Dysfunctional family stories have been a staple in Malayalam films. Many Malayalam filmmakers have a penchant for adding realism to this genre to make their stories relatable and believable. We’ve had Sathyan Anthikad drill out many family-oriented films, but the core of each of his films would be the disagreement and dysfunctionality of it. Sandesham is an excellent example of how a story laced with politics and dysfunctionality would produce an ever-green satire. Apart from this film from the early 1990s, lately, films like Joji and Appan have extensively covered the negative impact of an imbalanced family on its members. Falimy, written and directed by Nithish Sahadev, is about a family who are essentially tired of each other but end up taking a trip together.
Falimy begins with Anu, the dubbing artist, and his mother struggling with the responsibility of running their middle-class home. Anu’s father, Chandran, has...
Falimy begins with Anu, the dubbing artist, and his mother struggling with the responsibility of running their middle-class home. Anu’s father, Chandran, has...
- 12/19/2023
- by Smriti Kannan
- Film Fugitives
Fans of Malayalam cinema are in for a treat as the director of the hit comedy-drama Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela, Althaf Salim, is teaming up with two of the most talented and popular actors in the industry, Fahadh Faasil and Kalyani Priyadarshan, for his next project. The film, titled Odum Kuthira Chadum Kuthira which is said to be a romantic thriller, is expected to hit the screens on July 24, 2024.
The film marks the second collaboration between Althaf Salim and Kalyani Priyadarshan, who made her Malayalam debut with his 2020 film Varane Avashyamund. The actress, who is the daughter of veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan and actress Lissy, has been making waves in the South Indian film industry with her performances in films like Hello1, Chitralahari2, Hero3, and Maanaadu4. She won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut – South and the Siima Award for Best Female Debut – Malayalam for her role in Hello5.
Njandugalude Naatil Oridavela Trailer
Fahadh Faasil,...
The film marks the second collaboration between Althaf Salim and Kalyani Priyadarshan, who made her Malayalam debut with his 2020 film Varane Avashyamund. The actress, who is the daughter of veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan and actress Lissy, has been making waves in the South Indian film industry with her performances in films like Hello1, Chitralahari2, Hero3, and Maanaadu4. She won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut – South and the Siima Award for Best Female Debut – Malayalam for her role in Hello5.
Njandugalude Naatil Oridavela Trailer
Fahadh Faasil,...
- 10/6/2023
- by CineArticles Editorial Team
- https://thecinemanews.online/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_4649
The Malayalam film industry is buzzing with excitement as the news of a new project by the hit combo of Fahadh Faasil and Sathyan Anthikad has been confirmed. The duo, who last worked together in the 2018 blockbuster Njan Prakashan, are set to reunite for a yet-to-be-titled film, which will be produced by R. B Choudhary under the banner of Super Good films.
Fahadh Faasil, who is one of the most versatile and acclaimed actors in Malayalam cinema, has delivered some of his best performances in Sathyan Anthikad’s films. He made his debut with the director in the 2013 family drama Oru Indian Pranayakatha, which was a commercial and critical success. He then collaborated with him again in Njan Prakashan, which was written by Sreenivasan and starred Nikhila Vimal, Sreenivasan and Anju Kurian in supporting roles. The film was a satire on the aspirations and attitudes of the Malayali youth, and...
Fahadh Faasil, who is one of the most versatile and acclaimed actors in Malayalam cinema, has delivered some of his best performances in Sathyan Anthikad’s films. He made his debut with the director in the 2013 family drama Oru Indian Pranayakatha, which was a commercial and critical success. He then collaborated with him again in Njan Prakashan, which was written by Sreenivasan and starred Nikhila Vimal, Sreenivasan and Anju Kurian in supporting roles. The film was a satire on the aspirations and attitudes of the Malayali youth, and...
- 8/27/2023
- by amalprasadappu
- https://thecinemanews.online/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_4649
The upcoming film #Thalapathy68, starring Thalapathy Vijay and directed by Venkat Prabhu, has been making headlines ever since it was officially announced by Ags Entertainment in May 20231. The film, which is slated to be released in 2024, is expected to be a grand entertainer with a stellar star cast and music by Yuvan Shankar Raja.
The latest buzz is that actress Aparna Das, who played an important character in Thalapathy Vijay’s previous film Beast, has been roped in to play the love interest of actor Jai in #Thalapathy68. Jai, who is a close friend of Venkat Prabhu and a regular in his films, will be seen in a pivotal role in the film. Aparna Das confirmed the news on her Twitter handle and expressed her excitement to work with the team.
Thalapathy 68 Teaser
Aparna Das made her debut in Malayalam cinema with the critically acclaimed film Njan Prakashan, directed by Sathyan Anthikad.
The latest buzz is that actress Aparna Das, who played an important character in Thalapathy Vijay’s previous film Beast, has been roped in to play the love interest of actor Jai in #Thalapathy68. Jai, who is a close friend of Venkat Prabhu and a regular in his films, will be seen in a pivotal role in the film. Aparna Das confirmed the news on her Twitter handle and expressed her excitement to work with the team.
Thalapathy 68 Teaser
Aparna Das made her debut in Malayalam cinema with the critically acclaimed film Njan Prakashan, directed by Sathyan Anthikad.
- 8/24/2023
- by amalprasadappu
- https://thecinemanews.online/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_4649
In MemoriamSiddique and his partner Lal were really good with situational humour and made their funniest scenes without stereotyping, at no one's expense.SiddiqueEven though Malayalam filmmaker Siddique, who passed away on August 8, is remembered along with his partner Lal for the films they wrote and directed, the two of them had begun by writing stories that others directed. They contributed to one of the most celebrated films in Malayalam, Manichitrathazhu. They were really good with situational humour and made their funniest scenes without the usual stereotyping, at anyone's expense. Later when they split ways, Siddique continued directing comedies and slipped a few into other languages too. A listicle of his films wouldn't be complete without the early films he and Lal wrote for, and without his later stints in Tamil and Hindi. Pappan Priyappetta Pappan This is the first film Siddique and Lal scripted but it was directed by Sathyan Anthikad.
- 8/10/2023
- by LakshmiP
- The News Minute
NewsSiddique had directed many popular comedies in Malayalam cinema with his friend Lal, like 'Godfather', 'In Harihar Nagar', and 'Ramji Rao Speaking'.Writer and director of many comedies in Malayalam cinema, Siddique, passed away in Kochi on August 8, Tuesday. He suffered a cardiac arrest on Saturday at a hospital in Kochi, where he was admitted since July 10 due to respiratory issues. The 60-year-old filmmaker hailed from Kochi. Like many artistes of his generation, Siddique had begun his career at the mimicry troupe run by Kalabhavan, a prestigious arts centre in Kerala. With Lal, his friend and colleague at Kalabhavan, he forayed into Malayalam cinema in the latter half of the 80s, writing comedies of a new flavour with an element of melancholy in them. If comedies were mostly written as a parallel track in films until then, in Siddque and Lal’s works, they merged with the main storyline,...
- 8/8/2023
- by AzeefaF
- The News Minute
ProfileThat Vineeth, who maintains a soft persona off-screen could go in front of the camera and be the cunning advocate in ‘Mukundan Unni’ or the loud and silly cop in ‘Kurukkan’ shows his tremendous growth as an actor.Five years before Vineeth Sreenivasan first acted in a film, he sang for Priyadarshan’s Kiluchundan Mambazham, in which his father Sreenivasan and Mohanlal, both senior actors known for their comic films together, played men who were in love with the same woman. Vineeth was then a teenager, and the song, ‘Kasavinte Thattamittu’, the title track of the movie, barely got noticed. It was his second film song – ‘Karale’ – for another Mohanlal-Sreenivasan movie Udayananu Tharam that made Vineeth a household name. The song became hugely popular and many found it adorable that Vineeth sang for his dad. These are the stories of the early 2000s. Today, Vineeth is a very versatile actor,...
- 8/7/2023
- by Cris
- The News Minute
Fans of Malayalam cinema are in for a treat as the legendary duo of director Sathyan Anthikad and actor-writer Sreenivasan are set to join hands again for a comedy film.
The two have collaborated on many hit films in the past, such as Nadodikkattu, Pattanapravesham, Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam, and Gandhinagar 2nd Street. Their last film together was Oru Indian Pranayakatha in 2013.
Sreenivasan Sathyan Anthikad Movie
Sathyan Anthikad’s son Anoop has broke this news to the world through Facebook last day.
pic.twitter.com/1MExVG0b68
— Virtualmedia Entertainments (@Virtualmediaon) July 31, 2023
The film will also mark the comeback of Sreenivasan, who has been away from the writing for a while due to health issues.
The film is expected to release in 2024 and will be a treat for the lovers of comedy and nostalgia.
The two have collaborated on many hit films in the past, such as Nadodikkattu, Pattanapravesham, Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam, and Gandhinagar 2nd Street. Their last film together was Oru Indian Pranayakatha in 2013.
Sreenivasan Sathyan Anthikad Movie
Sathyan Anthikad’s son Anoop has broke this news to the world through Facebook last day.
pic.twitter.com/1MExVG0b68
— Virtualmedia Entertainments (@Virtualmediaon) July 31, 2023
The film will also mark the comeback of Sreenivasan, who has been away from the writing for a while due to health issues.
The film is expected to release in 2024 and will be a treat for the lovers of comedy and nostalgia.
- 7/31/2023
- by amalprasadappu
- https://thecinemanews.online/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_4649
Fahadh Faasil is one of the most versatile and acclaimed actors in Malayalam cinema, who has also appeared in a few Tamil and Telugu films. He has won several awards, including a National Film Award, four Kerala State Film Awards, and three Filmfare Awards South. He is known for his diverse and challenging roles, often portraying complex and flawed characters. He has also produced some of his own films under his banner Fahadh Faasil and Friends Pvt Ltd. His latest film, Maamannan, is a Tamil political thriller directed by Vetrimaaran and co-starring Vijay Sethupathi, Aishwarya Rajesh, and Andrea Jeremiah. The film has received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike, and is currently streaming on Netflix. In this article, we rank the top 15 Fahadh Faasil movies of all time, after Maamannan.
15. Oru Indian Pranayakadha (2013) Oru Indian Pranayakadha Trailer
Directed by Sathyan Anthikad, Oru Indian Pranayakadha is a romantic comedy that...
15. Oru Indian Pranayakadha (2013) Oru Indian Pranayakadha Trailer
Directed by Sathyan Anthikad, Oru Indian Pranayakadha is a romantic comedy that...
- 7/30/2023
- by amalprasadappu
- https://thecinemanews.online/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_4649
CinemaNot unlike in real life, mothers in cinema had to either don the cape of an angel or prepare themselves to be demonised, while the wives, daughters, and sisters had to live within the confines of one-dimensional images.For the longest time, Malayalam cinema has put mothers on a pedestal. One of the most iconic scenes in Malayalam celluloid continues to be the climactic shot in Sibi Malayil’s Thaniyavarthanam (1987), featuring a traumatised mother (Kaviyoor Ponnamma) feeding rice laced with poison to her adult son (Mammootty) with a mental illness. These images are juxtaposed with those of a much younger mother feeding her baby, essentially manipulating the audience, and leaving anyone with an iota of compassion struggling to hold back their tears. Not unlike in real life, mothers in cinema simply had no way out — either they don the cape of an angel or prepare themselves to be demonised. Not surprisingly,...
- 7/19/2023
- by LakshmiP
- The News Minute
CinemaNayanthara, whose star power has made her a household name in the southern states, is making her Hindi debut alongside Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan with Atlee’s upcoming movie ‘Jawan’.Nearly 20 years into her acting career, Nayanthara — who has earned the moniker ‘Lady Superstar’ in film industries across the south — is making her Hindi debut alongside Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan with Atlee’s upcoming movie Jawan. The 38-year-old actor, who first appeared in the Malayalam film Manassinakkare with Jayaram in 2003, is no less than a household name in the southern states. The top-rated actor was crowned a ‘superstar’ due to her unrelenting commitment to female-centric films and her ability to single handedly pull audiences to theatres – a huge feat and testimony to her star power. After acting in a handful of Malayalam films, Nayanthara found her big break in Tamil cinema with her role in Chandramukhi (2005), starring superstar Rajinikanth.
- 7/10/2023
- by Balakrishna
- The News Minute
ObituaryDev acted in more than a hundred films including the popular political satire ‘Sandesham’, Mohanlal's award-winning ‘Sadayam’, and Manju Warrier's ‘Ee Puzhayum Kadannu’.Malayalam film and theatre actor CV Dev passed away in Kozhikode in Kerala on Monday, June 26. He was 83 years old. Dev was admitted in the Medical College Hospital for heart-related ailments. He came to cinema from theatre and played character roles in a number of films including the popular political satire Sandesham, Mohanlal's award-winning Sadayam, Manju Warrier's Ee Puzhayum Kadannu, and other memorable films such as Manassinakkare, Urumbukal Urangarilla, and Kadha Thudarunnu. Dev's first film was Yaro Oral, one of the early experimental movies in Malayalam, directed by Vk Pavithran, in 1978. He continued to work in theatre afterwards, even as he went on to act in more than a hundred films. Sandesham, a Sathyan Anthikad movie that Malayalis of all generations still quote from, marked his second coming to cinema.
- 6/27/2023
- by Cris
- The News Minute
For anybody who has grown up on Sathyan Anthikad movies, it is not news that he is known for directing soulful dramas about daily life and relationships. Many of his films are a testament to how drama can be subtle without any theatrics. As an extension of his style of storytelling and filmmaking, his son Akhil Sathyan brings you Pachuvum Athbutha Vilakkum, which loosely translates to Pachu’s magical lamp. The movie is about a man whose change in travel plans brings him unexpected luck. There are elements of love, loss, struggle, determination, and an overall understanding in this film dealt with the utmost care. A wholesome film such as this one takes the viewer on a pleasant journey.
Spoilers Ahead
Pachu’s Life In Mumbai
Prashanth, who is known as Pachu, runs an Ayurvedic store in Mumbai, and it has been a while since it has seen some progress...
Spoilers Ahead
Pachu’s Life In Mumbai
Prashanth, who is known as Pachu, runs an Ayurvedic store in Mumbai, and it has been a while since it has seen some progress...
- 5/30/2023
- by Smriti Kannan
- Film Fugitives
MollywoodIn recent times, many female actors like Navya Nair and Meera Jasmine who disappeared earlier, have begun floating back to films not just to play the big sister or mother, but to make their presence felt.It is somehow a comforting moment when Lalu Alex and Manju Warrier, playing father and daughter in Jo and The Boy, talk about her marriage like it is something she has to do having touched 30 years of age. When the film came out, Manju was 36, not far off her screen age. Still, the scene is comforting because it has for the longest time been the forte of men to keep playing the guy just ripe for marriage decade after decade, while women would have long left the field by 30 or would be cast all too unfairly as mothers and grandmothers of men twice their age. But Manju Warrier, a woman actor in her mid-30s,...
- 5/28/2023
- by Cris
- The News Minute
TributeThe actor and politician, known for his humour on and off screen, died of Covid-19 and cancer-related complications earlier in March.Memories of the morning calls he can no longer make, the many stories he wouldn’t hear anymore, and the absence of the man who would sit in front of his house at Irinjalakuda and invite him in, filled Sathyan Anthikad’s tribute to his old friend and late actor Innocent, who died fighting Covid-19 and cancer-related complication in March. Their friendship and films together are legendary. Sathyan, baring love and admiration for his friend, wrote the long note of remembrance for Mathrubhumi’s Star and Style. “The biggest problem now is that in the morning, after taking a bath, I feel like calling Innocent. Without thinking, I called two or three times and realised with a shudder that there is no Innocent on the other side. It was a habit of years,...
- 5/16/2023
- by Cris
- The News Minute
InterviewIn an interview with Tnm, Akhil Sathyan discusses how he made his mark despite his famous last name, how Fahadh Faasil came to star in ‘Paachuvum’ after the initial plan with Nivin Pauly, and more.The story, Akhil Sathyan was sure, would not be confined to the familiar territories of Kerala. It would spread to Mumbai, to Goa, to the trains along the way. That and his documentary making experience was going to make people look beyond the ‘feel-good’ genre that his first film as a director would be categorised as, he knew. When Paachuvum Albuthavilakkum finally came out after three years of hard work, that’s just what happened – people did look beyond the genre that Akhil’s famous father, filmmaker Sathyan Anthikad, is known for. They saw a well-made film, and a fresh and unique treatment of a not-so-unusual theme. “That is one reason I took it away...
- 5/5/2023
- by Cris
- The News Minute
BooksThe actor who passed away last week, made people laugh on and off screen for decades and had lots to say about Kozhikode, its people, and life.It is difficult to think of Mamukkoya without that famous accent of his. In all his films and the lines he is frequently quoted from, the late actor spoke the Kozhikode Malayalam, where nammal (we) became njammal and nenaku (you) turned into anakku. Thaha Madayi, writing Mamukkoya’s memoirs as told to him, would not have wanted to change a syllable. Reading them days after his death, picturing him with folded legs on a chair and narrating the stories of his life, brings an ache. But the words throw a new light around this man, who lived up to 76 and made people laugh on and off screen for decades. “We must raise our children as artists. There is no communalism in art. A...
- 5/1/2023
- by Cris
- The News Minute
ReviewWith a marked debut, Akhil Sathyan, son of director Sathyan Anthikad, has kept it real, and admirably, no character is a saint in the film. Akhil Sathyan’s first film does not launch with fanfare or loud introductions. Paachuvum Albuthavilakkum sails off quietly with a newspaper hawker on his bike, throwing away dailies across fences, a warm song beginning in the background. It sort of sets the mood on what to expect – a movie that is not going to make a big deal about things. So Fahadh Faasil is on the screen before you can say aha! and the story chugs along like a smooth train ride. It may fall into the safe feel-good genre, but it is quite distinct in its making, letting the characters attach themselves to you, unforced. Akhil Sathyan has made his mark. The film begins in Mumbai, where the clever opening (with the newspaper hawker...
- 4/28/2023
- by Cris
- The News Minute
DeathThe Malayalam actor was 76 years old and was admitted in ICU after he collapsed during a football tournament.Malayalam actor Mamukkoya, best known for his impactful comic performances, passed away on Wednesday, April 26, at a private hospital in Kerala’s Kozhikode. The 76-year-old actor, recognised by his distinct Malabar dialect, collapsed during the inauguration of a football tournament in the district on Monday, and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a hospital in Wandoor, from where he was shifted to the Meitra Hospital in Kozhikode. He reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest followed by a haemorrhage, which led to his passing at about 1.05 pm on Wednesday afternoon. Mamukkoya, who was born in Pallikandi near Kallayi in Kozhikode, began his life as a worker in a timber yard. Theatre was his first love and he worked with amateur drama troupes before making his way into films. He essayed roles...
- 4/26/2023
- by AzeefaF
- The News Minute
FilmsEach era has been witness to new waves in Malayalam cinema. But have themes and storytelling techniques ever been as novel as they are now?Image for representation / Courtesy PxfuelEight years ago, when we were watching Premam in the now-defunct Sri Visakh theatre in Thiruvananthapuram, my mother and my seven-year-old nephew both sat with gloomy faces. The seven-year-old wrapped the end of my shawl around him, choosing to drown his gloom in sleep. His grandmother stayed awake, straining to follow what the younger lot in the audience appeared to enjoy so much. It was not that she did not like the film, but that she could hardly make out what was being told. In the last decade or so, when movies in Malayalam rolled out in all different hues and forms, many things happened. Audiences, who had in the decade before that chose to stick to their television sets and give the theatres a miss,...
- 4/21/2023
- by Cris
- The News Minute
ObituaryInnocent will go down in the history of Malayalam cinema as a stupendously talented actor, who spread unmitigated joy on screen, writes Neelima Menon.The heavily pronounced Irinjalakuda slang, that bashful tilt of his head, the peculiar gesticulations, the fine balance between subtlety and hyperbole, and the unforgettable one-liners delivered with soft precision. What made Innocent one of the most cheering sights in Malayalam cinema is all of these and more. Like most in his legion of stupendously talented supporting actors, Innocent flourished during the late 1980s and 90s, popularly termed as the ‘golden period’ in Malayalam cinema. It was during this period that Innocent, who had already made his debut as an actor and producer a decade earlier, found that his niche lay in initiating Malayalam cinema into the realm of satire. So after 50-60 films in which he played notable as well as forgettable characters, Innocent allied with...
- 3/27/2023
- by LakshmiP
- The News Minute
DeathFrom being slapstick silly and lighthearted to sarcastic, shameless and quirky, there was no type of humour he couldn't pull off.Malayalam actor and politician Innocent passed away at the age of 75 at 10.30 pm on Sunday, March 26, due to Covid-19 related respiratory issues leading to organ failure and cardiac arrest. He might have had top-billing in only a handful of films but his sense of comic timing and razor sharp wit delivered in rib-tickling Thrissurian slang made him a scene-stealer in every film he was part of. He also wore many hats, first as an entrepreneur and later as a politician who fought an electoral battle and was elected as Member of Parliament representing Chalakudy constituency. He also served as the President of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists for many years. Innocent, also a cancer survivor, revelled in narrating funny anecdotes and wrote light-hearted books about his illness. He...
- 3/26/2023
- by Haritha
- The News Minute
MollywoodThe Shaji Kailas era in Malayalam cinema gave leverage to the emergence of the bombast-spouting alpha male heroes on screen. At a time when flawed, sensitive male characters are finding space on the screen, where do his alpha male heroes feature? Neelima MenonThe word is that filmmakers of the older generation from Sibi Malayil, Sathyan Anthikad, and Kamal to Lal Jose, are all struggling to make an impact, with their cinematic graphs showing a decline in the last 10 years. Among them is Shaji Kailas, one of the most successful mainstream filmmakers in Malayalam cinema, who had been in self-imposed exile for a long time since 2013 after his Malayalam film, Ginger (2013), a comedy headlining Jayaram, sank without a trace. Now 9 years later, when Malayalam cinema is chasing newer narratives, milieus, and subverting cliches and stereotypes, Shaji Kailas re-emerged with Kaduva, a story set in the ’90s, headlining an alpha male hero...
- 1/26/2023
- by AjayR
- The News Minute
MollywoodMalayalam cinema showcased some great films and exceptional performances this year. Here is Tnm’s pick of the best Malayalam movies of 2022.CrisYear 2022 was in some ways a comeback year for new films, which could once again be released in theatres after the rules of physical distancing brought in by the Covid-19 pandemic faded away. The piled-up movies of previous years were released one by one, and new ones were made. Original stories were told and actors took on unconventional roles. Here is Tnm’s pick of the best Malayalam movies of the year. Bhoothakaalam -- Bhoothakaalam was not a typical horror film although it could send shivers down your spine for several long minutes. But at its centre is the theme of a mother-son relationship going through a rough patch. The horrors of the house in fact appear to help bring them together. Revathy, after a long time, had...
- 12/31/2022
- by Cris
- The News Minute
MollywoodThe actor was hospitalised in March this year after he suffered a cardiac arrest.Tnm StaffMalayalam actor Sreenivasan is all set to make his Mollywood comeback with the film Kurukkan, directed by debutant Jayalal Divakaran. The film went on floors in Kochi earlier this week. The actor is returning to Malayalam cinema after three years following the 2019 film Love Action Drama. Kurukkan features Vineeth Sreenivasan and Shine Tom Chacko in the lead. Manoj Ramasingh, who is popular for his work in films like Minnaminungu and Money Back Policy, is on board as the script writer. The actor was hospitalised in March this year. As per India Today’s report, he was rushed to the hospital after complaining of chest pain on March 30. He suffered a cardiac arrest, and underwent a bypass surgery after the diagnosis. The report also said that as per another health bulletin released in April, Sreenivasan’s oxygen levels dropped post surgery,...
- 11/8/2022
- by SaradhaU
- The News Minute
ReviewThis is the story of a despicable old man and a cursed son, livened up by some remarkable performances.CrisIf he lovingly called his father Appa, the way central Kerala Malayalis do, the older man would shout back, enthaada naari, Njoonju says. How could he then love his father, his Appan, he asks. Sunny Wayne looks like a lost man playing Njoonju, living a cursed life as the son of the most notorious man in that neighbourhood, Itty. With every single spat and outburst, Alencier Ley Lopez becomes the despicable Appan, formidable even when he is in bed, paralysed beneath the waist. Nearly everyone in the village wants him dead, and as the movie rolls, you can see why. Maju, director of the film, has given life to a breathtakingly original script, co-written with R Jayakumar. This has to be one of the best performances of both Alencier and Sunny,...
- 10/29/2022
- by Cris
- The News Minute
MollywoodWe list some, sadly rather few in number, well-written women characters in grey in Malayalam cinema who stuck to their guns till the end.Neelima MenonBindu Panicker as Seetha in RorschachKanchana’s eyes darken with desire as she stares at her sister-in-law’s karimani (black beads) chain. She hungrily tugs at the chain, describing its artistry at length to her awkward sister-in-law. When she is gifted a sari by her sister-in-law, she is torn between greed and jealousy, eventually succumbing to the latter emotion. Kanchana is an ordinary homemaker with lofty ambitions for material things, which her husband isn’t able to fulfil. At a time when the leading women in cinema were always divided into binaries, i.e., good or bad, Kanchana in Sathyan Anthikad’s Thalayanamanthram (1990) is a startling revelation. At least to begin with, more so because of the sublime nuances actor Urvashi lends to Kanchana. What...
- 10/24/2022
- by LakshmiP
- The News Minute
FlashbackSince the release of Sathyan Anthikad’s ‘Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam’ in 1986, Sreenivasan’s inherent goofiness and Mohanlal’s adorable naiveté have worked together to build an admirable synergy on screen.Neelima MenonThey last shared screen space in T K Rajeev Kumar’s satirical drama Oru Naal Varum (2010), which was also written by Sreenivasan. In the film, Mohanlal played a Vigilance officer who is trying to build a case against a corrupt town planner (Sreenivasan). Much water has flown under the bridge since then, including a spoof film deriding the superstars, with Mohanlal getting the maximum barbs. Though the superstar seemed to have chosen to brush it aside, they also never came together on screen again, much to the disappointment of Malayali cinephiles. But last month, when the duo finally shared a stage after a decade, and Mohanlal planted a kiss on the frail cheeks of Sreenivasan, social media took a collective sigh.
- 9/24/2022
- by LakshmiP
- The News Minute
KollywoodNayanthara is among the handful of reigning women stars in south Indian film industries, and Kollywood in particular, who enjoy the same level of idolatry as high-grossing male stars.Saradha UAmazon Prime VIdeoA striking scene from Netrikann (2021) that depicts the film’s lead Nayanthara delivering a strong punchline against victim-shaming and sexism was perhaps the first of its kind in Tamil cinema. “Why do you care whether she is opting for an abortion, dressed ‘inappropriately’, if she is nude, or whether she is a good or bad person? Regardless of what she does, it’s her life. Just because you think she is wrong, do you get to do whatever you want?” questions Nayanthara, who is fondly known as Lady Superstar. In a light-hearted sequence from Soodhu Kavvum (2013), protagonist Pagalavan (Bobby Simha), shown as an ardent fan of actor Nayanthara, gets in trouble for installing a statue for her. What...
- 6/8/2022
- by SaradhaU
- The News Minute
Review Meera Jasmine and Jayaram play the parents of a teen girl, performed wonderfully by Devika Sanjay.CrisMakal, to jump straight to the point, is the kind of film you can take home and relax with, curled up in bed on a lazy afternoon. It is not going to disturb you, shock you or throw you off your bed. Makal is calm and soothing and almost like a lullaby. It is textbook-sweet but without any cheesiness to gross you out. Sathyan Anthikad, Makal’s director and a veteran of Malayalam cinema, made Achunte Amma 17 years ago, giving you the heartwarming tale of a mother and daughter. Makal is in some ways a grand extension of that, allowing the changes that time has brought to the ways of life, and still being a dear film. Devika Sanjay plays the makal – the daughter – in the film to Meera Jasmine and Jayaram. Mother...
- 4/29/2022
- by Cris
- The News Minute
TributeThe comedy in ‘Manichithrathazhu’, the pathos in ‘Manasinakkare’, the villainy in ‘Malootty’ and the numerous characters she etched out in her long career made her a queen of emotions.CrisBasheer walks whistling by the side of a great big fence that separated jail from jail. He stops mid-tune, hearing a peculiar female voice, asking who is whistling out there. Basheer’s face brightens up at this unexpected company in a jail, a voice in the void left behind by the inmates who were no longer there. She asks his name, he hers. Narayani, says she; beautiful name, says he. Aged 22, says she; beautiful age, says he. In Mathilukal – meaning “fences” – a film made by Adoor Gopalakrishnan based on the writings of Vaikom Muhammed Basheer, this is the only way we know Narayani – as a voice across a fence. Kpac Lalitha, that treasured artist of Malayalam cinema, leads a beautiful love story just by her voice,...
- 2/23/2022
- by Cris
- The News Minute
Mollywood Lalitha’s ability to seamlessly step into the shoes of the character she was playing ensured that she was one of the most sought after supporting actors in Malayalam cinema.Tnm StaffFacebook/ Kpac LalithaKPAC Lalitha, a face that the Malayali audience considered to be their family, is no more. The dearly loved actor appeared in over 550 films, as the sharp-tongued mother, the sassy sister-in-law, the nosey neighbour, the inquisitive wife, and so many other memorable roles that entertained viewers over generations. Her ability to seamlessly step into the shoes of the character she was playing ensured that she was one of the most sought after supporting actors in Malayalam cinema. Born Maheshwari Amma on February 25, 1948, the actor who began her career in theatre and was a member of the Kpac (Kerala People’s Arts Club) group, made her film debut in the 1969 film Koottukudumbam. She went on to win...
- 2/23/2022
- by SaradhaU
- The News Minute
Mollywood Not only is cinema the most accessible form of art, it has also proven to have a profound influence on the public psyche, especially when it comes to shaping perceptions on love and marriage.Neelima MenonThe relationship between popular culture portrayal of social issues and its impact on the society we live in has always been a complex one. But no matter how hard we try, it is impossible to ignore the existence of such a relationship for convenient arguments such as "it's only a film, why take it so seriously!" In this short review, we look at the portrayal of dowry and related domestic violence and its less than desirable representation, rather its status-quo-ist representation in Malayalam cinema through time. In Sathyan Anthikad’s Bhagyadevatha (2009), the hero (Jayaram) decides to get married when he is informed about the prospect of a hefty dowry, ripe enough to help him...
- 6/25/2021
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
DocumentaryThe three-minute micro documentary by Aaron Mathew is narrated by renowned filmmaker Sathyan Anthikad.CrisShooting still from 'The Invisible Humans'An aged woman with bobbed grey hair is looking out the door, a little phone in her hand. A voice, familiar if you are in the habit of watching interviews of filmmakers, narrates a short tale about people with magical skills who once lived here. Three minutes later, the narrator has finished his tale, and the phone held by the old woman begins to ring. With stunning visuals and a touching script, this micro documentary called The Invisible Humans by Aaron Mathew captures the plight of the elderly during the peak days of the Covid-19 pandemic in Kerala. It was August 2020 and the daily cases were steadily on the rise. Aaron watched sadly as his grandparents changed their lifestyle to suit the new normal. Belonging to the vulnerable 65+ age group category,...
- 4/4/2021
- by Cris
- The News Minute
Flix FlashbackWith elections nearing, we revisit Sathyan Anthikad's 1991 comedy about a home that's split over politics, way before family WhatsApp groups did it.Sowmya RajendranScreenshot/YouTubeDiscussing politics is a favourite activity with Malayalis. From tea shops to educational institutions, office spaces and the drawing room, political debate is a way of life in the state. And with Assembly elections just weeks away in Kerala, now is as good a time as any to revisit Sandesham, Sathyan Anthikad's 1991 comedy about a home that's split over politics, way before family WhatsApp groups entered the scene and accomplished it. The film is centered on Raghavan Nair (Thilakan) and his five children — three boys and two girls. While the two sisters (Kpac Lalitha and Maathu), the youngest brother Prashanthan (Rahul Laxman) and mother Bhanu (Kaviyoor Ponnamma) add to the plot, the story is mostly about the neverending quarrel between the two older brothers...
- 3/19/2021
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
MollywoodAkhil, son of veteran filmmaker Sathyan Anthikad, is making his debut with ‘Pachuvum Athbhuthavilakkum’.Digital NativeVeteran filmmaker Sathyan Anthikad’s son Anoop Sathyan made his directorial debut with Varane Avashyamund last year and now his other son, Akhil Sathyan, has announced his directorial debut. Akhil has been working as an associate director to his dad for the past few years and has learned the ropes of the trade, we hear. His debut project is titled Pachuvum Athbhuthavilakkum and features Fahadh Faasil in the lead role. Akhil is also writing the screenplay and editing the film as well. Sethu Mannarkkad is producing the film under the banner Full Moon Cinema. The rest of the technical crew includes Sharan Velayudhan for cinematography, Justin Prabhakaran for music composition, Rajeevan for production designing, and Uthara Menon for designing the costumes. To be shot extensively in Ernakulam and Goa, Pachuvum Athbhuthavilakkum is expected to hit the marquee this year.
- 1/6/2021
- by Cris
- The News Minute
ObituaryShabu was Nivin's personal make-up man and assistant for several years, beginning with the 2012 film ‘Puthiya Theerangal’.Tnm StaffShabu Pulpally with Nivin Pauly / Credit - Amal K JobyActor Nivin Pauly's personal make-up man Shabu Pulpally passed away on Sunday evening, after suffering a fatal fall. He was 37 years old. Shabu has been working with Nivin for several years. Shabu had climbed a tree to hang a Christmas star but lost balance and fell. He died following internal injuries, the Film Employees Federation of India (Fefka) Directors Union posted on Facebook. Although Shabu was immediately taken to a hospital, he could not be saved. Shabu had been working with Nivin Pauly since the time he did the actor’s makeup for the Sathyan Anthikad film Puthiya Theerangal in 2012. He was well-liked in the industry, Fefka Directors Union wrote. പുൽപ്പള്ളി: മലയാള സിനിമയിലെ പ്രശസ...
- 12/21/2020
- by Cris
- The News Minute
Mollywood The film's shooting was stalled due to the pandemic and also after a plagiarism case was filed against the script of the film. Digital NativeSuresh Gopi’s landmark 250th film Ottakomban will soon commence with the shooting going ahead planned. The film’s progress was stalled due to the Covid-19 lockdown in March and it suffered another major blow when a plagiarism case filed by Jinu Abraham. The Judge hearing the matter ordered the makers of Sg 250 to stop all work pertaining to the film unless major changes are made to the script. It may be noted here that the Prithviraj starrer Kaduva is based on the main character Kaduvakunnel Kuruvachan and the court ordered the makers of SG250 to refrain from using it. With the same team retained for Sg 250 and titled Ottakomban, it is clear that it will be a completely different story. Speaking about the lead...
- 12/12/2020
- by Sreedevi
- The News Minute
MollywoodHe debuted in 2000 with Sathyan Anthikad’s 'Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal', playing the son of his actor dad Jayaram.Digital NativeActor Kalidas Jayaram has been very active on his social media page ever since the lockdown had begun. Recently he shared a still from his first film as a child artiste, captioning it ‘Lil creep’. He had started acting as a child, making his debut in Sathyan Anthikad’s film Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal in 2000, in which he played the son of his real life dad and actor Jayaram. Kalidas later acted in Ente Veedu Appuvinteyum, again as Jayaram’s son, winning that year’s National Award for best child artiste. His first movie as an adult is Poomaram, directed by Abrid Shine. The actor who has been active on Instagram had recently shared pictures of his dad Jayaram’s workout. In another post, he wrote about growing vegetables in his garden...
- 9/16/2020
- by Cris
- The News Minute
ControversyActor-producer Dulquer and director Anoop Sathyan clarified that the reference was to an old Malayalam film called 'Pattanapravesham'.Megha KaveriDulquer Salmaan's Varane Avashyamund released a few days ago on Netflix. Though the film was a blockbuster in Kerala and also enjoyed a good run in the Chennai box-office, it has been plagued by controversy ever since its Ott release. First, a woman journalist accused the makers of fat-shaming her by using her photographs without her consent. The controversy died down after Dulquer and the film's director, Anoop Sathyan, apologised to her. However, the film is now being slammed as many Tamil viewers have misinterpreted the naming of a dog in the film as Prabhakaran, as a deliberate attempt to insult the Ltte chief. Dulquer Salmaan, who has also produced the film, clarified that the joke has nothing to do with the Ltte leader but is a reference to a famous...
- 4/27/2020
- by Prajwal
- The News Minute
ControversyActor-producer Dulquer and director Anoop Sathyan clarified that the reference was to an old Malayalam film called 'Pattanapravesham'.Megha KaveriDulquer Salmaan's Varane Avashyamund released a few days ago on Netflix. Though the film was a blockbuster in Kerala and also enjoyed a good run in the Chennai box-office, it has been plagued by controversy ever since its Ott release. First, a woman journalist accused the makers of fat-shaming her by using her photographs without her consent. The controversy died down after Dulquer and the film's director, Anoop Sathyan, apologised to her. However, the film is now being slammed as many Tamil viewers have misinterpreted the naming of a dog in the film as Prabhakaran, as a deliberate attempt to insult the Ltte chief. Dulquer Salmaan, who has also produced the film, clarified that the joke has nothing to do with the Ltte leader but is a reference to a famous...
- 4/27/2020
- by Prajwal
- The News Minute
ObituaryBeginning his career with ‘Ulkaladal’ in 1979, Velayudhan has worked with directors such as Kamal, Sathyan Anthikad, Sibi Malayil, Priyadarshan, Fasil, Lohithadas and others.Tnm StaffRenowned costume designer from the Malayalam film industry, Velayudhan Keezhillam, passed away in Chalakkudy, Kerala, following a cardiac arrest. He was 66. He died in a hospital in Chalakkudy, reports Asianet News. Velayudhan won the state award for best costume design in 1994 for his work in the film Manathe Vellitheru, which starred Shobana and Vineeth in the lead. As an independent musician performing on stage, Shobana appeared in all sorts of fashionable clothes, then unseen in Malayalam cinema. Vineeth too was seen as a suit-wearing, fashionable hero-villain in the film. Velayudhan was also behind the costume design of the iconic film Manichithrathazhu, in which Shobana plays a woman with multiple personality disorder and one of these characters is a Tamil dancer from another era. The role in...
- 4/26/2020
- by Cris
- The News Minute
ObituaryBeginning his career with ‘Ulkaladal’ in 1979, Velayudhan has worked with directors such as Kamal, Sathyan Anthikad, Sibi Malayil, Priyadarshan, Fasil, Lohithadas and others.Tnm StaffRenowned costume designer from the Malayalam film industry, Velayudhan Keezhillam, passed away in Chalakkudy, Kerala, following a cardiac arrest. He was 66. He died in a hospital in Chalakkudy, reports Asianet News. Velayudhan won the state award for best costume design in 1994 for his work in the film Manathe Vellitheru, which starred Shobana and Vineeth in the lead. As an independent musician performing on stage, Shobana appeared in all sorts of fashionable clothes, then unseen in Malayalam cinema. Vineeth too was seen as a suit-wearing, fashionable hero-villain in the film. Velayudhan was also behind the costume design of the iconic film Manichithrathazhu, in which Shobana plays a woman with multiple personality disorder and one of these characters is a Tamil dancer from another era. The role in...
- 4/26/2020
- by Cris
- The News Minute
ObituaryRavi Vallathol made his film debut with 'Swathi Thirunal', directed by the late Lenin Rajendran in 1987.Tnm StaffRavi Vallathol / Picture courtesy - IMDBVeteran Malayalam actor Ravi Vallathol passed away at his house in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. The 67-year-old actor had been unwell for a while and had stopped acting, reports Manorama Online. Ravi Vallathol, known for his serious characters, acted in around 50 films and several television serials in a career that lasted over three decades. He made his film debut in Swathi Thirunal, directed by the late Lenin Rajendran in 1987. Ravi Vallathol has since played versatile characters in movies such as Season, Mathilukal, Kottayam Kunjachan, Godfather, Sargam, Vidheyan, Chathurangam, Naalu Penningal and Idukki Gold. He was also a writer and has written more than 25 short stories. Two of his stories - Devaranjini and Nimanjanam - were adapted into television series. He has also scripted plays. His play Revathirkkoru Pavakutty was...
- 4/25/2020
- by Cris
- The News Minute
ObituaryRavi Vallathol made his film debut with 'Swathi Thirunal', directed by the late Lenin Rajendran in 1987.Tnm StaffRavi Vallathol / Picture courtesy - IMDBVeteran Malayalam actor Ravi Vallathol passed away at his house in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. The 67-year-old actor had been unwell for a while and had stopped acting, reports Manorama Online. Ravi Vallathol, known for his serious characters, acted in around 50 films and several television serials in a career that lasted over three decades. He made his film debut in Swathi Thirunal, directed by the late Lenin Rajendran in 1987. Ravi Vallathol has since played versatile characters in movies such as Season, Mathilukal, Kottayam Kunjachan, Godfather, Sargam, Vidheyan, Chathurangam, Naalu Penningal and Idukki Gold. He was also a writer and has written more than 25 short stories. Two of his stories - Devaranjini and Nimanjanam - were adapted into television series. He has also scripted plays. His play Revathirkkoru Pavakutty was...
- 4/25/2020
- by Cris
- The News Minute
MollywoodThe heartwarming film stars Shobana, Suresh Gopi, Dulquer and Kalyani Priyadarshan.Tnm StaffAnoop Sathyan's blockbuster family drama Varane Avayshyamund is now available for streaming on Netflix. Produced by Dulquer Salmaan, the film stars Shobana, Suresh Gopi, Urvashi and Kalyani Priyadarshan, apart from Dulquer himself. The film revolves around the life of a mother and daughter, with the first being a romantic at heart and the second being a very practical person who doesn't believe in "love" marriage. The heartwarming film is set mostly in Chennai and created a big buzz because it brought back two veteran stars together on screen again. Shobana and Suresh Gopi became an iconic pair after Manichitrathazhu, Fazil's 1993 thriller which became a superhit and was remade in several languages. The two of them played a husband-wife who move to a large mansion believed to be haunted by the ghost of a dancer who was cruelly killed there.
- 4/20/2020
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
MollywoodK V Anand took to his Twitter recently to shower accolades on Fahadh's performance. Digital NativeDigital NativeVeteran cinematographer and filmmaker Kv Anand showered praise on Fahadh Faasil’s performance in the Malayalam film Trance. He took to his twitter recently to shower accolades on Fahadh's performance. He tweeted saying, "Watched #Trance Outstanding performance by #fahadhfaasil -Title card to the End, Perfect Creative amalgamation of cinematography, editing & sound #AnwarRasheed #AmalNeerad @resulp . Stylish @menongautham @PrimeVideoIN #StayHomeSaveLives" Watched #Trance Outstanding performance by #fahadhfaasil -Title card to the End, Perfect Creative amalgamation of cinematography, editing & sound #AnwarRasheed #AmalNeerad @resulp . Stylish @menongautham @PrimeVideoIN #StayHomeSaveLives — anand k v (@anavenkat) April 7, 2020 Trance, scripted by Vadakkan Vincent, was produced and directed by Anwar Rasheed. The film stars Fahadh Faasil and Nazriya Nazim in the lead role which brings together real-life couple Fahadh and Nazriya on the big screen after five years. It also starred popular Tamil director Gautham Vasudev Menon,...
- 4/10/2020
- by Luke
- The News Minute
Flix Flashback In #WatchWithTNM, we write about Mohanlal-Sreenivasan's 'Nadodikattu' and their endearing bumbling friendship. Sowmya RajendranWhen Dasan (Mohanlal) rushes into a fight with a rich man to impress a woman, Vijayan (Sreenivasan) tells him that he's being foolish. But, when the rich man calls Dasan a 'scoundrel', Vijayan immediately deflates the latter's car tyres. They throw insults at each other all day long but at the first hint of trouble, they turn to each other, shouting "Dasa!" and "Vijaya!". Nadodikattu, directed by Sathyan Anthikad, is a story about survival and it should rightfully have been a tear-inducing tragedy. But, that's not how real life plays out -- real life is often about people finding it within themselves to love, laugh, and make the best of their precarious circumstances. The two bumbling friends, Dasan and Vijayan, are just trying to survive and their life, which is a comedy of errors, never...
- 4/10/2020
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
ReviewWhile it's magical to see the '90s stars share screen space with the younger duo of Dulquer and Kalyani, the script doesn't quite keep up.CrisWatching Shobana busily chop a carrot on the kitchen counter, sit at the edge of an autorickshaw and glance carelessly at the sky or simply look hurt, you realise how much you have missed watching the actor on screen. Director Anoop Sathyan’s debut film brings a lot of expected nostalgia with it. With three stars of the 1990s – Shobana, Suresh Gopi and Urvashi -- casually walking in and out of the scenes like they never left Malayalam cinema for years on stretch. But while the film tries to bring back the old world charm that Malayalam movie lovers keep lamenting about, it forgot a key ingredient – a script that could match the charm. The basics are almost right. It is a simple enough...
- 2/14/2020
- by Cris
- The News Minute
ReviewWhile it's magical to see the '90s stars share screen space with the younger duo of Dulquer and Kalyani, the script doesn't quite keep up.CrisWatching Shobana busily chop a carrot on the kitchen counter, sit at the edge of an autorickshaw and glance carelessly at the sky or simply look hurt, you realise how much you have missed watching the actor on screen. Director Anoop Sathyan’s debut film brings a lot of expected nostalgia with it. With three stars of the 1990s – Shobana, Suresh Gopi and Urvashi -- casually walking in and out of the scenes like they never left Malayalam cinema for years on stretch. But while the film tries to bring back the old world charm that Malayalam movie lovers keep lamenting about, it forgot a key ingredient – a script that could match the charm. The basics are almost right. It is a simple enough...
- 2/14/2020
- by Cris
- The News Minute
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