Best of Malayalam and Tamil movies (2024): An overview into the best movies which have come from our neighboring states across different genres

A few posters of the best Malayalam movies (2024)

Adujeevitham movie banner

Manjummel Boys image

Ullozhukku movie image

Just like the previous years 2024 has also seen a huge range of stories from Malayalam and Tamil across different genres. For example both Adujeevitham : Goat Life and Manjummel boys were excellently made survival dramas/thrillers keeping the viewers on the edge. In case of Adujeevitham the movie also made a strong statement on the plight of not so educated men going to the gulf and becoming slaves. Adujeevitham was based on the very successful novel Goat Days and director Blessy did a wonderful job in capturing the soul of the novel while giving it his own touches. Prithviraj Sukumaran in the title role of Najeeb delivered a life changing performance perfectly capturing the emotional trauma of the protagonist. Manjummel Boys was also based on a real life story a group of friends going on a vacation in Kodaikanal, there one of them gets trapped in the Guna Caves leading to numerous tension filled moments. Manjummel Boys was made on a mere budget of 20 crores with not so known faces but the film turned out to be major blockbuster. The movie was vastly appreciated for its technical aspects in particular. Apart from Adujeevitham Prithviraj was also seen in the comedy Gurvayoor Amabalanadayil. The movie was a breezy watch majorly bolstered by Prithiviraj’s act of a comic villain.

On the other hand there was the romantic comedy Premalu again starring not so known faces. It was a breezy rom- com focusing on the lives of young adults getting into their first jobs and enjoying a newly found freedom away from their homes. On the surface the storyline is simple but director Girish AD did a fine job in engaging the audiences. The performances of the lead cast also made the movie enjoyable. One of Malayalam’s major actors Fahadh Faasil was one of its producers. As an actor too Fahadh had a very good year with the action comedy Aavesham. Aavesham focused on a bunch of engineering students taking the help of a gangster for taking revenge on seniors leading to a drastic change in their lives. Aavesham was a major success on the account of its whacky characters and a wonderfully eccentric Fahadh Faasil. The crackling dialogues were another huge asset particularly the interactions between Fahadh’s Ranga and Sajjin Gopu in the role of Ranga’s go to man.

Premalu and Aavesham

Noted Hindi director Abhishek Chaubey joined hands with Ronnie Screwvala with the hugely poignant Ullozhukku. This Christo Tomy directorial was a gripping emotional drama on human frailties. Urvasi and Parvathy Thiruvothu were simply fantastic in their respective parts perfectly embodying the story’s complex dynamics.

legendary actor Mammootty had a pretty good year this time too though not on par with 2023. Among the three releases Rahul Sadhasivan’s Bramayugam turned out to be the best one. In this movie Mammootty played the enigmatic Kodumon Poti. Mammooty simply chewed the scenery coming up with a terrific act. He terrified the viewers with just his body language. In spite of the flaws Bramayugam was an engrossing watch particularly the dialogues related to oppression of lower caste and the desire for power corrupting everyone irrespective of whether you are rich or poor. Midhun Manuel Thomas’s Abraham Ozler saw Mammooty in an extended special appearance, in spite of the less screen time the legendary actor made his presence amply felt. Turbo directed by Vysakh was a typical commercial entertainer with Mammooty having a blast. Mention must also be made of Jayaram who scored a commercial hit with the medical thriller/drama Abraham Ozler. Jayaram was mighty effective as the cop who is in a relentless pursuit of a serial killer while battling his own personal tragedies.

As far as Tamil movies go Vijay Sethupati had a very good year with Maharaja and the second part of Viduthalai. Maharaja saw Vijay Sethupati as a desperate father, Viduthalai 2 on the other hand showcased him as a social crusader. Vijay Sethupati nailed both the roles with charismatic ease. Sivakarthikeyan also hit the big league with the war drama Amaran. Based on the life of major Mukund Sivakarthikeyan seamlessly transformed from a boy next door to a brave army man.

96 Director C Prem Kumar once again explored the theme of nostalgia in a different setting. The movie Meiyazhagan with wonderful performances by Karthi and Aarvind Swamy was a big breadth of fresh air amidst larger than life heroes. The movie was a heartwarming emotional drama on self discovery and the importance of moving on. Lastly PS Vinothraj’s Kottukaali (The Adamant Girl) was a powerful take on silent rebellion. A strong aspect of Kottukaali was the fantastic use of visual metaphors. Through the visual metaphors PS Vinothraj did a wonderful job in showcasing the defiance of Anna Ben’s Meena

Some of the best Tamil movies

Maharaja and Viduthalai Part 2

Amaran

Meiyazhagan

Kottukaali

Now let’s take a dive into the best of Malayalam and Tamil movies in 2024

Malayalam

1 Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life)

Blessey’s Aadujeevitham centered on the life of Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Najeeb. The movie focused on how Najeeb’s life takes a very dark turn upon taking the decision of going to the gulf in order to give a better life to his family by earning more money. However a series of events leads to Najeeb becoming a goat herder in a hot desert with no hopes of coming back. The movie showcased the emotional and physical hardships and how he eventually returns back to his native place after a long ordeal. The best part of Aadujeevitham was how Blessy juxtaposed the flashback portions of Najeeb’s happy life in Kerala and his present wretchedness. The movie takes its own sweet time in showing the transformation of Najeeb but this gradual process helped the movie making the viewers strongly root for the protagonist. The film also benefited from the top notch technical team with particular mention to Sunil K’s cinematography. He did a splendid job in capturing both the beautiful Kerala back waters along with portions showcasing the numerous hardships that Najeeb and co face in the hot desert. In spite of an overindulgent second half Aadujeevitham was an heart wrenching survival drama. In the title role Prithviraj came up with a superlative performance. His physical transformation into a thin and unkempt man is on par with the best of international actors. Mention must also be made of KR Gokul who also stood out with his heart touching portrayal of Hakim. Amala Paul as Najeeb’s wife also shined in her brief role.

2 Manjummel Boys

Manjummel Boys directed by Chidambaram was a chilling survival drama. The story was set in the year 2006 focusing on a group of friends heading to Kodaikanal. Upon going to Kodaikanal they visit Guna Cave. Guna Cave comes with a certain history, one of the friends fall into a pit famously known as Devil’s kitchen. The rest of the story looked at how the group of friends known as Manjummel boys saved their friend.

A strong aspect of Manjummel Boys was how Chidambaram depicted the theme of friendship. The movie has a slow start but majorly picks up pace when the group of friends reach Kodaikanal. Chidambaram’s juxtaposition of an important childhood portion with the main incident was also superbly done. The production design also enhanced the drama with its realisticness. Particular mention must be made of the pit where the friend falls. Apart from the stellar production design Shusin Shyam’s background score also deserves a major appreciation for a job very well done. Among the actors Soubin Shahir and Sreenath Bhasi stood out with impactful performances.

3 Ullozhukku

Ullozhukku directed by Christo Tomy is a heartfelt emotional drama set amidst the backdrop of a funeral. The movie focused on the complex dynamics between Urvashi’s leelamma and Parvathy Thirovutu’s Anju. Anju is married to Leelamma’s son Thomaskutty but is still in touch with her lover Rajeev (Arjun Radhakrishnan). They are having an affair behind Leelamma’s back. Things take a drastic turn with the death of Thomaskutty. Upon the death of Thomaskutty Anju finds out that she is pregnant with Rajeev’s child leading to a complex chain of events.

The best part of Ullozhukku were the flawed human characters. Through these flawed characters Christo Tomy touched upon the themes of grief, desire, honor, and freedom among others. The layered characterizations of both Urvasi and Parvathy also enhanced the drama. Traditionalists would have a tough time in digesting Anju’s serious relationship with her boyfriend while being a married woman however Christo Tomy did a wonderful job in etching out Anju’s love. At one point she even tries to elope with her boyfriend while Leelamma’s family is still grieving. On the surface her actions will come across as selfish but at the same time viewers also understand her desperation. Even Urvasi’s Leelamma comes with her own weaknesses. She has abundant love towards Anju at the same time she is unable to see the struggles of her daughter in law. The movie also subtly touched upon the theme of class divide in the scenes where Leelamma vents out her anger.

4 Bramayugam

Rahul Sadhasivan’s Bramayugam was an engaging period horror movie with elements of fantasy, folklore and religion. The movie’s timeline is 17th century Kerala. A Dalit singer Thevan (Arjun Ashokan) loses his way in the forest and comes across a dilapidated mansion, in this dilapidated mansion only two people stay. One is Kodumon Poti (Mammootty) and the cook played by Siddarth Bharatan.

Bramayugam lacks the overall compactness of Rahul Sadhasivan’s earlier movie Bhoothakaalam, however Bramayugam is still very much worth a watch particularly the portions where the movie gets into a political zone. How the desire for power is extremely dangerous came out brilliantly in the form of some impactful dialogues. The black and white cinematography of Shehnad Jalal perfectly enhanced the horror elements. As the enigmatic Kodumon Poti Mammootty once again showcased a different facet of him with his impactful act.

5 Aavesham

Aavesham directed by Jithu Madhavan was an thoroughly entertaining ride with its goof ball characters and a fabulous Fahadh Faasil. The movie focused on a group of freshers wanting to take revenge on seniors. A chance meeting with Fahadh Faasil’s Ranga leads to a dramatic change in their lives.

A strong aspect of Aavesham were the interactions of Ranga with the three college students. How Ranga delivers a bond with the three showcasing a different side was both well written and enacted. The movie also benefitted immensely from the quirky characterization of Fahadh coupled with his delicious performance.

Now to the best of Tamil movies in 2024

1 and 2 Maharaja and Viduthalai 2

Maharaja directed and written by Nithilan Swaminathan on surface is a standard revenge story elevated by the non- linear storytelling and the intricate world building. In the beginning portions Vijay Sethupati’s character is seen filling a case about a missing dustbin. The cops headed by Natajaran take him for a crazy guy throwing him out of the police station but Vijay Sethupati’s character doesn’t budge eventually forcing the police to take up the case. This is the story in brief. A strong aspect of Maharaja are its police station scenes bordering on ridiculousness. The earnestness with which Vijay Sethupati repeats the story about the missing dustbin is both amusing and moving at the same time. While the investigation is going on a new character is introduced parallelly. Anurag Kashyap played the role of Selvam a loving father to his daughter Ammu with an unknown dark side to the wife. Nithilan Swaminathan did a wonderful job in connecting the dots and how Selvam is connected to the protagonist’s life. The police characters were also written well, they start off as a bunch of opportunistic cops but end up developing a conscience. The movie also deserves appreciation for how it portrayed a rape survivor. There is a very significant portion in the pre- climax where the rape survivor confronts her attacker telling in very clear terms on how she isn’t going to live with shame. Apart from Vijay Sethupati’s powerful act Anurag Kashyap also shined with an impactful performance. A particular mention must be made of his act in a crucial break down scene.

Viduthalai 2 directed by Vetrimaaran was a powerful conclusion with themes of oppression, the division of human beings on the basis of caste and the need to question the flaws in the system. The movie takes the viewers back to the times of monstrous zamindars and the struggles of peasants. The movie also touched upon the origin of communism. On more than one occasion the movie feels like a lecture with an overload of dialogues, still it is a must watch for those like Vetrimaaran’s storytelling. A major highlight of Viduthalai 2 was the origin story, a normal school teacher Perumal aka Vaathiyar transforming into a school crusader brilliantly portrayed by Vijay Sethupati. Soori this time around was mostly relegated to the sidelines, nevertheless he did make his presence amply felt.

3 Amaran

Rajkumar Periyaswamy’s Amaran ticks all the boxes of a traditional war drama. As viewers you know where the proceedings are headed, still the tight writing coupled with the performances made it an engaging watch. At its core Amaran is a love story. The life of Major Mukund is told from the perspective of his wife Indu Rebecca Varghese (an excellent Sai Pallavi). Rajkumar Periyaswamy did a very fine job in showcasing the various stages of their relationship making the viewers wish that the real life story panned out differently.

The director’s portrayal of Kashmir’s political insurgency had its share of problems still the numerous battles of CRPF were well documented. Sivakarthikeyan sprung a very pleasant surprise with his outstanding portrayal perfectly capturing the various shades of Mukund. Sai Pallavi’s character is mostly one note still she brought in a lot of emotional depth.

4 Meiyazhagan

C Prem Kumar’s Meiyazhagan was a heartwarming movie about self discovery and the importance of moving on. The core plot of Meiyazhagan was about the main character’s inability in remembering the name of other person. Arvind Swamy was seen as Satyam. Satyam was forced to leave both his house and hometown due to a family dispute. After many years he comes back to his native village for an important family wedding. Satyam bumps into Karthi’s Sundaram. Sundaram treats Satyam with lot of affection but the latter has no memory of how Sundaram is related to him. This is the story in brief.

Meiyazhagan had a slow beginning but picked up huge momentum with the entry of Karthi. Karthi raised many chuckles with his witty dialogues proving to be a perfect catalyst. He did a very fine job in embodying the idealistic and selfless nature of Sundaram. A particular mention must be made of the scenes where Satyam tries hard to recollect the name and puts up act of remembering him. A lot of situational humor is generated through this. Aravind Swamy as the brooding Satyam proved to be the perfect antithesis. He did a very fine job in portraying Satyam’s trauma making the viewers feel his pain. The characters of the greedy relatives is strictly one note still through this subplot C Prem Kumar gave an important message about forgiving people and in the process overcoming bitterness

5 Kottukaali

PS Vinothraj’s Kottukaali was a powerful movie on rebellion through silences. Backed by Sivakarthikeyan the film focused on the themes of caste, patriarchy and tradition. The story primarily focused on Anna Ben’s Meena and Soori’s Pandi. Meena is apparently possessed by a dangerous spirit. So the families of Meena and Pandi take her first to a local goddess and then a local seer.

The best part of Kottukkaali was the use of visual metaphors. For example there is a scene where the men have to carry an auto rickshaw on their shoulders with Meena still inside. The act of Meena refusing to come out can be interpretated as her way of rebellion.

Similarly the latter portion also features a hugely volatile scene when Meena quietly hums the song ‘Othyadi Padhaiyila’, playing in the background of a puberty ceremony. Pandi gets into a huge frenzy as the tune reminds him of her lover. He starts thrashing everyone around but Meena doesn’t say a single word.

The cinematography of B Shaktivel was also top notch. He perfectly captured the rustic surroundings. Both Anna Ben and Soori did a fantastic job in their respective characters. Anna Ben mostly conveyed the myriad emotions through her body language. Soori on the other hand invoked terror whenever he appears on screen this in spite of the hoarse voice. The one slight flaw of Kottukkaali was the ending which needed more cohesiveness.

Mammootty : An actor who constantly reinvents himself and pushes the barriers of a traditional superstar

Mammootty’s brilliance lies in the fact that even at 72, he has a burning passion to excel and challenge himself as an artiste.

Mammootty has acted in over 400 movies so far, mainly in Malayalam but a few in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, English, and Kannada as well. He left a solid imprint in all the languages.

The actor won three National Awards for Best Actor and nine Kerala State Film Awards. He also has a record of 13 South Filmfare Awards.

It is easy for an actor to get complacent and play safe when you are in the industry as long as Mammootty. But his brilliance lies in the fact that even at 72, he has a burning passion to excel and challenge himself as an artist.

The passion to challenge himself as an artist is visible in the subjects he chooses.

In Peranbu (2018), he played a father to a daughter suffering from cerebral Palsy. The character goes through many emotions and there are times when Mammootty’s Amudhvan comes across as helpless and very much vulnerable.

On the other hand, in the film Puzhu (2022), he played a caste bigot and a single father with an overbearing nature. The way he treated his son is similar to how he would handle a criminal.

Both these characters are as different as chalk and cheese in terms of how they are written. Mammootty excelled in bringing them to life.

Mammootty as a cop

Mammootty in ‘Kannur Squad’. (X)

Then there are the cop characters like the ones in Unda (2017) and Kannur Squad (2023).

In Unda, Mammootty was seen as SI Manikandan. He leads a group of freshly trained policemen on election duty in a Maoist area. Though Mammootty plays the primary character, there is nothing invincible about him. Mammootty blends with the surroundings and never overpowers the story. Manikandan is a man who is both scared and vulnerable, but there is also a strong inner strength. Mammootty brings these aspects with his trademark gravitas.

The actor also cracks you up on many occasions with his subtle humour.

In Roby Varghese’s directorial Kannur Squad, Mammootty played an ASI leading a special investigative team.

The role of ASI George is not a big stretch for Mammootty but the actor shines bright as the determined squad leader.

He also had some delightful massy moments, including an action stretch in the dark. The physical agility of Mammootty in the mass sequences is praiseworthy.

Many facets of the Malayalam Superstar

Mammootty in ‘Bramayugam’. (X)

In Kaathal-The Core, the Malayalam Superstar plays a homosexual who has not made peace with his sexuality yet.

Mammootty deserves all the accolades for not just accepting this bold role but also doing a brilliant job of portraying the different emotions.

The actor particularly shines in a heartbreaking conversation with his father Devassy played by RS Panicker.

In the 2023 flick Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam, Mammootty plays a Malayali man James who starts behaving like a Tamilian farmer named Sundaram upon entering an unknown village. There are many quirks to the role.

In the hands of a lesser actor, the whimsicalness of the entire scenario would have fallen flat. But Mammootty, the legendary actor that he is, transforms James into Sundaram and back to James smoothly.

Rorschach (2022), directed by Nissam Basheer is another film which shows a different facet of Mammootty.

In the movie, he plays the role of a mysterious stranger Luke Anthony. He is a man with secrets and has a mission to accomplish.

Director Basheer did a brilliant job of exploring the psyche of a man whose thirst for vengeance is not fulfilled even after the enemy dies.

Mammootty magnificently embodied Luke Anthony’s endless appetite for revenge.

Bramayugam, directed by Rahul Sadhasivan, showcases another shade of Mammootty’s on-screen villainy.

In the beginning portions, his character Kodumon Potti appears to be a benevolent man. But, as the story progresses, his actual personality is revealed.

Mammootty terrified the viewers with just his body language. It was clear that he had a blast in portraying the wickedness.

Other language films

Mammootty in ‘Swathi Kiranam’. (X)

Regarding the other language films, late K Vishwanath’s directorial Swathi Kiranam (1992) is widely considered one of Mammootty’s best films in Telugu and his overall career and rightly so.

What added to Swathi Kiranam’s brilliance,  apart from the gripping narration, was Mammootty’s stellar act as an egoistic musician.

The actor conveyed the feelings of jealousy, remorse etc in a very impactful manner. Swathi Kiranam introduced Mammootty’s brilliance to the Telugu audiences much before the Yatra films (2019 and 2024).

In Tamil, Thalapathi (1991) is a significant film in the actor’s filmography. Acclaimed director Mani Ratnam pulled off a huge casting coup by casting Rajinikanth and Mammootty together.

Rajinikanth played a character modelled on Karna from Mahabharata in this contemporary take. Mammootty, on the other hand, was the modern Duryodhana.

In spite of Rajinikanth’s star power in the Tamil industry, Mammootty dazzled the viewers with his fabulous act. It is hard to take your eyes off the screen whenever the actor appears.

Mammootty also made a huge impact on the international shores with the English and Hindi bilingual Dr Bahasaheb Ambedkar (2000).

He got into the skin of one of the most revered personalities of Indian history with utmost ease. He skillfully portrayed the tenacity of Dr Bahasaheb Ambedkar while at the same time showcasing his vulnerabilities.

This is just a small appreciation of Mammootty’s recent roles. The list is by no means exhaustive given his long journey in films.

Here’s hoping this legendary actor continues enthraling the viewers with many more varied roles.

My Short Take on Bramayugam

Yesterday watched a Malayalam movie Bramayugam on Sonyliv directed by Rahul Sadhasivan. Without giving much away Bramayugam is set in 17th century of Kerala. A Dalit singer Thevan (Arjun Ashokan) loses his way in the forest and ends up finding a dilapidated mansion where only two men stay Kodumon Poti (Mammootty) and the cook played by Sidharth Bharathan. Keeping in the tradition of the horror movie genre this is a mansion with many secrets. Initially Thevan’s stay is pleasant but things start going tipsy turvy soon.

One of the aspects that I liked about Bramayugam was how Rahul Sadhasivan mixed elements of folklore and religion. The movie also gets into a political zone about dialogues regarding oppression of lower caste and how the desire for power corrupts anyone whether you are rich or poor.

Technically Bramayugam is a solid product. The cinematography and sound design in particular deserve praise. Shehnad Jalal’s black and white cinematography is a treat to watch and the sound design enhances the horror.

Lastly the performances are also fine. Mammootty has shown the passion to constantly reinvent himself and Bramayugam is another fine example of that. The actor chews the scenery and terrifies the viewers with just his body language. Arjun Ashokan and Siddharth Bharatan are also fine in their respective parts.

A major problem with the movie are its post interval portions after the big reveal. The screenplay starts stagnating without much to look forward to. Rahul Sadhasivan’s Bhoothakaalam kept the viewers thoroughly engaged till the end but this doesn’t. Another issue with the film are the logical loopholes particularly regarding the character of the cook. This cook uses Thevan for his own purpose. Why he waits for such a long time is not clear.

Also we are shown that Kodumon Poti is someone who knows everything but when it comes to the cook’s background Kodumon Poti is shown to be surprised when his lineage is revealed. At the beginning of the film we have a Yakshi played by Amalda Liz but her purpose of seducing and killing men is an absolute blur

To sum it up Bramayugam has some strong points but it leaves it with you more questions than answers.

Yatra2: A Treat For Fans Of YSRCP And Jagan Mohan Reddy

Mammotty is his usual charismatic self in an extended special appearance. Tamil actor Jeeva slips into the role of Jagan Mohan Reddy with no hiccups
  • Rating: 3
  • Starcast: Jiiva Mammootty, Subhalekha Sudhakar, Suzanne Bernet, Ashrita Vemuganti, Mahesh Manjrekar and others
  • Director and writer: Mahi V Raghav
  • Music: Santhosh Narayan
  • Producer: Shiva Meka
  • Production Companies: Three Autumn leaves and Vcelluloid Official
  • Published in: Primepost

Mahi V Raghav’s Yatra 2 is the latest addition to the ever-growing list of political propaganda films. The agenda is very straightforward, the viewers should sympathize with what Jagan went through after his father’s demise. In simple terms the story focuses on how Jagan not only established a new political party but also rose to become the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh. The two main adversaries are Chandra Babu Naidu (Mahesh Manjerakar) and Sonia Gandhi (Suzzane Bernard). For some strange reason the Congress has been named as Progress Party.

Keeping aside the predictable nature of the story there is no denying that Mahi V Raghav has created some powerful moments. Mahi V Raghav has also penned the dialogues for the film and they are definitely impactful. For example, there is a scene where Jagan (Jeeva) says that ‘the world may not recognize who I am but remember one thing I am the son of YS Rajasekhar Reddy.’ There is another important scene where Subhalekha Sudhakar’s character says ‘if we take a cat to a jungle, it will remain a cat, on the other hand even if you keep a Tiger in a cage it will continue to be a Tiger.’ Another dialogue which deserves a mention is ‘I don’t care if history will remember me or not but if it remembers me, I should go down as a son who did not sidestep the promise given to his father.’ Expectedly all these dialogues led to cheers in the cinema hall.

More than the political aspect what works for the film is the emotional drama. The various upheavals keep the viewers invested in spite of knowing where the film is heading. A special mention must be made of the portions where Jagan has to revive himself amidst the tactics of Chandra Babu Naidu

Jeeva Nails the role of Jagan with absolute precision starting from the body language. He does a wonderful job in portraying the different facets.  Whether it is the head strongness or the fragility.  Unlike the first part Mammotty’s role is more of an extended special appearance but still the legendary actor leaves a strong imprint in all his scenes. Another actor who stands out is Ashrita as Jagan’s mom. The actress plays her part with lot of warmth. The scenes between her and Jagan are one of the major highlights of the film. However here it has to be added that there is not even a single mention of Sharmila, let alone her character and this aspect comes across as very odd.

Mahesh Manjerakar as the conniving politician is more of a caricature but still, he is fine with what he does. However, Suzzane Bernard gets a very raw deal. Appearance wise she has an uncanny resemblance to Sonia which makes her a good fit. But the heavily accented Telugu comes across as jarring coupled with the characterization. There is a scene involving Jagan and her post the demise of YSR. Jagan is seen visiting many houses and consoling families who have lost fathers and other important members. Apparently, all these had died in the shock of losing YSR. Sonia Gandhi strictly tells Jagan to stop the Yatra. The impression that we get is of Sonia Gandhi being a cold-hearted lady.

Music composer Santhosh Narayan has delivered a rousing score. The songs uplift the drama at many places. The best example of that is the song ‘Choodu Nanna.’

This Yatra is worth taking particularly if you are a supporter of YSRCP or Jagan. Even if you aren’t a fan, the movie can be watched for the dialogues and the acting performances.

Some Of The Best Malayalam And Tamil Films in 2023

The year of Mammootty

2023 can be easily called as the year of Mammootty both critically and commercially. The legendary actor had three releases this year and all of them are so distinct from each other. The Malayalam film industry did not see a lot of commercial successes this year but for Mammootty, who is 70 now, 2023 will always be hugely memorable.

It all began with Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam (Like an Afternoon dream). The film belongs to the genre of surrealism where a Malayali man enters into a Tamil village and starts behaving like a Tamilian. Though it looked absurd on the surface the audiences thoroughly enjoyed these unexplained situations. This is majorly thanks to Lijo Jose Pollissery’s direction coupled with Mammootty’s performance.

Next up was the police procedural Kannur Squad. The film was based on a real-life accident where a bunch of police officers had to head north in order to catch and bring back some criminals. More than the story what made the film gripping was the direction of Roby Varghese Raj and also the star power of Mammootty. The actor had some powerful mass dialogues coupled with well choreographed action sequences. However, Mammootty saved the best for the year end with Jeo Baby’s marital drama Kaathal – The Core. The homosexual angle was dealt with utmost sensitivity without falling into the trap of mainstream clichés. Jeo Baby also did a brilliant job in exploring the predicament of Jyothika’s character.

Among the other Malayalam actors Tovino Thomas found both critical acclaim and commercial success with the film 2018. It was a survival drama based on the Kerala floods that had devastated the state in 2018. The film had an ensemble cast with everyone doing justice to their parts.

Regarding Tamil Film Industry Siddharth struck gold with his production ChithhaChithha is a hard-hitting drama about the bond between Eeswaran (Siddarth) and his niece Sundari (Sahasra Sree). While Eeswaran is like a father figure to Sundari, he absolutely adores her. The backdrop of Chithha is the killings of young girls by a pedophilic serial killer. Chithha is not a movie that is easy on the eyes, it has some highly disturbing visuals but this film is a must watch particularly for those who like intense dramas based on an important social topic.

Now let’s take a deep dive into the best of Malayalam and Tamil in 2023

Malayalam

1 Kaathal – The Core

In the last few years many movies and web series have depicted homosexuality in different angles. What makes this Mammootty and Jyothika starrer refreshing is the utmost humanness with which Jeo Baby presented the situation. The life of Mathew Devassy (Mammootty) takes a drastic turn when his wife Omana (Jyothika) files divorce after twenty years of marriage.

Kaathal – The Core unfolds in a very leisurely manner. This is a movie that needs to be watched with some patience as the story takes time to kick in. But once the plot and the conflicts are established there is no looking back.

A very strong aspect of Kaathal – The Core is how Jeo Baby has dealt with the relationship of Mathew and Omana. Omana has no personal animosity towards Mathew despite not having a fulfilling relationship with him. She understands his sexual orientation and not only wants to have a life of her own but also wants Mathew to make peace with his sexuality. There is an inherent decency in the way both the characters have been written and that is what makes this marital drama refreshing.

The courtroom portions also have some impactful dialogues and scenes. Mammootty undoubtedly deserves all the accolades that came his way. It is not just about accepting a path breaking role but the veteran actor also did a brilliant job in showcasing different emotions. Jyothika also stood tall with her graceful performance. On many occasions she lets her subtle expressions do the talking. Another actor worth mentioning here is R.S Panicker as Mathews’s dad Devassy.  There is a heartbreaking scene between him and Mammootty when the latter apologises for forcing his son to get married in spite of knowing his son’s feelings.

2. Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam

In this film Mammootty played a man called James returning with his family from a pilgrimage. He has a peevish personality in terms of easily getting irritated and always being doubtful about people even if they do some good to him. On the way back from the pilgrimage James tells the driver to stop the vehicle at a certain place when others are in deep sleep. He walks straight into a Tamil Village and starts behaving like a Tamilian man called Sundaram. Everyone is puzzled but they wait patiently to understand who the man is because he was behaving exactly like the missing Sundaram. This leads to many amusing situations with both his old and new families.

Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam is one of those films where audiences can interpret the story in different ways because director Lijo Jose Pellissery does not give any explanation for the behavior of James. There is no particular medical condition that you can pin point and as a result the audiences are constantly playing a guessing game. This is a major plus for the film.

Cinematographer Theni Eshwar also did a brilliant job in capturing the beauty and the quirks of the village through his lens. There is surrealness to the frames. What also made the transformation of James into Sundaram a smooth process was Mammootty’s incredible performance.

3. Kannur Squad

Roby Varghese Raj’s Kannur Squad is a solid police procedural that engages the viewers in spite of some generic mainstream elements. The film is based on the real-life incidents that happened in Kannur between 2007 and 2013.

Roby Varghese struck a perfect balance between the commercial tropes and the grittiness needed for the subject. Mammootty in this film is ASI George who leads a special investigative team.

Kannur Squad takes a little time to get going but gathers momentum soon when the plot moves into a thriller mode. What also works for the Kannur Squad are the back stories of the team members. They have been well written and add a certain weight. An interesting aspect of Kannur Squad is that one of the officers is facing serious corruption charges but is still on the investigative team. Certain rifts happen in the team at a crucial juncture because of this.

A particular stretch that has to be mentioned here is the one involving the Tikri village in U.P. The action sequences in the dark were brilliantly shot.  As viewers there is a certain tension that we feel about the safety of these police officers.

The role of a police officer is not new for Mammootty but the veteran actor shined bright as the determined squad leader. There are some delightful massy moments also involving Mammootty which the actor pulled off with great panache.

4. 2018

Jude Anthany Joseph’s 2018 is a well-made survival drama that engrosses the viewers throughout. The film is set in the village of Aruvikkulam. The first half an hour is devoted to establishing the lives of the villagers. Tovino Thomas plays a former army soldier. He drops out of army as he feared death. Among the other cast members there is Lal and Narain (Mathachan and Winston) respectively. They make a living through fishing.

For a survival drama like this it is imperative that the technical department puts its best foot forward. Thankfully the atmospherics of 2018 are solid. The VFX team in particular deserves appreciation as they successfully created a chilling atmosphere. Cinematographer Akhil George’s work is also A class.

Apart from extracting solid performances Jude Anthany Joseph also did a wonderful job in showing the unity between villagers in times of crisis across caste, religion and politics.  

One area where 2018 could have been better is showcasing the role of the government and the media during those tough times. While the performances were brilliant all round Tovino Thomas deserves a particular mention for how he portrayed the different shades. His character transitions from fearing death to becoming a brave man who fights against all odds.

5. Thuramukham

Rajeev Ravi’s Thuramukham is a hard-hitting tale of the workers movement in Kochi. The film is based on the real-life incidents that happened in Mattancherry area. Apart from the exploitation of the workers Rajeev Ravi also showed how the headmen and the bosses pit the poor against each other.

What makes Thuramukham even more compelling is how the director integrated a family drama into this narrative. Mymood (Joju George) is a worker who is forced to leave Mattancherry because he raised his voice against the work site supervisor ‘moopan’. Moopans are part of a nexus that ensure the ‘Chappa system’ prevailing in the harbor. As a result of his leaving his wife Umma is forced to bring up their three children on her own. While the elder son Moidu becomes the leader of a gang working for the cruel contractors, the second son Hamsa joins the union fighting against the Chappa system.

In spite of the lengthy running time and the leisurely pace Thuramukham is a must watch for how Rajeev Ravi has documented the struggles of poor and oppressed in the format of a commercial pot boiler. He brings to life an important chapter in history that is forgotten. The cinematography and the music are in perfect sync with the rustic nature of the film. The director has done a good job in capturing the spirit of those who fought for labour rights.

The performance of the actors across the board also adds a lot of power with specific mention to Nivin Pauly and Poorna Indrajith.

Now to the best of Tamil films in 2023

1. Chithha (Uncle)

S.U. Arun Kumar’s Chithha is a powerful film on many levels. On one hand it is a solid emotional drama about a strong bond between a doting uncle Eeswaran and his niece Sundari (Sahasra Shree). S.U Arun does not waste any time in establishing how Eeswaran is a father like figure to Sundari. He bathes her and also combs her hair. On the other hand the film also offers a fresh perspective on how to help a sexual assault victim. It is not just only getting angry and swearing to take revenge.

The film also touches upon how men and women react differently to a crisis and what kind of approach they adopt. Nimisha Sajayan plays Sakthi. She and Eeswaran had a misunderstanding in the past but in the present they end up falling in love all over again. Their romance has some fine moments of tenderness that acts as a soothing balm to this otherwise grim story. However, Nimisha’s role is not pertained to just being a love interest. There are scenes where she asks some important questions and nudges Eeswaran to not get swept away in his aggressiveness. Chithha is for most part is a disturbing yet gripping watch but there are some scenes which needed trimming. These portions include the scenes of Sundari and the kidnapper. The very thought of a little girl being held captive by a serial rapist is hair-raising thought in itself.

2. Farhana

Farhana headlined by Aishwarya Rajesh and directed by Nelson Venkatesan is a gripping thriller about human psyche. In Farhana Aishwarya Rajesh played a middle-class housewife who joins a bank call center. Her husband and father in law run a shoe shop but the money isn’t sufficient for Farhana to manage the household. Farhana is initially reluctant to go for the interview but she gets through the exam with distinction marks.

In order to earn more money she shifts from the bank call center to a friendship chat center. Initially the lewd talks from the male callers disturb Farhana but soon she comes across a caller who talks to her in a sympathetic and sweet manner. She feels overwhelmed as she is not used to this kind of affection. But soon the story takes a dark turn.

A big strength of Farhana is how the title character has been written and performed. Farhana starts off as shy and under-confident but soon the character undergoes many changes and Aishwarya Rajesh did a brilliant job in showcasing the various nuances. The thriller elements were also very well done. The backdrop of this mystery man and how he ends up being a tormentor has some chilling moments. Similarly, how Farhana uses technology to get even with her tormentor gives a lot of high. In the second half the screenplay does become loose with some unconvincing scenes involving the husband but there is no denying that this thriller/drama packed a huge punch.

3. Por Thozhil (The Art of War)

Por Thozhil is a gripping whodunnit about two policemen whose working methods are very different from each other. On one hand there is Prakash (Ashok Selvan) who is heavily bookish. His way of doing an investigation is majorly inspired from the crime novels that he has read. Loganathan (R. Sarathkumar) is blunt and has little patience for the bookish ways of Prakash. Naturally they do not get along well but during the course of an investigation they end up forming a bond while coming across some shocking revelations.

In most psycho thrillers the theme of a disturbed childhood plays a key role. This one also touches upon a similar theme but the gripping execution of Vignesh Raja makes sure that the audiences don’t feel a sense of de javu.

Late Sarath Babu’s role is a major highlight of Por Thozhil. His character has been well designed and the actor has done a terrific job in evoking fear. As far as the two main policemen are concerned both R. Sarathkumar and Ashok Selvan have done a wonderful job. Jakes Bejoy’s background score coupled with Kaliselvan’s cinematography elevate the drama further.

Agent: A Moderately Engaging Spy Thriller That Needs More Sharpness

The biggest takeaway is the impressive makeover of Akhil. His scenes with Mammootty are easily the best part of the film.

Surender Reddy fails to deliver an entertainer!
Agent (Telugu)
  • Cast: Akhil Akkineni, Mammootty, Sakshi Vaidya, Dino Morea, Sampath Raj, and Denzil Smith
  • Director: Surender Reddy
  • Producer:Anil Sunkara and Sunkara Ramabrahmam
  • Music Director: Hiphop Tamizha
  • RunTime 2 hours 36 minutes

Surender Reddy’s Agent, starring Akhil Akkineni, is closer to the space of Shah Rukh Khan’s recently-released Pathaan. The antagonist (Dino Morea)’s character in Agent is pretty similar to that of the one (John Abraham) in the Shah Rukh-starrer.

There is no denying that Akhil’s latest outing is a lavish film. There is plenty of style in how the actor has been presented along with the action set pieces.

But the movie doesn’t quite turn out to be the popcorn entertainer that it ideally should have been.

The main reason for that is the meandering screenplay. It also doesn’t help that the songs coupled with the romantic angle turn out to be major speed breakers.

Synopsis

P Ramakrishna aka Ricky (Akhil) is a hyperactive youngster with dreams of becoming a spy. However, he is rejected three times by the RAW. So, he decides to hack the system of the RAW chief Mahadev aka The Devil (Mammootty) to get noticed by him.

After some persuasion, Mahadev gives Ricky an assignment (anybody else would have thrown him out though). He also appoints him on a mission to find out what “God” (Dino Morea) is up to (God has some big plans to destroy India).

The rest of the story is about who “God” is and why he has turned into a villain. And more importantly, would Ricky succeed in his ambitions?

Akhil finally sheds his inhibitions

First and foremost, Surender Reddy deserves appreciation for presenting Akhil differently. There is certain unpredictability to Ricky in how he goes about things.

Akhil delivers his most uninhibited performance so far. There is also nimbleness to his dance moves.

Two scenes deserve a mention here – one is when he interacts with Minister Jayadev (Sampath Raj) and the other is the fight sequence before the interval. Akhil is too good in both of these sequences.

Mammootty’s Mahadev is a more serious character in comparison. This contrast works well for the scenes where they are together.

There is certain ruthlessness to Mahadev which Mammootty pulls off with his signature gravitas. In fact, at one point, audiences even feel he left Ricky to his fate in a dangerous situation.

Dino Morea as the villain gets a powerful presence, but his backstory does not have the emotional resonance of John Abraham in Pathaan. Nevertheless, the actor does make for a striking antagonist.

The supporting cast features the usual suspects comprising Sampath Raj and Murali Sharma. But none of them have anything worthwhile to do. They only increase the runtime of the film.

The drawbacks

As earlier said, Agent has a rich look. The action scenes have been designed well. Some of the action blocks are quite power packed.

For example, there is an intense chase sequence in Kashmir where Akhil is on the run.

One major disappointment with Agent is how the romantic track has been integrated into the storyline.

Sakshi Vaidhya plays an aspiring pilot and there is no place for love in her life. But later, she falls for Ricky. Her character could have been so much more, but Surender Reddy reduces her to a single-tone character as the film progresses.

The songs composed by Hiphop Tamizha are also a major downer despite Akhil’s graceful dance moves. The songs come in situations when the story least requires them.

Another problem with Agent is the backstory of Dino Morea. His reasons for going rogue aren’t one bit convincing. As a result, the audience doesn’t feel any sympathy for him when he bursts out in anger regarding Mahadev to Ricky.

Final take

Overall, Akhil Akkineni makes for a striking Agent but Surender Reddy fails to deliver a big-pole entertainer.

Some Of The Best Films From Our Neighbours

An overview into the best films that have come from Malayalam and Tamil film industry in the year 2022

Year Ender (Malayalam and Tamil Films)

This article is about some of my favorite Malayalam and Tamil Films that I have seen this year. There has been a big boom of Tamil and Malayalam films in the last few years thanks to the various OTT platforms. This year has also seen some wonderful films from both the industries particularly Malayalam.

First up are the Malayalam films.

1 and 2 Puzhu and Malayankunju: Both these movies are a stinging critique of two upper class men struggling to come to terms with today’s changing world. Puzhu is a gripping psychological study of a police officer called Kuttan (LegendaryactorMamooty). Kuttan is a widower who stays with his son Kichu in a posh apartment. He is an unlikeable character in many ways. He has an overbearing nature that suffocates his son.

Kuttan also suffers from a paranoia that someone is trying to kill him. This paranoia gets further accentuated with the arrival of his sister and her husband. Parvathy plays Kuttan’s sister Bharati. Kuttan has a problematic equation with Bharati as her husband comes from a lower caste.

The biggest strength of Puzhu lies in how the director handled the complex character of Kuttan. He doesn’t waste any time in establishing how unlikeable Kuttan is. There are no redeeming qualities thrust upon Mamooty’s Kuttanfor the sakeof it.

At the same time Kuttan also has his vulnerable moments. The best examples of these moments are the scenes where the father tries to reconnect with his son Kichu and when the son starts openly rebelling against the father.  There are also some much needed lighter bits when Mamooty keeps visiting a suspect whenever he escapes an attempt on his life.

With Puzhu Mamooty showed once again why he is considered as a legend. He generates hatred with the mere twitch of his eyes. It wouldn’t be wrong to say Mamooty lived the role of Kuttan.

FahadhFaasil’sMalayankunju looked at caste through the lens of a survival drama. In this film Fahadh played an electrician Anikuttan. He has a severe dislike for anyone who comes from the lower caste community. The reason for this attitude is connected to his father’s suicide.  In fact even an infant cry disturbs him.

Things take a turn for the bad when monsoon strikes followed by heavy rains. A landslide occurs and Anikuttan gets trapped.

The most interesting aspect of Malayankunju is how the director juxtaposed the aspects of Anikuttan fighting for survival along with that of the crying infant. In fact the cry that disturbs Anikuttan the most becomes a source of strength in those dire circumstances.

Malayankunju is a film that expertly balances the thrills of a survival drama along with the positive changes that happen in our protagonist.

The technical department led by Jothish Shankar and Mahesh Narayan is truly a marvel. The production design coupled with the cinematography play a major part in the audiences being engaged.

FahadhFaasil is someone who has always chosen complex parts and Malayankunju is no different. He effortlessly dwelled into the psyche of Anilkuttan and makes you root for him.

3.Bhootakalam: Rahul Srinivasan’s Bhootakalam has the typical tropes of a horror film. The creaking of the door, the dark atmosphere etc. However Bhootakalam is much more than just a film with jump scares.

The director uses the horror angle to talk about mental health and a flawed education system among other things. There is a clinically depressed mother Asha played by Revathy. She has a troubled equation with her son Vinu (Shane Nigam). Asha had raised Vinu all by herself after the death of his father when Vinu was seven years old. Asha cannot bear to see her son leaving for an outstation job. This naturally leads to many tussles between the mother and son. Both of them live in urban Kerala.

The major area where Bhootakalam scores is the way the director gradually builds up the tension. It is not that there is no love between the mother and son; however both of them are haunted by a troubled past that has only escalated further.

There is a lot of inner resentment and bitterness that has grown over the years. All this comes out in the form of arguments that feel so real. Another noteworthy character in Bhootakalam is the grandmother. This grandmother appears for a brief part but her presence can be felt throughout.

Both Revathy and Shane live their parts, particularly Revathy. The senior actress does a solid job in conveying the misery of a woman who has led a compromised life all throughout and now all those compromises are affecting her child. There is an important scene where she implores her son not to repeat her mistakes.

4. PadaPada directed by Kamal KM is a gripping hostage drama based on a real life incident. The incident had taken place in 1966 but the issue is relevant even today.

Four men played by Joju George, DileeshPothan etc hold a collector hostage for over 10 hours. Their aim is to make government withdraw the new bill that will alienate adivasis from their rights. So these people lock themselves in with the collector and start negotiating with the chief secretary played by Prakash Raj. It goes without saying that they have some ammunition also with them.

The biggest strength of Pada is the drama that unfolds as the hostage drama progresses. Through the character of the collector the director makes some important points. He perfectly conveys the difficulties of those who want to help the adivasis even within the administration. This comes out well in a scene where the collector talks about how he had helped the tribals in a land issue. But the four are quick to add that he was not able to finish the program successfully. At 125 minutes Pada is a crisply narrated tale. The performances of all the actors were in perfect sync with each other.

5. Salute: Films about the inner workings of the police department aren’t particularly new. But Salute directed by Roshan Mathews is worth a watch because of the tight script and Dulqer Salman’s performance.

The plot of Salute revolves around a family of police officers. Dulqer Salman plays sub inspector Aravind. His biggest inspiration is his elder brother Ajay played by Manoj. But things take a turn when an innocent auto driver Murali is falsely implicated in a double murder case by Manoj. The upcoming elections complicate matters for Murali. At the beginning of the film, it is shown that Aravind has taken leave; however, he soon decides to fight for Murali which makes them stand on opposite sides.

Salute works best when the focus is on the brothers. Both of them are constantly trying to outdo each other. What makes this more interesting is the fact that they are living under the same roof.

The film moves at a slow pace which is intentional and in this case apt. Another major strength of Salute is how Aravind is never shown to be invincible. He is as vulnerable as anyone else.

There are only two areas where the film stumbled. One is the last stretch and the other is the casting of Diana Penty. The film could have done away with the obligatory romantic track.

1.SaaniKaayidham: The story of SaaniKaayidham is basically influenced by Shekhar Kapoor’s Bandit Queen and also Quentin Tarantino’s films. Caste and violence on women is taken from the first; the revenge saga is reminiscent of the violence shown in Quentin Tarantino’s films. The violence is gruesome with multiple scenes of the villains being stabbed and tortured.

However, SaaniKaayidham is still an important watch on several counts. First and foremost are the performances of Keerthy Suresh and Selvaraghavan. They play half siblings who faced trauma beyond measure due to an unjust tragic event. Arun Matheswaran’s direction is more sure footed when he focuses on the dynamics between these two.

In the beginning there is a strained relation between them but once they get together the dynamics slowly change. There is an undercurrent of emotions that come to surface. This entire process was well depicted by the director.

The film also addresses the pertinent topic of how it is always the woman who becomes the soft target when the fight is between men. Though Poni (Keerthy Suresh) works in the police department it doesn’t stop the upper caste men from raping her. Their ‘justification’ for that is her husband challenged them. SaaniKaayidham is both engaging and problematic in equal measures.

2. O2: O2 directed by GK Viknesh is not just your regular thriller/drama set in a single location. O2 is a film which is above all a strong cautionary tale for humankind. In this film the director smartly juxtaposed the concept of two maternal mothers. One being Mother Nature and the other Nayanthara who plays a widowed mother Parvathy.

The film’s theme is clear from the opening scene itself where the chicks are being killed due to deforestation by human beings. From here we move to Parvathy’s son Veera. Veera is heavily dependent on oxygen cylinder for breathing. From the beginning the condition of Veera symbolizes the depletion of natural resources. Hope comes in the form of a corrective surgery. Parvathy decides to go ahead with it.

Soon mother and son are on the bus to Kochi. Here they are joined by several other characters like a corrupt cop, an ex- MLA etc. In a horrible turn of events they get trapped within the bus.

Films of this genre need a certain expertise and GK Viknesh proved that he is more than just a capable director. He makes you feel the wrath of nature. Audiences are always on the edge to find out what will happen next. The director is also successful in establishing the parallel between both the maternal figures – The Mother Earth and Parvathy. Parvathy is someone who can be unapologetically selfish, self serving and also violent. Nayanthara portrayed all these shades with the finesse that we have come to expect of her.

There are a couple of loose ends in 02 but the film is largely gripping; it is a thriller that ignites your thinking.

3.KadaisiVivasayi:As the title suggests Kadaisi Vivasayi talks about the last farmer in a village. Real life farmer Nallandi played the role of Mayandi. Unfortunately Nallandi died soon after the release of the film.

Mayandi is a farmer who doesn’t depend on technology or any other technological developments. In fact the youngsters in the village are surprised by the lifestyle that Mayandi leads. The supporting cast comprises several unknown faces.

The only known faces in the film are Vijay Sethupati and Yogesh Babu. Both of them appear in extended cameos.

It takes some time to buy into the world of Mayandi. In fact his simplicity is a little difficult to digest. But thanks to director Manikandan audiences are slowly drawn into his world.

The best thing about Kadaisi is that it never gets into the zone of moral lecturing. Nothing melodramatic happens in the village; still normalcy itself makes it melodramatic and at times scary. The inherent message of Kadaisi is to embrace the farmers with love and not pity.

The rural atmosphere has also been brilliantly captured by the director. Manikandan who also handled the cinematography does a wonderful job in capturing the scenic beauty of the village.

Manikandan’s direction is good but the script could have been better. The addition of Vijay Sethupati and Yogesh Babu doesn’t add much. The director tries to add elements of spirituality through the nomadic character of Vijay Sethupati but it doesn’t add much to the film. The less said about Yogesh Babu the better.

Kadaisi is a film that ultimately belongs to the late Nallandi. His real life experience of being a farmer reflects quite a lot in his performance.

Puzhu: A Gripping Psychological Study

Superstars playing characters with negative shades isn’t very common. Even if that happens an attempt is made at the end to sanitize the character. Generally things take a turn towards the climax. However debutant director Ratneena’s Puzhu is a different beast altogether, there are no redeeming qualities thrust on Mamooty’s character, neither have you got any quick whitewash. For much of the film you experience a combination of fear mixed with revulsion, it is akin to what the son Kichu (Master Vasudev) feels towards Kuttan. Essentially Puzhu is a character study of an unsympathetic guy through the lens of social, political and cultural degradation.

Mamooty plays a police officer called Kuttan. He is a widower who stays in a posh apartment along with his son Kichu. Kuttan has an overbearing nature that suffocates his young son. The son at times wishes his father to be dead; Kuttan starts to feel that someone is trying to kill him. He starts developing paranoia. This paranoia is further accentuated by the arrival of his younger sister Bharati (Parvathy Thiruvothu) who comes to stay in a nearby flat along with her husband who is a theatre artist. The husband name is Kuttappan. Kuttan shares a problematic equation with Bharati. The reason being she had eloped with Kuttappan. Kuttappan comes from a lower caste. This is just the synopsis of Puzhu, can’t reveal anything more since there are many more layers to the story.

Puzhu has many complex layers starting with how the character of Mamooty has been written. Rateena doesn’t waste any time in establishing Kuttan. From early on we understand that Kuttan has deep hatred for those who belong to different communities and castes. You also understand that his parenting skills need a serious change over. It is not just unhealthy but it also borders on child abuse. His handling of the son is akin to the way he would handle a criminal.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/276aSWaJ7gM?feature=oembed However there are certain moments in the film which make you empathize with Kuttan. There are scenes in the film where he tries to connect with his son after Kichu openly rebels against his father. There are also a few occasions where Kuttan draws out laughs. For example there are scenes where he keeps visiting a suspect every time he escapes an attempt on his life. The lighter scenes are few and far in between but they momentarily relieve the otherwise tense ridden drama.

Mamooty is an absolute revelation in his part. The way he generates hatred just through the twitch of his eyes is simply remarkable. The senior actor once again shows why he is considered as one of the legends of Malayalam cinema along with Mohanlal. He captures the various nuances of Kuttan without missing a single beat. Mamooty does all this without going overboard even for one bit.

The characters of Bharati and Kuttappan are mostly side players but they have their share of moments too. Parvathy in particular shines as Kuttan’s warm and still hopeful sister.

Special mention must be made of Master Vasudev as well. He stands his own and manages to not get overshadowed, this in spite of sharing screen space with Mamooty and Parvathy.
The element of theatre also plays an important part here. A comparison is drawn between Kuttan’s situation and an epic play performed by his brother- in law. This angle adds more heft to the film.

Watch Puzhu for the subject matter and also the terrific Mamooty.