Lijo Jose Pellissery-directed Mohanlal-starrer Malaikottai Vaaliban will launch on January 25 and Bhoothakaalam-director Rahul Sadasivan’s sophomore horror movie, the Mammootty-starrer Bramayugam will launch in February.
We’re in 2024. In the previous few years, Malayalam cinema has blurred the linguistic boundaries, and the OTT has additional smoothened the pan-Indian passage. A bunch of younger blood descended into this house, positioning themselves in an area that leaned in the direction of practical cinema. Simply while you thought one had cracked a fool-proof components for the field workplace, the principles saved modifying. At one level there was this inflow of famous person glorification automobiles that struck gold on the field workplace. When that components began thinning, a surge of practical movies began making its means into Malayalam cinema after which simply while you thought one had attained a steadiness on the field workplace, 2023 turned out to be a blended bag. However what has remained constant since time immemorial needs to be the field workplace pull of Mammootty and Mohanlal. That’s one peak, not one of the youthful lot has been capable of surpass (solely Dulquer Salman instructions the subsequent greatest preliminary after the massive Ms). So understandably the stakes are nonetheless technically on two of our greatest superstars this 12 months as effectively. That additionally means those we sit up for will invariably prioritise their movies. Listed below are our picks. In precisely this order.
Malaikottai Valiban, on January 25
Even essentially the most ardent Mohanlal fan would agree that regardless of these occasional field workplace winners, it’s been a dry patch for the actor for the longest time. The final terrific Mohanlal efficiency occurred almost a decade in the past. And the actor appears to be oddly happy with this profession shift. Possibly not fairly so! His determination to crew up with Lijo Jose Pellissery is a transparent indication that the actor is keen to rethink his selections. In the meantime, the movie written by PS Rafique, is claimed to be the most expensive movie mounted by Lijo and is claimed to be an action-packed interval drama with an ensemble of actors from throughout India. The primary-look posters and teasers (Mohanlal in a nice new makeover) maintain a whole lot of promise.
Bramayugam, in February
In contrast to his friends, what a Mammootty movie ensures immediately is avant-garde content material. And, after all, his manufacturing home, Mammootty Kampany, is already championing contemporary and high quality content material ever since its conception. The primary-look poster that includes a fierce and getting older Mammootty with a depraved grin (netizens drew parallels together with his iconic position in Vidheyan, 1994) was sufficient to pique intrigue for an avid moviegoer. One other excessive level is that it’s the sophomore providing from Rahul Sadasivan who made a spectacular debut with the psychological horror, Bhoothakaalam (2022). Scripted by Rahul, the dialogues are written by award-winning Novelist TD Ramakrishnan. Reportedly on this horror thriller, Mammootty performs a black magician. The narrative is headlined by Arjun Asokan together with Sidharth Bharathan and Amalda Liz.
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Director Chidambaram’s debut movie, Jan.E. Man is the explanation why his second movie is awaited eagerly. Jan.E. Man was a contemporary, nuanced tackle friendships and dysfunctional relationships, stroked with spontaneous humor and well-written characters. His newest is claimed to be a survival thriller set in Kodaikanal, primarily based on a real-life incident that includes a bunch of mates. The forged appears to be like very attention-grabbing — Soubin Shahir (who has additionally co-produced it), Sreenath Bhasi, Khalid Rahman, Ganapathi, Lal, and so on. Sushin Shyam’s music is a giant plus.
Manjummel Boys.
Aadujeevitham, on April 10
His final movie, Kalimannu (2013) was controversial because the lead actor Swetha Menon’s real-life supply was captured for the movie. In his two-decade-long profession graph that features seven movies, his narratives have all the time pivoted round intense, advanced relationships. They had been tales about compassion, loss, and love. Now after almost a decade, he’s again together with his magnum opus primarily based on Benyamin’s 2008 novel by the identical identify. It’s a survival drama about Najeeb who migrates to Saudi Arabia from Kerala for higher prospects and will get stranded there. Prithviraj Sukumaran performs the titular position, and he has opted for some drastic weight reduction for the position. It’s mentioned that Blessy has added some cinematic liberties to the textual content. It took virtually 5 years to complete the movie and the crew had been stranded in Jordan for over 2 months owing to the pandemic. The movie shot in 3D might be launched in Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, and Telugu. AR Rahman has the executed and the music and Rasool Pookutty handles the sound design.
Premalu, on February 9
Director Girish AD’s debut movie was a delight that had two youngsters within the thick of issues. He pitched a large number of characters into the narrative with their idiosyncrasies and turned it into an absolute joyride. His second one, Tremendous Sharanya had a confused, shy adolescent on the centre. Once more it had the staples one may determine from his debut — the quirky, relatable characters, irreverence, and a whole lot of enjoyable. When he comes out together with his third movie, it’s essential to notice that the movie is bankrolled by Bhavana Studios who’re all the time identified for backing high quality content material. The newest is a rom-com headed by the ever-reliable Naslen and Mamitha Baiju. Appears to be his consolation zone.
Premalu.
Ajayante Randam Moshanam, in Might
Tovino Thomas who had a quiet 2023 is again with a (triple) position of a lifetime in debutant Jithin Lal’s fantasy interval drama. Set in 1900, 1950, and ’90s, Tovino performs a legendary thief (seems in a triple position). The teaser guarantees to be an action-packed spectacle. Written by Sujith Nambiar, Tovino’s heroes are assigned to safeguard the treasures of their land. Jomon T John is the cinematographer, and the movie additionally stars Krithi Shetty, Aishwarya Rajesh, Surabhi Lakshmy, and Basil Joseph amongst others. Contemplating the lengths Tovino will go to for the bodily transformation of a personality, this triple avatar certain appears to be like attractive.
Aavesham, on April 11
There are fairly just a few issues to be enthusiastic about Aavesham. A) It’s director Jithu Madhavan’s second movie after the horror-comedy Romancham, which was additionally the primary massive hit of final 12 months; b) Fahadh Faasil’s inclusion routinely lends credibility to the challenge; c) bankrolled by Nazriya Nazim and Anwar Rasheed beneath the banner of Anwar Rasheed Leisure and Fahadh Faasil and Associates; d) Fahad’s character is a spin-off of Chemban’s hilarious cameo in Romancham. That’s that.
Fahadh Faasil-starrer Aavesham.
Varshangalkku Shesham, on April 14
You’ll be able to name the Vineeth Sreenivasan cinematic universe cringe and cloyingly feel-good. You’ll be able to accuse him of projecting characters and conflicts superficially. Most of his movies showcase a psychedelic joyful world the place conflicts snap out in a jiffy. And a few extra. However the plain reality is that only a few filmmakers have cracked the field workplace components like this man. Take his final biggie — Hridayam, a largely shallow, feel-good endeavor that supplied a contemporary lease of life to star son Pranav Mohanlal, and in addition labored wonders on the field workplace. This time he’s again with Pranav and an ensemble forged that features Kalyani Priyadarshan, Dhyan Sreenivasan, Nivin Pauly, Aju Varghese, Basil Joseph, Neeta Pillai, and so on. Reportedly it’s a story of friendship between an actor and a director.
Varshangalkku Shesham.
