Most of the films that did well were made by young filmmakers, which is a good sign for the growth of the industry.
Published Dec 22, 2024 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Dec 22, 2024 | 9:00 AM
Directors with successful Malayalam films. (Supplied)
2024 has been an incredible year for Malayalam cinema in terms of both content-driven stories and box-office hits. Compared to 2023, 2024 had more box office hits, and the show industry had long periods of good business.
Most of the films that did well were made by young filmmakers, which is a good sign for the growth of the industry.
In this article, let us check some of the impressive directors and their films released this year.
‘Manjummel Boys’ poster. (Supplied)
Written and directed by Chidambaram, Manjummel Boys is a survival thriller inspired by true events. It revolves around a group of youngsters from Manjummel, a suburb in Ernakulam, who visit Kodaikanal for a leisure trip.
During their excursion, one of the gang members becomes trapped in a dangerous cave, leading to a gripping survival mission involving police, fire officials, and locals.
Apart from Kerala, the movie directed by Chidambaram became a super hit in the neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Telugu states also.
Overall, the film surpassed ₹200 crore in worldwide collections. It is produced by Soubin Shahir, Shawn Antony, and Babu Shahir.
The film was widely appreciated for its portrayal of friendship and bonds. The “Kanmani Anbodu” song from Kamal Haasan’s Guna (1991) played a key role in the success of the movie. The romantic song was used in Manjummel Boys to showcase the bond between the lead characters.
A still from the film ‘Premalu’. (Supplied)
Directed by Girish AD, Premalu is a rom-com filled with peppy songs and situational comedies that captivate the audience. Produced by Bhavana Studios, Vishnu Vijay composed the music.
The film tells the story of two youngsters from Kerala who move to Hyderabad for work. It resonated with audiences, especially the youth, and gained appreciation from non-Malayalam speaking viewers for its humour and relatable love story, tailored to the new generation.
Starring Naslen K Gafoor, Mamitha Baiju, Shyam Mohan, Sangeeth Pratap, and Akhila Bharagavan, the movie is set in Hyderabad. While the core theme is romance, Premalu also addresses issues like the challenges faced by students wanting to study abroad.
The film features a strong female character, Reenu Thomas (Mamitha Baiju), who firmly stands up for her career and marriage, representing modern women. Naslen’s character dreams of settling abroad for a better future.
Mammootty in ‘Bramayugam’. (X)
Mammootty’s Bramayugam was well-received by both audiences and critics, grossing around ₹60 crore. Shot in black and white, it is a horror thriller in which Mammootty plays a negative role.
Directed by Rahul Sadhasivan, the film had a unique appeal, with Mammootty portraying the character “Chathan,” a daring move by the veteran actor. The movie also featured outstanding performances by Arjun Ashokan and Siddharth Bharathan, both delivering career-best performances.
Bramayugam is Mammootty’s third consecutive film to earn over ₹50 crore. In 2022, Bheeshma Parvam earned ₹50 crore, followed by Kannur Squad in 2023. This year, Bramayugam has also hit the jackpot.
A still from the film ‘Aadujeevitham’. (X)
Veteran director Blessy dedicated his life to Aadujeevitham, based on the novel by Benyamin, who blended fiction with reality in his writing. The film’s shooting began in 2018 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, finally wrapping up on 14 July 2023.
Although Blessy started preparations for the film in 2008, production only began in 2018. The film had one of the longest shooting periods in Malayalam cinema, with major portions shot in Jordan.
Aadujeevitham features soulful music by AR Rahman and sound design by Resul Pookutty. Speaking about the film, Rahman described it as “a music composer’s movie” due to the many realities involved in the composition.
He expressed his honour in working with Blessy, Prithviraj, and Benyamin, saying their dedication to the film reaffirmed his faith in cinema.
A poster of the film ‘Ajayante Randam Moshanam’. (X)
Ajayante Randam Moshanam, directed by Jithin Laal, has been the most successful Malayalam film of the second half of the year. Starring Tovino Thomas in a triple role, the movie earned ₹100 crore at the global box office.
In a thank-you note, director Jithin Laal expressed his happiness over the film’s success. He wrote, “Witness history in the making. Our film ‘armthemovie’ has crossed the monumental 100 Cr+ mark worldwide, and it’s all thanks to YOU! To everyone who believed in us and made this journey possible—this milestone is yours too.”
The period film features Tovino as Maniyan, Kelu, and Ajayan. Maniyan, a Robinhood-like thief, received much applause, while Ajayan, a subtle character with helpless mannerisms, also won admiration.
Kishkinda Kaandam was released alongside Ajayante Randam Moshanam as an Onam release. The psychological thriller had little hype before its release but became a phenomenal hit afterwards. More screens were added in the state due to the positive response.
Directed by Dinjith Ayyathan, the movie has a slower pace compared to commercial potboilers but presents an intriguing plot about events inside a household.
Written by Bahul Ramesh, the film features gripping moments that keep the story moving forward. The connection between the pistol, a key object in the story, Ajayan’s (Asif Ali) missing child, and Sumadathan (Jagadish) is handled brilliantly. A perfect script is the best way to describe this movie.
A still from Arun Chandu’s ‘Gaganachari’. (X)
Science fiction is not a popular genre in Malayalam cinema, but director Arun Chandu had a vision to create a sci-fi film that would be commercially viable, incorporating elements of comedy.
Before its release, Gaganachari had little hype, but it quickly gained momentum, receiving an overwhelming response from the audience and becoming one of the most successful films of 2024.
Gaganachari is a sci-fi mockumentary, a new genre introduced by Arun Chandu to the Malayali audience. The film is set in a dystopian Kerala in the 2040s.
In an interview with South First, Arun Chandu revealed that Gaganachari was inspired by the American comedy-horror mockumentary series What We Do in the Shadows (2015) and Satyajit Ray’s Shatranj Ke Khilari.
The movie stars Gokul Suresh, Anarkali Marikar, Aju Varghese, and Ganesh Kumar in lead roles.
Nazriya in ‘Sookshmadarshini’. (X)
Sookshmadarshini is still running in theatres and has earned ₹50 crore at the global box office, a remarkable achievement given its budget. Directed by MC Jithin, the movie stars Nazriya Nazim and Basil Joseph in lead roles.
In the film, Nazriya Nazim takes the lead, while Basil Joseph plays a grey character involved in various acts. Sookshmadarshini is a well-crafted mystery thriller with a strong script that keeps the audience hooked.
In an interview with South First, MC Jithin attributed the movie’s success to the team’s effort. He also mentioned that the story has universal relatability, as it is grounded in reality. Initially, he had planned to make the film in Hindi, but that didn’t materialize.
Parvathy Tiruvothu and Urvashi in ‘Ullozhukku’. (X)
Christo Tomy’s Ullozhukku became a much-talked-about movie after its release. The emotional drama revolves around a family waiting for the funeral of a loved one, unable to perform it due to floods in Alappuzha. During this time, family secrets are revealed, and the film explores how these revelations affect the family.
Parvathy plays Anju, while Urvashi portrays Leelamma, Anju’s mother-in-law. The story revolves around these two central characters. Ullozhukku also won the Cinestaan India Storyteller contest.
In an interview with South First, Christo Tomy shared that he reworked the story multiple times based on feedback from mentorship programs at the Screenwriters Lab (NDFC) and Global Media Makers in Los Angeles.
‘Pani’ is a ganster drama. (X)
Actor Joju George made an impressive directorial debut in 2024 with Pani, featuring gripping action sequences and thrilling moments, perfect for a mass entertainer.
In the movie, the presentation was more successful than the screenplay. The story begins at a mild pace and gains momentum as it progresses.
While the film was praised for its making, it faced criticism for excessive violence and gore, which made it less suitable for family audiences and young children.
The movie revolves around the rivalry between gangs in Thrissur, the cultural capital of Kerala.
Vishnu Vinay, the son of director Vinayan, made his directorial debut in 2024 with the investigative thriller Anand Sreebala. The movie, which is not a conventional thriller, focuses on the emotional journey of the central character, played by Arjun Ashokan.
Anand Sreebala features an intriguing plot that keeps the audience engaged, making it a solid investigation thriller. The performances of Sangita and Arjun Ashokan are an added bonus to the film.
In an interview with South First, Vishnu Vinay shared that directing is his dream, and he aims to be a filmmaker who creates meaningful films with good ideas. He expressed his desire to be both an actor and a director, remaining involved in cinema.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
