10 MALAYALAM FILMS FEATURING BOTH MAMMOOTTY AND MOHANLAL worth your time

Malayalam cinema will forever be indebted to these two marvelous acting prodigies for promoting in their prime the movement that made meaningful cinema mainstream with their friendly faces that have now long become household emotions for every Malayali family. There were times when directors waited for years on end to bag their dates and their films have never disappointed their producers, even when it came to those movies that were merely constructed around their enormous stardom in the . They may both be currently grappling with that stardom’s midlife crises and random film choices thereof, but considering their remarkable oeuvre over careers lasting decades and the genius that shines through their occasional films even today, we should cut them some slack in hopes of a smooth transitioning into a direction that will continue to give us similar memorable moments in their respective journeys ahead. There are over a staggering fifty films they shared screen-space in, and following is a list of some of them still worth your time. By no means does this listing claim to merit equal screen time for both actors similar to what Fazil attempted with the blatant Harikrishnans.

 

10. Nanayam 1983

In order to relish I.V. Sasi’s Nanayam in this day and age you may have to reserve your judgment for the formulaic story arc, chauvinistic writing and a whole lot of shenanigans that hasn’t aged too well. But this film made it to the list only based on the sheer merit of having exhibited the incredible bonding between the two men early on in their career playing two half-brothers pitted against each other in difficult times.

 

9. Gandhi Nagar 2^nd Street 1986

 

Predominantly a Mohanlal film, the climactic cameo by Mammootty, who by the way also produced this comedy, imparted the required bearing to a character that was touted throughout the narrative, and was also pivotal in steering the course of the story towards that satisfying ending. Mohanlal plays the phony Gurkha employed to watch a residential colony and Mammootty enters as the ‘Gulf Malayali’ who comes to his rescue as the husband to a kindergarten teacher who is one of the few friends he makes there. 

 

8. Vartha, 1986

One of the screenplays by T. Damodaran addressing the omnipresent corruption in the system, and one of many he wrote for I.V. Sasi, Vartha featured both Mammootty and Mohanlal along with Seema and Rahman weaving a complex tale about contemporary politics, media and the lives that get trampled in the tug between the two.

 

7. No. 20 Madras Mail 1990

 

This is one of the best murder mysteries in Malayalam cinema starring Mohanlal with Mammooty playing a significant extended cameo as a fictionalized version of himself, and the fateful train journey in the titular express train that ends in murder is singularly notable for the comical rendezvous between the two stars.

 

6. Poomukhapadiyil Ninneyum Kaathu 1986

 

Bhadran’s family drama vividly captures the tremors within a dysfunctional family headed by an extremely unhappy couple played by Mammootty and a brilliant Srividya whose appalling wife is hard to forget. Mohanlal with a stutter figures as her incorrigible brother called in for assistance but ends up making matters worse.

 

5. Kariyila Kaattu Pole 1986

 

Another murder mystery featuring the two actors, where Mohanlal investigates the killing of Mammootty who plays an eminent film director surrounded by enough people who loathed him, and many of them capable to kill.

 

4. Adiyozhukkukal 1984

A bunch of unfortunate characters thrown into the scrap heap by unfortunate incidents and their struggle against the hostile circumstances forms the plot of the film.  Mammooty won Kerala State Film Award for best actor playing one of them, an unruly fisherman released from prison alongside Mohanlal as an unemployed man who turns up as a friend in need.

 

3. Aalkoottathil Thaniye 1984

 

Mohanlal’s sociable hostel roommate to Mammootty’s protagonist may be a cameo, who appears only in a few scenes, but his entry into pivotal scenes raising important questions was integral to the narrative and their camaraderie and warmth was important to reflect the closeness of their relationship inside of a few scenes.  

 

2. Idanilangal 1985

Although a runaway woman called Chinnammu played by Seema is central to the plot, the characters of both Mammootty and Mohanlal are integral to the film, and plays two men who start off on the wrong foot and continue to remain at loggerheads throughout the run with various instances of physical altercations where both men are literally at each other’s throats.

 

1. Anubandham 1985

 

As two men linked by a common tragedy, Mohanlal and Mammootty excel in this M.T. drama directed by I.V. Sasi. Mammootty’s graceful refrain and Mohanlal’s elusive interpretation rendered this poignant tale about survival with the fitting realism that the master storyteller warranted.

10 OF THE MOST TROUBLING MOVIE DEATHS IN MALAYALAM CINEMA THUS FAR

Following is a list of some of the most worryingly enduring images of deaths in Malayalam cinema thus far…

10 MALAYALAM MOVIES FROM THE 2010s YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS

The past decade was a transition of sorts for Malayalam films with a big bunch of experimental films that hit all the right spots at the same time giving rise to a neo- new wave movement that was nicknamed the “New-Gen” films, all for good cause. We will be ever grateful to this decade for killing out almost all of the tasteless trends disseminated by the last one. Check out the top ten picks of the decade!

5 MALAYALAM FILMS OF 2017 YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS

It is great news that some of the best films of the year were also the ones that made more money, but 2017 had great many efforts that may not have been all that bad, but fell short all in all. One of the major letdowns being Bijoy Nambiar’s middling SOLO that defied all expectations. Well-intentioned and well equipped, this Dulquer omnibus could not do full justice to the central idea that tied the stories together and despite a great production remained a half-baked effort. But moving on to happier attempts, listed below are what was worth the time.

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…

30 ICONIC THEME MUSIC IN MALAYALAM FILMS

Theme music or signature tune is an integral part of most films, and being part of the background score, helps to establish its mood similar to that of a leitmotif. They provide each film its own identity, and in certain cases they go on to became synonymous to the respective film owing to its popularity. Following is a list of some of the most iconic theme music used in Malayalam Films, most of which will certainly give you some serious nostalgia.

10 MALAYALAM MOVIES IN WHICH RAIN PLAYS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE

film Paithrukam

No matter what, there is no separating rain from a Malayali. It is such an integral part of the soul and body of Kerala that everyone here tend to relate it to memories from all possible aspects of life, be it love, passion, nostalgia, melancholy, happiness, ecstasy, and the list just goes on. Rain is one of the most widely used elements in Malayalam films, and our rich cinematic history has a lot of such films to boast about. Songs like “Pranayamani thooval viriyum…” from Azhagiya Ravanan and “Neelakuyile chollu…” from Adwaitham brings back all that raging glands to action. It has made dramatic entries in scenes of great magnitude like the ones in Devasuram, Kireedam and Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu. There are also some films where it plays a much more important and extensive role in setting the mood and as a narrative tool. Following is a list of such films that effectively uses rain in all its glory.

12 MALAYALAM MOVIES THAT WILL CERTAINLY MAKE YOU UNEASY

Now having already covered the most unsettling viewing experiences in Malayalam cinema in LIST OF THE MOST DISTURBING MALAYALAM FILMS, this list might not seem like an ordeal after all, but there are numerous movies in our canon that irks our distress tolerance, however varying in degrees though, owing to its subject matter that may entirely not sit inside our comfort zones, and that can make for a handsomely eggy list all by themselves- more like a part-2 to the 'Disturbing List'. Although less potent in its viciousness when compared to those movies in the “Disturbing List”, most of them discuss unkind fate and unappetizing situations you don’t want to deal with or discuss in real life. Following is a list of such films in Malayalam that will invariably make you uneasy, be it emotionally, intellectually or physically- some right in the end, while some throughout the run. 

15 OF THE BEST DEPICTIONS OF FRIENDSHIP IN MALAYALAM FILMS

“Friendship marks a life even more deeply than love. Love risks degenerating into obsession, friendship is never anything but sharing.”

- Elie Wiesel

And who doesn’t know! Friendship is one of the purest forms of human bonding forged outside the liabilities of blood! Cinema worldwide has explored on the dynamics of this brilliant bond in various permutations possible. Following is a list of some of the truest friendships portrayed in Malayalam films thus far.

11 OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL MALAYALAM FILMS OF ALL TIME

film Papilio Buddha

Living in a time such as ours, you shouldn’t be surprised if tilting your head a certain way ended up offending someone or some group somewhere longing for attention and waiting to pounce. Despite all the ongoing debate on freedom of expression, art, books, films and other such creative media has increasingly been attacked time and again in the name of the liberty taken to “overstep that line”. Many a controversies have arisen owing to the disputed interpretation of the said freedom, and one of the most targeted areas in this case has forever been the movie world. In Kerala where every Mahesh, Suresh and Ramesh veneer their opinions as criticisms, there have been many occasions where films were beaten and cut to size for freely expressing a view different from the conventional; like when the movie name Ponmuttayidunna “Thattaan” had to be changed to Ponmuttayidunna “Tharavu” following severe protests from the goldsmith community who took offence from the original title; like when the multiple endings of Harikrishnans kick started a storm verging on communal; like with the filming of a live childbirth in Kalimannu and the partial nudity in Thanmatra cocked a lot of eyebrows. Many derided Fazil’s Ente sooryaputhrikku as bad influence, Jeetu Joseph’s Drishyam for sending the wrong message and Alfonse Puthran’s Premam as provocative and misleading. Similarly film Parudeesa directed by R. Sarath was accused of instigating anti-religious propaganda and Padmavyooham directed by Bijoy P.I. for posing security concerns to Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple. The ambitious Adoor film Kathapurushan garnered much criticism for the resemblance of its stammering protagonist to veteran Communist leader EMS Namboothiripad. Most Shaji Kailas films scripted by Renj Panicker from Ekalavyan to Commissioner courted controversy for daring the system. So was the case with numerous I.V. Sasi films written by T. Damodaran. Following is a list of movies in the Malayalam language that became controversial for its subject matter as well as its portrayal more than any other.

22 WOMEN-CENTRIC FILMS IN MALAYALAM worth your time

films Akashadoothu & Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu

There have been several memorable and powerful female characters in Malayalam cinema since its conception, those that stand on par with their male counterparts and those that stand alone. They variously showed us different facets of women- their extraordinarily courage, their selfless love, their all-consuming anger, their amazing endurance, their unparalleled beauty and so on and so forth. Gifted with a talented league of writers, our films have often discussed issues pertaining to the fairer sex- both serious and in lighter vain- and such female oriented subjects with memorable women protagonists have always been very well accepted as well. Following is a list of some of the best films in Malayalam dealing with women-centric subject.

13 GREAT MOVIE METAPHORS IN MALAYALAM CINEMA

Symbolism is a very sticky business, both to use and to comprehend, yet if cleverly done could be greatly rewarding. Intelligent films in Malayalam have always had a rich tradition of symbolism to address ideas of social, psychological, ideological or religious bearing using brilliant metaphors. These parallels have in the past not only added layers to our thought processes, but have also been enriching our taste over the years. Following is a list of some of the greatest metaphors used in Malayalam Cinema, some of which bask in plain sight, while others, you got to dig a great deal to even locate.

10 COMMENDABLE ON-SCREEN ACCENTS by actors in Malayalam Movies

film Amaram

Accents and slangs are a part and parcel of language, and every region has their very own. In Kerala there are more number of accents than there are districts. Malayalam spoken in some regions in Kasargod can perplex the hell out of someone from Fort Kochi, and someone from Trivandrum might even get offended, and the bridge runs both ways. Yet in Malayalam Cinema, accents are a largely overlooked area. Apparently training in a regional accent has never been a mandate in preparing for films set there. Even when the scripts get the slang right, the actors mess up the accents. Obviously being able to effectively fake a foreign accent is a great gift and that not many have. But then there are always exceptions how much ever little, and some actors have long established it as their strong suit. Following is a list of some of the best efforts at faking different regional accents in Malayalam Cinema thus far.

5 REVENGE FILMS IN MALAYALAM worth your time

film New Delhi

As the man once said, ‘revenge is a dish best served cold’, as the very act is associated with a fulfilling thrill of an eventual payback. Revenge films fall in the sub genre that routinely thrives on this trill that naturally flourish outside of law with associated violence in some form or the other, which is what make it all the more compelling. From Navodaya’s star spangled Monte-Cristo adaptation Padayottam to the more recent, blunt and merciless 22 Female Kottayam, revenge films has been tried and tested in Malayalam with varying degrees of finesse. Following is a list of some of the best films in this subgenre in the Malayalam language.

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.

100 PHOTOGRAPHIC MOMENTS FROM MALAYALAM FILMS thus far

film Akasha Gopuram

“To photograph is to hold one’s breath, when all faculties converge to capture fleeting reality. It’s at that precise moment that mastering an image becomes a great physical and intellectual joy.”

20 OF THE MOST EXHILARATING DRAMATIC MOMENTS in Malayalam Cinema

# Spoiler Alert #

film Devasuram

What Merriam-Webster describes as dramatic should either be “sudden and extreme”, “greatly effecting people’s emotions” or “attracting attention, causing people to look, listen etc.” So understandably it should either be striking, exciting or impressive, and intended to create an effect. Following is a list of some such moments in Malayalam Cinema, some of which stands out for the suspense and action, while some others booms with its deep silence; either ways dramatic alright!

20 OF THE MOST PROMISING DIRECTORIAL DEBUTS IN MALAYALAM CINEMA THUS FAR

film 1983

The first works by not all film directors are worth mentioning, not even by those ones that would go on to prove their greatness in the long run. But there are certainly quite a few of them that showed sheer brilliance in their maiden attempt, some of them who continued to repeat the magic and some other who fizzled out after that initial foray. Following is a list of some of the most promising directorial debuts in the Malayalam language.

10 ‘A’ RATED MALAYALAM FILMS you don’t want to miss

Although film censorship is a hugely divisive topic, film certification is one area that is more or less considered a useful check to regulate and classify the public exhibition of films. Of the different categories that films are certified under, ‘A’ rated films are those that are strictly restricted to adults, ‘U’ that can have unrestricted public exhibition, and ‘U/A’ that stipulate parental guidance for viewers below 12 years of age. But again the criteria for certifying films have often been debated for the probable influence of individual perception, tolerance and POVs on the variables of categorization. Any film with excessive violence, sex and coarse language that are strong in nature are bound to earn an ‘A’, but as to who decides the definition of ‘strong’ is what makes it questionable. Following is a list of some of the best ‘A’ rated Malayalam films of which some may not entirely seem loyal to the ‘letter’.

10 UNDERAPPRECIATED MALAYALAM FILMS you must watch

film Adwaitham

Like in the case of every other creative area, diversity in human taste has proved over time to be a very tricky thing with films and their successes. Now you could take any definition of success- its popularity or critical acceptance. Since one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, it shouldn’t be surprising when films applauded by critics, are booed by the masses, and the ones they snub end up breaking commercial records. Yet it somehow seem to always make sense as to why some thrive and some others bomb, except for a handful of films whose destinies seem far too bizarre, especially those ones that fail to get the attention they deserve- from public, or critics, or both, for no apparent reason- blame it on bad timing or lack of promotion or that very enigmatic reason like the one behind sudden unexpected death syndrome. There are also films that were successful at the time of release but were quickly forgotten in comparison to their far inferior counterparts that live on in pop culture. Following is a list of some of the most overlooked, underrated and forgotten films in the history of Malayalam cinema that deserve a far more superior place in our film canon.