7 MALAYALAM FILMS OF 2016 YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS

A decent year with some great attempts, 2016 was a mixed bag for Malayalam Film Industry. There was the film that broke all cash records on one end, while on the other, major disappointments from two of the titans- Adoor Gopalakrishnan whose Pinneyum was a damp squib at the end of that 8-year long wait following his last and T.V. Chandran whose stagey Mohavalayalm seemed to have lost all track of reality despite an interesting premise. But what makes 2016 special is the sheer number of newcomers that surprised us with some good cinema, so much so that more than half of the films in the following list are from debutant directors. There were also a handful of films with kids as central characters that leaves a ray of hope for years to come. Now, check out the list and see which ones worked for you…

7. Anuraga Karikkin Vellam 2016

This one runs most of its lap in lighter vein, and is an upbeat lighthearted watch that is deftly packaged and cleverly presented. There are numerous laugh-out-loud instances here and surprisingly not especially from Biju Menon who is one of the central characters. A key feature in this hilarious relationship movie about a father and son, and his girlfriend and his mother, is the female lead who with a quirky presence adds a great deal to the scripted sketch that by itself is amusingly distinctive being clingy and stubborn. You might not remember Anuraga Karikkin Vellam for more than the length of the film, but it surely will fascinate you during its run with the frankness of its situational comedy and the instant connection it will make with you.

6. Action Hero Biju 2016

Abrid Shine is undoubtedly one of the most promising directors from the present crop that is fast becoming reliable criteria for picking films, and his latest that is a police story keeps the promise, directorially speaking. Action Hero Biju is admittedly an ode to Kerala Police, and deals with numerous random instances that a policeman confronts on a day-to-day basis, which as we get to know in its course is much more than just chasing gangsters and solving murder mysteries. The sheer charm of the policeman in Action Hero Biju is his ordinariness, which to an extend Nivin Pauly does justice to except in scenes of aggression where he time and again cracks up in forced whistles. What is to watch out for is the assortment of supporting cast that is as new as is talented and lifelike. Even though the film might feel like an omnibus in totality, you will certainly have a nice time watching it.

5. Kismath 2016

Based on a series of unfortunate incidents that actually happened in Ponnani in Malappuram, Kismath narrates a doomed love story and addresses a hideously relevant topic that questions the bearing of communal divides that threatens the human goodwill to coexist as a society. Central to all things that works in the film’s favor is the phenomenal performance by the male lead who along with his cocky body language and restrained accent, sensitively hits all the right pressure points leaving a troubling drone in our ears even after the lights come on. There definitely are instances where the newcomer director Bavakkutty gets carried away with the subplots running parallel to the wait for justice prolonging it further, but Kismath is a thought-provoking debut that is both impactful as well as ominous.

4. Guppy 2016

Guppy is one of those rare films with its heart in the right place although it could have done with a wee bit more clipping to crisp up the narrative like in the first act where it took its own sweet time to get to the point. The titular kid’s strife to buy his cripple mother an automatic wheelchair forms the basic plotline, but what makes this film so much more than just a motivational film is its overlap with an amusing pissing contest- an ego war of sorts between the kid and a bearded stranger in town who is hell bent on destroying his aspirations in the name of bruised pride. Guppy has some amazing moments, most of them very original too, and is an earnest attempt in the medium that should be watched.

3. Ozhivu Divasathe Kali 2016

A film from 2015 that got a theatrical release only midway through in ‘16, Sanal Kumar Sashidharan’s second directorial venture that was awarded the Kerala State Film Award for Best Film, is a hard hitting event that is as disturbing as is real, and is one of the boldest movies on the list. One could variously see this as slice of life, or homage to the foibles of human nature. It narrates the events on a public holiday declared on an election day when a bunch of friends meet up to have some fun and alcohol. What transpires from the seemingly harmless get-together forms the core of the narrative that leaves us all speechless with aghast at the end of it.

2. Kammattipadam 2016

Ambitious in scope and meticulous in detail, the third feature from Rajeev Ravi is an epic crime drama about violence, loyalty and the city, that is a tad bit more accessible to the common man in comparison to its predecessor. While following the lives of three gangster friends through an exhilarating narrative that moves back and forth in time, the film addresses important social issues like caste, alienation and the growth of the city (read Kochi) and the small lives it tramples on its way up. It’s grim and bloody, and unabashedly flaunts the callousness of a dog-eat-dog world where greed for material gains trumps all sorts of personal bonds and obligations. It also boasts of some powerful performances with great writing and direction. Kammattipadam is an important film to be watched.

1. Maheshinte Prathikaram 2016

“Chin down… Chin podikk-up… Eyes open… Ready!”

In a promising directorial debut, Dileesh Pothen brings to us one of the most endearing revenge dramas in Malayalam cinema with its winning matter-of-factness that makes you go “Aww” every once in a while. Cleverly written, credibly set, and aptly cast, Maheshinte Prathikaram follows the trajectory of the hurt ego of a modest neighborhood photographer, who with a small establishment, smaller aptitude, and even smaller dreams, is determined to avenge a public humiliation, in turn delivering a cheerfully memorable journey full of wit and vigor through the spice scented alleyways of Idukki with a kind of domesticity that we will all relate to despite not having visited the place even once. This one is a must watch for all... even a rewatch rather!