Not Just Pressing Issues, The Beauty Of Malayalam Cinema Is That It Has Something For Everyone

In 2022, when we were celebrating 75 years of independence, the Cannes Film Festival not only made India a 'Country of Honour' at its Marche du Cinema or film market but also screened the restored versions of Satyajit Ray¡¯s 1970 film ¡®Pratidwandi¡¯ and G. Aravindan¡¯s 1978 Malayalam tour de force ¡®Thampu' in the Cannes Classic section.

That one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world honoured Ray and Aravindan together shows in what great esteem Malayalam cinema is held globally.

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Speaking of 'Thampu' (The Circus Tent), it is a perfect example of how forward thinking Malayalam cinema has always been. This film for instance was shot in black-and-white like a documentary and portrayed the lives of Kerala's street circus performers and had a sterling cast of Bharath Gopi, Nedumudi Venu, V. K. Sreeraman and Jalaja.

Another favourite film of mine happens to be, 'Elippathayam' (The Rat Trap), written and directed by the great Adoor Gopalakrishnan which premiered in 1982 at Cannes and very subtly showed just how resistant to change a feudal mindset can be. And then there was the Malayalam classic 'Chemmeen' which won an award for Best Cinematography in 1965 at Cannes. I remember watching this film on Doordarshan as a young boy sometime in the 80s and its story and visuals continue to stir me with their lyricism and emotional depth.

Apart from such serious documents of the human condition, Malayalam cinema also has proficiency in stories of every kind and is one of the most awarded industries in India. In 2022 alone, it won 14 National Film awards with 'Ayyappanum Koshiyum,' an action thriller written and directed by Sachy, bagging four awards.

'Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam', an OTT gem was adjudged the Best Malayalam Film that year.

You will also remember that the first 3D film produced in India, 'My Dear Kuttichathan' was made in Malayalam way back in 1984. As was 'O' Faby' (1993), Asia's first full-length live action/animation hybrid feature film. The progression of technical and thematic innovation continues with films like Lijo Jose Pellissery's 'Jallikattu' (2019) which had a very primal, raw energy and despite being very rooted in a specific milieu was a very universal story. It was also India's submission to the Oscars in the best foreign language film category.

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Young Malayalam filmmakers continue to re-imagine cinema in refreshing ways and in the thick of the pandemic in 2020, we saw Mahesh Narayanan's 'C U Soon', India's first computer screen film. 2021 was also the year of Malayalam cinema's first superhero film, the delightful 'Minnal Murali' by Basil Joseph. 2021 was in fact a remarkable year because it threw up an assortment of distinct Malayalam films right from the runaway hit 'Drishyam 2' , a political thriller 'Nayattu' , a psychological, action entertainer 'Kala' , a Shakespearean crime drama 'Joji' , the path breaking social commentary 'The Great Indian Kitchen' and the very layered 'Malik'.

The point being that in technical as well as creative aspects across genres and formats, Malayalam cinema is second to none.

The Large Arena Of Subjects Being Broached By Malayali Filmmakers Is What Makes It Stand Out

In the age of language agnostic content, Malayalam films are being avidly watched and appreciated not just in India but beyond as well.

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And it is easy to see why that is so. Only in Malayalam cinema, will you find a film like 'Pada' which explores the politics around the Adivasi Land Amendment Bill. Or a young maker like Manu Warrier who fearlessly delves into religious divides via his film 'Kuruthi'. Or a story like 'Jana Gana Mana' which is a critique of rampant gender violence, of caste based dissemination, the crushing of dissent and social apathy. Despite being an entertainer, even the Fahadh Faasil starrer 'Malik' tackles socio political realities. Is this not what cinema is supposed to do? Spark difficult conversations and help us look deeper within ourselves? Malayalam cinema, I feel, has always made an earnest endeavour to be an instrument of positive change.

Even Though Malayalam Films Are Made From The Heart, It Encompasses Pressing Issues Of The Society

This cinema tells simple, deeply personal stories and in a profound way, also encompasses social, political and philosophical issues. You will rarely if ever find a flawed, cowardly and deeply disturbed character like Joji being played by a mainstream actor in any other industry. Or see a film like 'The Great Indian Kitchen' which does not romanticise domesticity but shows how patriarchy burdens women with relentless chores and forces them to meekly comply with whatever is expected or demanded of them.

In recent times, many such films have become part of the global conversation about cinema and their technical finesse and relatable stories have deeply connected with audiences around the world.

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Our recent foray into Malayalam cinema is hence driven by our admiration and respect for one of the most creatively fecund industries in the world. We are thrilled to be working with superstars like the iconic Mohanlal, Mammootty, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Tovino Thomas and Asif Ali and are also synergising with emerging writers and directors.

Indian cinema is today a composite, synergistic force and it means many things to many people. Malayalam films are a big part of this evolution and as makers who celebrate good stories, regardless of the language they are told in, we feel very privileged to be exploring this immensely rich talent pool. And can't wait to see the direction Indian cinema will take in the near future.

About the author: Siddharth Anand Kumar is the Senior Vice President ¨Cof Films and Events at Saregama India. All views/opinions expressed in the article are of the author.

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