10 OF THE BEST SATHYAN ANTHIKKAD FILMS thus far

film Thalayanamanthram

Sathyan Anthikkad is undoubtedly one of the best film directors working in Malayalam cinema today, although for the past couple of years he seems to have been grappling with a series of paltry scripts jading his reputation. But we still have faith in him. He has already proved himself to be the unparalleled master of people’s cinema in the actual sense of the word, and anybody Malayali at heart will be able to relate to every last detail addressed in his films. His heroes are always the common man and his setting, the quintessential Malayali middle-class. His collaborations with the clever scripts of Sreenivasan and Ragunath Paleri have gifted us with some of the most lighthearted gems addressing serious and prevalent social issues. Following is a list of some of his best films that you most certainly don’t want to miss.
 

10. Veendum Chila Veetukaryangal 1999    

written by A.K. Lohithadas

featuring Jayaram, Thilakan, Samyukta Varma

When you don’t learn life lessons by yourself, there’s always going to be someone else who will teach them for a cost. This film addresses heartwarming relationships between some of the most endearing characters in all of Sathyan Anthikkad films.

9. Sasneham. 1990

written by A.K. Lohithadas

featuring Balachandra Menon, Shobana, K.P.A.C Lalitha, Innocent, Sukumari, Meena

An endearing parable on the hilarious dichotomy of inter-caste marriage, this gem of a film has a talented ensemble cast that leads its thought provoking narrative through a series of riotous events from one scene to another awarding a fulfilling viewing experience.

8. Pattanapravesham 1988

written by Sreenivasan

featuring Mohanlal, Sreenivasan, Thilakan, Ambika

The rib-tickling sequel to the iconic Nadodikattu was as well received as its predecessor with its added humor and the return of some of the most loved characters in Malayalam films along with the quirky Ananthan Nambiar.

7. Varavelpu 1989

written by Sreenivasan

featuring Mohanlal, Revathy, Murali

Varavelpu follows the life of a ‘gulf-returned’ Malayali who risks to buy a bus with his life savings only to be bogged with numerous roadblocks in its running, most of it raised by the vicious hands of trade unionism, flushing his dreams down the tube in no time.

6. Mazhavilkavadi 1989

written by Reghunath Paleri

featuring Jayaram, Innocent, Urvashi, Sithara

The ordeals of a young man in search of job who ends up in small town in Tamil Nadu, eventually having to work as an assistant at a Barber shop there, is told with side-splitting dexterity with fine performances by Jayaram, Urvashi and Innocent.

5. Nadodikattu 1987

written by Siddique-Lal, Sreenivasan

featuring Mohanlal, Sreenivasan, Thilakan, Shobana

This film marked a new movement in situational comedies in Malayalam films with a socially relevant issue addressing the burgeoning unemployment in Kerala at the time, introducing to us one of the most hilarious male duos in pop culture- Dasan and Vijayan.

4. Sanmanasullavarku Samadhanam 1986

written by Sathyan Anthikkad, Sreenivasan

featuring Mohanlal, Karthika, Sreenivasan, KPAC Lalitha

Mohanlal’s desperate, at the same time frustrated protagonist in this comedic scrape is one of his most lovable characters that, pitted against an aptly volatile female lead played by Karthika, makes fireworks off comic situations one after the other.

                                                 

3. Ponmuttayidunna Tharavu 1988

written by Reghunath Paleri

featuring Sreenivasan, Innocent, Urvashi, Jayaram, KPAC Lalitha, Jagathy Sreekumar

This comedy film, arguable one of the best in Malayalam, is an ensemble drama about small joys, fears and concerns of a fascinating bunch of people living in an archetypal village in Kerala, not very different from any other you’d relate to.

2. Thalayanamanthram 1990

written by Sreenivasan

featuring Urvashi, Sreenivasan, Jayaram, KPAC Lalitha, Parvathy, Innocent

One of the best social satires to come out of Sreenivasan’s merciless pen, this one basically flourishes around the mind blowing caricature of one of the most powerful female characters in the history of Malayalam Cinema.

1. Sandesham 1991

written by Sreenivasan

featuring Thilakan, Sreenivasan, Jayaram

This cogent political satire is a work of genius that jabs in places where it hurts the most, and it does that in style using ruthless comedy making this a cerebral classic at the same time a pop phenomenon.

Then there are also…

T.P. Balagopalan M.A.1986

Manassinakkare 2003

Kudumbapuranam 1988

Narendran Makan Jayakanthan Vaka 2001

Kalikkalam 1990

Kinaram 1983

Gandhi Nagar II^nd  Street 1986

Golanthara Varthakal 1993

Mandanmar Londenil 1983

Pappan Priyapetta Pappan 1986

Artham 1989

Thooval Kottaram 1996