Published Dec 29, 2022 | 5:30 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 29, 2022 | 5:30 PM
Year-end Roundup: Best Malayalam actors of 2022. (Supplied)
2022 has been a great year for Mollywood. Interestingly, almost all top actors in the industry have, we can all agree, had a stellar 12 months at the box office. Well, here’s our list of the best Malayalam actors in 2022:
An intense and towering performance from Mammootty is the first thing you notice in this marvellous thriller movie: Rorschach. No other actor could best summarise this year.
In the film, Mammootty embodies a man filled with rage that has no limit. In those 5 minutes to the interval, we know that nothing has changed in 40 years. It is one of 2022’s more memorable experiences at the theatre.
One can’t talk about Rorschach without talking about Bindu Panicker. Her character metamorphosis is staggering in the film
The final reveal uncovers the source of her incomprehensible agony and suffering.
In Bhoothakaalam, Shane Nigam was superb as Vinu, a young man with poor mental health. It is his performance along with his co-actor Revathi that made horror scenes in the movie work.
The scene where they both get locked in his grandma’s bedroom is a sample of their outstanding performances. Both the actors deserve awards.
In her role as an overbearing teacher, Revathi excelled. As mentioned above, the whole movie relied on the performance of Revathi and Shane Nigam. They carried it beautifully.
Bhoothakaalam is undeniably a horror film, but it is also one that is deeply sad. A lot of its sadness stems from Revathi’s totally committed performance.
The finale 20 minutes is the highlight of the movie as well as their performances.
Kunchacko Boban’s as Rajeevan forms the perfect centrepiece in Nna Than Case Kodu.
Rajeevan is an ex-thief who struggles to clear his name in a case he didn’t commit. Kunchacko Boban is just breathtaking. Rajeevan’s role can be rated as his career’s best performance by far.
Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey is a hard-hitting comedy-drama about a newly married couple.
Darshana Rajendran plays the newly married girl Jaya. She is somebody almost everyone can instantly identify with.
Through her performance, she makes the audience relate to her emotions. And then, she makes them clap for her when she wins.
Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey is a movie that makes fun of the real world and makes you aware (while laughing) of the racist thoughts and stereotypes we deal with in everyday life. Basil Joseph represents the majority and he does it with style.
He reminds us of Sreenivasan in the 1990s, but in a positive way.
Everyone is perfectly cast in Appan, which is obviously one of the reasons why the movie works out so well.
However, it’s nice to see Sunny Wayne do something different. He is too amazing in the role of “Njoonju” and delivers his best performance to date.
Ananya is so natural that we don’t find her highlighted among the rest. She is just there as if she is living the life of a struggling wife.
Appan is a film filled with great performances, and Ananya is special.
It’s fascinating to watch (the unorthodox) Mukundan Unni’s character talk and talk. He makes the audience root for him even after doing all those cruel things to everybody around him.
The reason for this is Vineeth Sreenivasan. He is splendid as a sociopath. His voice-over is one of the best things to be noted this year.
Amala’s performance is naturalistic, which deserves special praise.
In contrast to the typical acting chops, she focuses solely on hitting the emotional high points of her performance, without being concerned about glamour.
The whole film is carried by Amala Paul alone. Now you know how good she is in this movie!
Six other performances I would like to mention here are Prithviraj Sukumaran in Jana Gana Mana, Alencier Ley Lopez as Ittychan in Appan, Mammootty in Bheeshma Parvam, Kunhikrishnan and Gayathrie Shankar in Nna Thaan Case Kodu, and Kudassanad Kanakam in Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey.
