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| film Vanaprastham |
Inspired by his own inherent obsession with
good looks, Man has reserved a considerable judgment based on appearance even when it
comes to his own creations. This has formed the basis of art appreciation the
world over, even movie critiquing. While there is no dearth of good-looking
films in Malayalam in general, there might be a serious scarcity of those ones with quality.
There is also a general tendency to assume a visually stunning film to be one
with lots of style and absolutely no substance. So the following ten Malayalam
films are chosen on the basis of its artistic merit as much as their visual relevance.
10. Deshadanam
Still from film Deshadanam
M.J. Radhakrishnan’s cinematography generally never
steals away from the narrative of the film or competes with its overall vision.
It helps to elegantly portray the scenes like a true team player. In Jayaraj’s Deshadanam, he makes the most out of the
given physical locations and helps make the film into the touching ode that it
turned out to be.
9. Parinayam
Still from film Parinayam
In Hariharan’s exquisite period drama, the
hypnotic aesthetics set with the help of cinematographer S. Kumar, does a great
job to set the painful mood for the prolonged trial. The intense play of light
and shadow surrounding the accused contradicts the stark outdoors where the
cold-blooded prosecutors reason amidst lush greens and fat jaded laterite work.
8. Ponthan Mada
Still from film Ponthan Mada
The natural beauty of T.V. Chandran’s Ponthan Mada set against the backdrop of
a changing Kerala in the 1940s is grasped through the meticulous eyes of the
multiple National-Award-winning director of photography, Venu. It also helps to
make the unstated bond between the servant and the landlord extremely lyrical
and nothing short of stunning.
7. Perumthachan
Still from film Perumthachan
Another period piece, this time depicted by the
masterful touch of Santosh Sivan’s mesmerizing photography, Perumthachan’s
aptitude to capture the main character with incredible fluidity owes a lot to
its matter-of-fact visual language that also helped to bring to life with so
much conviction, the legend of a disputed figure from folktales and myth.
6. Piravi
Still from film Piravi
Sunny Joseph’s cinematography is haunting in
this internationally acclaimed film directed by Shaji N. Karun. His bold,
expressive imagery of the otherwise quiet progress of this saddening film absorbs
with so much depth, the loneliness and pathos of a distraught father in search of
his lost son told against sweeping paddy fields and lapping river banks.
5. Dany
Still from film Dany
In this light hearted film directed by T.V.
Chandran, plenty of time was attributed to wallow in the sheer beauty of the setting
each scene was based in, and K.G. Jayan’s picturesque colors made it all the
more appealing to describe the lifetime of the titular character through major
historical events that shaped Kerala, occasionally even India.
4. Thenmavin Kombath
Still from film Thenmavin Kombath
Perhaps the most popular film on the list, Thenmavin Komabth is a visual treat of
the vernacular of a place that sprouted from Priyadarshan’s vision, vividly crafted
by Sabu Cyril’s production design, and brilliantly rendered by K.V. Anand’s
cinematography. The stunning appearance of the film is what formed the basis of
all the charm associated with the hamlet of Srehalli.
3. Vanaprastham
Still from film Vanaprastham
Shaji N. Karun’s intense parable that blurs the
line separating art from life sets the stage for what Santosh Sivan and Renato
Berta made into a visual adventure weaving vibrant picture-perfect frames back
to back following a tortured soul trapped as much in the hues and glitter of Kathakali as the disquiet of his
unfortunate life.
2. Nizhalkuthu
Still from film Nizhalkuthu
At the same time as being profound and
powerful, Adoor’s dark psychological drama had the magical visuals first
captured by Mankada Ravi Varma, and after his death by Sunny Joseph with the
same competent verve he displayed in picturising Piravi. Matching with the film’s narrative force, the open
expansive outdoors frequently broke cracks in the dimly lit interior shots.
1. Kalapani
Perhaps it’s because Kalapani had a lot to show. Or perhaps the sheer scope of its
visual nuances was as extensive as its narrative range. In his National Award
winning photography, Santosh Sivan enhanced this epic Priyadarshan film with great
beauty and a vocabulary never seen before in Malayalam canvas ever before.
Also check out…
Thampu DP Shaji N. Karun
Elippathayam DP Mankada Ravi Varma
Anandabhadram DP Snatosh Sivan
Adaminte Makan Abu DP Madhu
Ambat
Amen DP Abinandhan Ramanujam
Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathira Kolapathakathinte Katha DP Manoj Pillai
Urumi DP Santosh Sivan
Iyobinte Pustakam DP Amal
Neerad
Kutti Srank DP Anjuli Shukla
Akale DP S. Kumar
Amma Ariyan DP Venu
Vaishali DP Madhu Ambat
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