, backed by directors with some peculiar ideas, are churning out content that has grabbed everyone’s attention. Thanks to their availability on OTT platforms, many movies are being watched by the audience and remake rights are being sought. a boom that may have started since Premam, a 2015 Malayalam film that did extremely well in other areas as well, has gained a lot of momentum since the outbreak of the pandemic. if you like movies ayyapanam koshiyum, Varane Mustamund And trans One of the most loved films of 2020, this year has also been good for both theatrical and OTT releases.
So, what sets Malayalam cinema apart? It probably has the ability to display the everyday in a very rooted, non-filmy way. to take The Great Indian Kitchen, For instance. A stern move against patriarchy, many of the shots in this 2021 release focused on everyday practices in the kitchen: a messy sink, leftover food and vegetables. or, take the intro song from maheshinte pratikaram It romanticizes the lush green Idukki where the film is set, so much so that it becomes a character.
Followers of Malayalam cinema may argue that this has always been the case, but what has changed in the past decade is that it has opened its doors to all. Viewers can now experience while sitting at far-flung places grandson manami God’s Own Country through films, thanks to some excellent cinematographers and composers. The wonders of subtitles have helped these largely local films achieve global prominence. Stars like Fahadh Faasil ruling the OTT space with films like Experimental See you again soon And jojikHave used the challenges posed by the pandemic in a unique way. jojik, for example, was shot within the constraints imposed on shooting during the pandemic and even some elements of the situation were integrated into the script. See you again soon Incorporate technological advances into your story. the actors irulu, another OTT release, which had only three characters. MalikOn the other hand, was planned as a theatrical but it was released on an OTT platform. In an interview to ‘The Hindu’, Fahad said, “Any sincere emotion gets there. I do films with emotion, and that, in turn, transcends boundaries and connects with people.”
All this is not to say that Malayalam movies are just art; It also has a strong sense of professionalism mixed with realistic elements. The collective moments here come not only because of her protagonist, but also because of her interactions with the other characters. The emotions offered by filmmakers are also not so mainstream – like ego and revenge, which more recent films like ayyapanam koshiyum And driving license dealt with extensively. Mahesh Narayanan director of films like See you again soon And Malik, wrote in ‘The Hindu’, “Till the pandemic, Malayalam cinema was trying to garner revenue in a haphazard manner. There was a lot of indiscipline in filmmaking, including on my film sets. That is all about to change.”
It’s already going by the exciting line-up on offer. If the audience going to the theater will get to see Mohanal’s Marakkar: Arabikadalinte SimhamThis week, OTT became the most expensive film of Malayalam cinema so far: Minnal Murali, starring Tovino as a ‘superhero to whom people can relate’, is one of the most expected Malayalam films on the business. The future is certainly bright in the cinema of God’s Own Country.
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