While 20 directors debuted in Mollywood this year, a few of them are the sons of veteran filmmakers who are popular for their works.
The millennial directors of Malayalam film industry. (Supplied)
Every year, several newcomers enter the film industry by weaving their dreams and following their passion.
Over 20 new directors have debuted in Malayalam this year. A handful of those are the sons of veteran filmmakers who made a mark for themselves in the industry.
Director Shaji Kailas’s son Jagan is debuting with a new movie starring Siju Wilson.
Similarly, Deeno Dennis, the son of veteran scriptwriter Kallor Dennis, is debuting with Mammootty’s Bazooka, touted to be a game thriller.
Actor-scriptwriter Renji Panicker’s son Nithin Renji Panicker debuted with Kasaba (2016), a commercial hit, while his second movie Kaaval (2021) didn’t do well at the box office.
Let us check the list of millennial filmmakers who are following in the footsteps of their director-fathers:
Vineeth Sreenivasan entered the Malayalam film industry as a playback singer and gained popularity with his songs “Kasavinte Thattamittu” from Oru Kilichundan Mambazham (2003) and “Karale Karalinte Karale” from Udayananu Tharam (2005).
Later, he debuted as an actor with Cycle (2008). In 2010, he directed his first movie — Malarvadi Arts Club, a hit.
Vineeth directed seven films so far, and all of them are superhits. The singer-turned-filmmaker is the son of senior actor-director-script writer Sreenivasan.
Interestingly, Vineeth’s younger brother Dhyan Sreenivasan is an actor-director too. Dhyan directed Love Action Drama (2019) with Nivin Pauly and Nayanthara in lead roles. The film was a super hit.
Vineeth also appeared in a cameo role in the movie. His latest release was Nadhikalil Sundari Yamuna (2023), which did well in theatres.
Akhil Sathyan is the son of ace director Sathyan Anthikad. Akhil debuted as a director with Fahadh Faasil’s Pachuvum Athbutha Vilakkum this year.
Pachuvum Athbutha Vilakkum (2023) is a message-oriented film that flaunts good performances by the lead actors and a strong message: The right to education for girl children. The movie was a success at the box office.
His twin brother Anoop Sathyan made his directorial debut with Varane Avashyamundu (2020) featuring Dulquer Salmaan, Kalyani Priyadarshan, Shobana, and Suresh Gopi in the lead.
In an interview with South First, Akhil Sathyan said his father had inspired him a lot. “He is an inspiration by default. My dad didn’t force anything. We have the same tastes and naturally, our thought processes would be the same. I have worked with my dad so I have got his pattern of work.”
The director added, “So there could be similarities in using shots and other factors. If there is a character of an old or unemployed youth in my movie, people tend to compare it with dad’s previous characters.”
In 2016, Akhil Sathyan directed a documentary titled That’s My Boy, which according to him was an attempt to know his capabilities as a filmmaker.
Anoop Sathyan is Sathyan Anthikad’s son and the twin brother of Akhil Sathyan. His debut film Varane Avasyamundu featured Suresh Gopi and Shobhana after a long gap.
Varane Avashyamundu is a story about relationships — daughter-mother, son-mother, siblings and a retired army man. The story is set in Chennai.
Anoop Sathyan weaved the story with several characters. He also managed to get seasoned actors to portray the roles.
Kalyani Priyadarshan made her debut in Malayalam with this movie. Kalyani and Shobana were the show stealers of the movie.
Suresh Gopi appeared as Major Unnikrishnan and Dulquer Salmaan as Bibish.
At some point, the relationship between Kalyani and Shobana’s characters in the film reminds us of Urvashi and Meera Jasmine in Achuvinte Amma (2005) directed by Satyhan Anthikad.
Anoop tried to incorporate all emotions in the movie — fun, romance, and despair — without testing the patience of the audience.
He is reportedly planning to do his next movie with a big actor in the Malayalam industry.
Jean Paul Lal, also known as Lal Jr, is the son of actor-director Lal. Lal was a part of the screenwriter-director duo Siddique-Lal who delivered several superhit films.
Jean Paul’s debut movie Honey Bee was released in 2013.
His most successful movie is Driving Licence (2019) which had Prithviraj Sukumaran and Suraj Venjaramoodu in the lead roles.
Jean Paul Lal also acted in movies like Underworld (2019) and Corona Papers (2023).
His upcoming movie Nadhikar Thilakam stars Tovino Thomas and Soubin Shahir as protagonists.
Abhilash Joshiy is the son of veteran director Joshiy. Abhilash’s debut movie with Dulquer Salmaan, King of Kotha (2023) was a big-budget project.
The movie was appreciated for its craft, but the makers claimed that it received targeted negative reviews soon after its release.
During an interview with South First, Abhilash Joshiy shared the challenges faced during the shooting.
Abhilash Joshiy said King of Kotha was shot in Karaikudi, Rameshwaram, Puthukottai, Madurai, and Kochi.
One of the challenging scenes in the Malayalam film was while shooting the football sequence when there were 2,000 people and eight assistant directors.
Abhilash felt that more big-budget Malayalam films should be made in the future. “My film is a small step in Malayalam in terms of big-budget ventures.”
About Joshiy, he said his director-father inspired him very much. “In Malayalam, he has done films on a large scale with so many actors. It’s easy to do a frame with one or two actors.”
Abhilash Joshiy added, “If there are 500 people, we have to make sure they are doing well. I feel that my dad is an expert in that as he knows how to handle crowd management.”
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