2/22/2016

15PathbreakingMalayalamMoviesThatDefinitelyNeedToBeOnEveryMovieLoversMustWatchList

Feb 22, 2016 at 18:48

15 Pathbreaking Malayalam Movies

That Definitely Need To Be On Every
Movie Lovers Must-Watch List
by Catherine

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When two or more Malayalis gather over a drink it is inevitable that they
talk about movies. Malayalis are inherently proud of their cinema and they
love to point out to those who are unfamiliar, the vibrant characters, the
impeccable comic timing of the actors, the natural air for satire, and of
course their lofty artistic cinema. So the next time you are surrounded by
them, which is bound to happen considering a) they move in droves and b)
they are everywhere, this list should come in handy to hold your own.

1. Thoovanathumbikal (Dragonies In The Spraying

Rain), 1987
This one is a classic by director Padmarajan, who has also given us lms
like Moonaam Pakkam (Third Day) or Innale (Yesterday). Starring Mohanlal,
Parvathy, and Sumalatha in lead roles the story shows us the dual-life of
Jayakrishnan, a bachelor who is torn between choice and love, and the
need to do the right thing. The story weaves beautifully through
Jayakrishnan's life in the village verses the persona he creates for himself
in the city, the rain plays a role in the narrative adding the necessary natural
element to make a lm truly poetic.

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Source: Snehasallapam.com

2. Manichitrathazhu (The Ornate Lock), 1993

Any Malayali will swear by this movie, directed by Fazil and starring
Mohanlal and Shobana, the movie is set in a beautiful haunted tharavadu
(ancestral home), a curious new bride, and the added twist of multiple
personality disorder. The lm features the popular pairing of MohanlalShobana, however not opposite each other and has impacted a whole
generation with its iconic dialogues and characters. The remakes were
popular too, Bhool Bhullaiya in Hindi, Chandramukhi in Tamil, but once you
have watched the original, the others are a joke.

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15PathbreakingMalayalamMoviesThatDefinitelyNeedToBeOnEveryMovieLoversMustWatchList

3. Sandesham (The Message), 1991

Any Malayalam movie list is incomplete without a lm scripted by
Sreenivasan, of which their are many. For this list we have chosen
Sandesham, a comedy directed by Sathyan Anthikad that so expertly
caricatures Kerala's political activism. The story revolves around two
brothers who belong to opposite parties and the dark comedy of their
rivalry is put in perspective when their father, played by the late Thilakan,
returns to retire after a life of service with the Indian Railways.

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4. Guru, 1997
Guru was selected as India's ofcial entry to the Oscars' in the year it was
released. And why not, the fantasy narrative of the lm uses a metaphor of
sight and blindness to make important statements on communal violence
and is eerily so relevant today. Starring Mohanlal and Suresh Gopi in the
lead roles Guru features on this list for its experimental plotline, and the
music composed by Illayiraja for the Budapest Symphony Orchestra,
Hungary.

4. Chemmeen (Prawn), 1965

Set in a shing village in Kerala, the lm revolves around the unrequited
love of Karuthamma, daughter of a Hindu sherman and Pareekutty the
son of a Muslim trader. The story has been spun around a folktale about
the sea, Kadalamma, who will swallow the husband of a woman who is
unfaithful while he is away at sea. The lm stars Sheela, Madhu, and
Sathyan in the lead roles and was artistically and technically ahead of its
time and is still recognised for its score.

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5. Elippathayam (Rat Trap), 1981

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on the disintegration of the feudal system in Kerala and how the storm of
change traps a young man and his three sisters, who are unable to cope
and adapt to the progression of the times. The long tracts of silence can be
bafing and make the lm uncomfortable, but in the tapestry of the lm,

the silence is very telling and becomes another party in the narrative.
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6. Salt N Pepper, 2013

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genuine, and features on this list because this slice of life came at a time
when the Malayali masses were still reeling from a series of mass
entertainer lms with back breaking stunts, and bone crunching mist
English dialogues.

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7. Kireedam (Crown), 1989

A lm that mines the tragedy of the life of Sethumadhavan, a young man
who was on his way to becoming a police inspector like his father. And

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when a twist of fate changes his destiny the man struggles against the
stereotyping of society to be different and take charge of his fate.
Kireedam was directed by Sibi Malayil and saw a moving performance by
Mohanlal in one of his career's nest and even had a sequel titled Chenkol
(The Sceptre).

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8. Amen, 2013
Directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery, Amen is a combination of genre and
theme, there's romance, comedy, fantasy, and a lively musical element and
tells such a convincing story of a small picturesque village nestled in the
backwaters of Kerala. The lm stars Fahadh Faasil, Swathi Reddy, and
Indrajit Sukumaran in lead roles, but it is the smart script, the irreverence of
the director Lijo, and the sometimes catchy and sometimes soothing music
of the lm that wins.

Source: Topmovierankings

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9. Oru Vadakkan Veera Gatha (A Northern Story Of

Valour), 1989
Written by MT Vasudevan Nair and directed by Hariharan who are
responsible for classics like Nakhakshathangal and Amrutham Gamaya.
The movie draws from the historical legend of Aromal Chekavar a warrior
from north Kerala who was killed in a ght when the blade of his sword
broke at the hilt, in this retelling of the popular story MTV and Hariharan
approach the story from the perspective of Chandu, essayed by
Mammooty, who allegedly tampered with Chekavar's sword.

10. Esthappan, 1980

G. Aravindan is an auteur, who handles multiple creative aspects of his
lms with ease. Esthappan is a sherman from a predominantly Christian
shing village. And while the simple sher-folk are unable to grasp the
eccentricities of Esthappan, the persona they create for him is one that is
larger than life, and peppered with stories of his miracles and mischief. The
lm has a very strong Biblical context that binds the story of Esthappan to
that of Christ and is one of Aravindan's nest.

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Source: City.Fukoka

11. Manjadikuru (Red Seeds), 2008

Written and directed by Anjali Menon, Manjadikuru is a hat-tip to a woman
who is able to hold her own in an otherwise predominantly male industry.
The story is rooted in nostalgia stirs one's own memories of childhood and
make-believe; Vicky visits his mother's ancestral home for his
grandfather's funeral where he meets his cousins and together they share
a two week adventure. Anjali Menon's debut evokes beautiful emotions
and recreates Kerala for everyone who left.

Source: Sify.com
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12. Devasuram (The God Demon), 1993

With director IV Sasi's experience and writer Ranjith's unparalleled knack
for drama Devasuram was a lm that is heavy with old rivalries and broken
bridges. Mohanlal plays Mangalassery Neelakantan, a conceited,
aristocratic man and he is opposed by Mundakal Sekaran, played by
Napolean. The lm is recognised for its powerful dialogues and strong
characters, and its success saw a weak sequel that failed the legacy of
Devasuram.

Source: Youtube.com

13. Nadodikkattu (Vagabond Winds), 1987

This lm is the rst of a three-part series that Malayalis never tire talking
about, the lm directed by Sathyan Anthikad stars the prize-winning
combination of Mohanlal as Ramdas and Sreenivasan as Vijayan. The two
are unemployed and decide to head to the Gulf to better their prospects.
They are gypped and wind up in Chennai instead, what follows is a series
of comedic errors that are dark for the reality it mocks. Also included in
this list are Pattanapravesham (1988) and Akkare, Akkare, Akkare (1990).

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Source: Madaboutmovies.com

14. Mithunam, 1993

Scripted by Sreenivasan and directed by Priyadarshan, Mithunam is dark
comedy about the life of Sethumadhavan (Mohanlal), a simpleton who
plays the key role in a joint family. He has to deal with a wife who
complains he doesn't love her like he used to, the rest of his dysfunctional
family, and increasing debt as the fate of the biscuit factory he wants to
start is tossed around bythe whims and fancies of bureaucrats. Your heart
goes out to Sethu, you feel his pain and frustration, but the vein of humour
that extends through the lm is what makes it a classic.

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15. Adaminte Makan Abu (Abu, Son Of Adam), 2011

This drama written and directed by Salim Ahamed garnered a lot of praise
and attention upon release, especially for Salim Kumar who played the role
of Abu. His last wish is to go on a Hajj pilgrimage, but his means are limited
as he does not make much selling attar, but along with his wife Aishumma
played by Zarina Wahab they gather what they have and prepare to leave,
but fate has other plans. The lm is bitter and sweet and leaves you with a
lump in your chest that can only nd release in therapeutic tears.

Source: The Hindu

This list is just the beginning, there are so many more Thenmavin

Kombathu (Atop The Sweet Mango Tree),In Harihar Nagar, Ramji Rao
Speaking, Moonaam Pakkam (The Third Day), Namukku Parkkan Munthiri
Thoppukal (Vineyards For Us To Dwell In), Deshadanam(Migration) and
from more recent times Usthad Hotel, 1983, and Pathemari (Dhow). But
right here is as good a place as any to start.
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ChristoJoseContent&SocialMediaStrategistatJungleeGamesIndia
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