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.

50 more ICONIC MOVIE QUOTES from Malayalam Films

Following is a list of some of the most notable one-liners, statements, quips, insults, puns, misquotes and punchlines in Malayalam Cinema- conceived by our illustrious canon of screenwriters and brought to life by our brilliant line-up of actors- that are especially distinguished for its durable impact, comedic brilliance and unlimited quotability, and lives on in popular culture through its constant use and reuse over the course of time.

10 MALAYALAM MOVIES WITH KIDS AS CENTRAL CHARACTERS worth your time

film 101 Chodyangal

Except a handful of them, films about children somehow don’t seem to get the kind of attention they deserve in Malayalam, be it in terms of production or reception. Maybe we grownups don’t care enough to look at things through a child’s perspective anymore, conveniently forgetting how we were all there once. Or maybe, we’ve always been looking at it the wrong way. However the results of some of the few attempts in Malayalam Cinema at capturing the innocence and unpredictability of childhood cannot be ignored, especially some recent ones that seem especially promising. Following is a list of such Malayalam films featuring kids as central characters, although not always narrated through their perspective.

10 BOOK-TO-MOVIE ADAPTATIONS IN MALAYALAM worth your time

film Akam

Films that are adaptations of literary classics have never been received as well as those ones with original scripts. One major reason is the limitations that one man’s perception puts on the wild imaginings of countless readers that have already constructed the visual language individually in their minds. So it inadvertently has to be something that trumped these divergent visualizations. It only gets trickier when the literary works are more popular, as the success of its film adaptation heavily relies on appeasing a wider imaginative spectrum. Movie adaptations of famous books were a major draw in the Malayalam cinema since the 1950s, and it only grew rampant in the 60s. Although the fad slightly waned by the 70s, a few good adaptions graced us with their ingenuity every once in a while ever since. Following is a list of a handful of such book-to-movie adaptations in the Malayalam language that are worth your time.

50 ICONIC MOVIE QUOTES from Malayalam Films

Following is a list of some of the most notable one-liners, statements, quips, insults, puns, misquotes and punchlines from Malayalam films- conceived by our illustrious canon of screenwriters and brought to life by our brilliant line-up of actors- that are especially distinguished for its durable impact, comedic brilliance and unlimited quotability, and lives on in popular culture through its widespread and constant use.

15 BEST SHOBANA PERFORMANCES in Malayalam films

film Innale

Regarded in the highest echelon of Indian actors, Shobana has had a long and distinguished career in films in various languages including Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi and English. She has won the National Award for best actress twice, and is also the recipient of the coveted Padma Shri for her outstanding contributions to classical dance. An idol to a majority of the current breed of young actors and aspirants alike, she is a force of nature for those who truly know her work. Following is a list of some of her best performances in Malayalam films.

25 MALAYALAM MOVIES FROM THE 1980s you don’t want to miss

film Nadodikattu

One of the most sought after decades by filmmakers and film enthusiasts alike, the coveted 1980s were an absolute treat in the Malayalam Cinema. There was no dearth to quality subject matter or their brilliant executions, which is why a major part of the so-called golden era of Malayalam films is proudly placed in here. Following is a list of some of the best films from the 1980s you absolutely don’t want to miss.

25 MEMORABLE PERFORMANCES BY NON-MALAYALI ACTORS in Malayalam films

film Vaishali

In a country like India where language changes every few hundred kilometers, it would be ridiculous for an actor to stick to just his mother tongue when it comes to choice of films, as that will mean drawing a very close circle around the range of characters he or she would end up doing in a lifetime. So understandably there are countless crossover collaborations flushing the language barrier down the tube. In Malayalam films we have had numerous non-Malayali actors from all over the country portraying incredible characters that are not just memorable but also amazing depictions winning coveted awards and everything. Following is a list of such memorable performances, some of which are so iconic they have earned a place in Malayalam pop culture, although they are not all famous for necessarily playing Malayalam speaking characters.

12 MALAYALAM MOVIES BASED ON FAMOUS PLAYS

film Kaliyattam

Kerala has a lingering and deep-rooted tradition of theatre, dating back to the aristocratic days of Ashtapadiyattom, Koodiyattom, Krishnanattom and finally Ramanattom that would further evolve into the distinguished Kathakali. However these forms of art that back then catered only to the blue-blooded tastes of the privileged, slowly began to take up the cause of the suppressed and the downtrodden with the advent of our very own renaissance, although in its most primitive form and simpler techniques. It gradually evolved through the ups and downs as strong voices against all social injustices, perfecting the form as it progressed. Then the revolutionary theatre movement called the Kerala People’s Art Club, popularly known as KPAC, came into being, and acceptance of plays as works of art as well as strong medium of expression increased. With the prominence of films as the newest medium of art, many of their plays were successfully adapted to the silver screen, and the trend continues to this day, even if it was a non-KPAC play or a non-Malayalam play. Following is a list of such Malayalam films based on famous plays that you should check out just in case you are a huge fan of the theatre.

10 OF THE FUNNIEST CAMEOS IN MALAYALAM FILMS

film Gandharvam

Cameo roles in films, variously known in India as “guest appearance”, “special appearance” or “friendly appearance” is a brief role by a known actor in a film in which he or she is not a part of the main cast. The lengths of such roles are varying in degrees of ‘short’, as well as the number of times they appear on screen. Some of them take you by surprise, while some others despite their short-lived screen presence make a lasting impression on the entire film, and yet others are remembered for their priceless comic timing in the briefest of appearances. We know how difficult it is to pull off good comedy. It must only be worse when the time to affect it is shorter. There are a few brilliant cameos in Malayalam films that are still cherished for their hilarious timings. Following is a list of such roles- some impactful, some evergreen, and some others outright hysterical- in Malayalam films, we will never forget.

10 MALAYALAM THRILLER FILMS that will keep you on the edge till the very end

film Mumbai Police

Thrillers have always been one of the most popular genres in storytelling as there is not another variety that is so naturally and quickly involving. There is a reason as to why Agatha Christie is literally the best selling novelist of all time according to the Guinness Book of World Records, and why she is the most published, only behind Shakespeare and the Bible. Such is the reach of suspense and thriller stories. In movies, Hitchcock, the ‘Master of Suspense’, is still an all time favorite, and is one of the most revered filmmakers who specialized in suspense and thriller films. We have a fair share of thrillers in the Malayalam language as well, and the more recent exploration into the genre shows an increased number of promising films that commit to realistic execution of the same, successfully instilling suspense, anxiety, surprise, excitement and nail-biting anticipation in the viewers. Following is a list of such movies in the thriller genre in Malayalam that are worth your time, be it action, crime, psychological, legal or medical.

5 OF THE BEST POLITICAL SATIRES IN MALAYALAM CINEMA

film Vellimoonga

The role criticisms have had in the evolution of the quintessential Malayali psyche is immensely consequential, and it's difficult to isolate a Malayali from his or her endless concerns for society, commerce, bureaucracy and numerous things under the sun in daily realities of life even if it was only for the sake of a chitchat or an argument. Based on such criticisms, there are a handful of good satires that came into being in the Malayalam language- thanks to veteran satirists like Sreenivasan- including a few of those really sharp ones that penalize our questionable political framework. Following is a list of such piercing political satires that successfully drove home the message without being all sanctimonious about it.

10 SPOT-ON PERFORMANCES BY ACTORS CAST AGAINST TYPE in Malayalam movies

film Vaishali

It is only understandable why it is extremely difficult to escape typecasting when it comes to film actors, as there is always a kind of role that a particular actor seemingly does better than the rest staying within the comfort zone. But every once in a while we see brave moves from a few of them at trying out roles diametrically opposite to their trademark image. There have been instances when it terribly backfired, like when Kavya Madhavan deplorably played a retard and slaughtered it. Then there are also times when with brilliant performances they show us a new side shining another part on their versatility spectrum. Following is a list of such incredibly bold casting where actors played characters totally against their type and remarkably owned it.

10 ROMANTIC FILMS IN MALAYALAM worth your time

film Annayum Rasoolum

The sheer idea of romance, in general, has never stopped being a part and parcel of Indian Cinema from the time of its very conception, let alone in the Malayalam language. Be it an action thriller, political satire or a murder mystery, romance somehow seemed to always make its way into even the unlikeliest of turfs. The protagonists are always expected to have a love interest, and they are invariably covered in the eventual scripts how much ever fleeting it may be. Romantic comedies are one of the most successful genres, and the sensational records of films of the likes of Thenmavin Kombath, Godfather and Chithram says a lot about their reach (which is why they will be accounted for in another list altogether). Even a complex film like Thoovanathumbikal that deals with a man’s tussle with the lines separating love and lust and his quest thereof is remembered more as a romantic film although it’s so much more than that. Then there are those serious romantic films mostly falling in the drama genre, where love between the lead characters is the main focus. However there always seem to be a level of associated schmaltziness that requires some quality taming for a decent output with these types, call it jinx or occupational hazard (that jaded films like Madanolsavam and Aniyathipravu), but there certainly is a handful of those ones too. Following is a list of some such films that stays clear of the corny and that are totally worth your time if you are a fan of the genre.

10 GREAT INDIE FILMS IN MALAYALAM FROM THE PARALLEL CINEMA MOVEMENT

film Elippathayam

Even after the formula movies of the 1950s gave way to adaptations of popular literary works in the 60s, the look, feel and the general choice of story premise in Malayalam cinema was still badly in need of a revolution, and, thanks to everything influential about the Italian Neorealism, an uprising happened very soon. As an upshot of the 50s’ Parallel cinema movement by movie giants of the likes of Satyajit Ray and Mrinal Sen that was greatly influenced by the Italian Neorealism, Malayalam cinema also underwent a radical makeover, and a new stream of films came into being right from the beginning of the 1970s lead by Adoor Gopalakrishnan, G.Aravaindan, John Abraham and the like. These films were characterized by serious subject matter that took into consideration the sociopolitical situations prevalent at the time, and their realistic depictions strictly devoid of the song and dance routine. The following list sticks to the 1970s and 80s that marked the boom of the parallel cinema, which gradually reduced in number and gave way to their much more canonical middle-stream counterparts.