From consecutive blockbusters to a heated debate on missing women in hit films and the ED raids, here's an overview of Malayalam cinema in the first half of 2024.
Published Jun 26, 2024 | 8:00 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 26, 2024 | 8:00 PM
In the first half of 2024, Malayalam cinema registered a business of over ₹700 crore. (Supplied)
Malayalam cinema went through a dull phase in 2023, with only a couple of hits like 2018: Everyone Is A Hero, Romancham, RDX, Kannur Squad, and Neru.
But, in 2024, the Malayalam industry became the talk of the town by delivering some path-breaking films that not only minted money at the box office but also drew critical appreciation from across the world.
In the first half of 2024, Malayalam cinema witnessed consecutive blockbuster hits like Premalu, Bramayugam, Manjummel Boys, Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life), Aavesham, Turbo, and Guruvayoor Ambala Nadayil contributing to over ₹700 crore business.
Aattam, which hit the screens on 11 January 2024, was directed by Anand Ekarshi and featured Vinay Forrt, Zarin Shihab, and Kalabhavan Shah John in the lead roles.
It had a good run in cinema halls and was one of the women-oriented films released this year.
Abraham Ozler, which was released along with Aattam, marked the comeback film for senior actor Jayaram. Mammootty’s cameo helped the movie pull the crowds to theatres. It grossed around ₹40 crore and became the most successful film in Jayaram’s career.
On 9 February, Premalu and Anweshippin Kandethum were released simultaneously. They both opened to critical acclaim.
Premalu, a romantic comedy, attracted youth and family audiences and registered good collections in the domestic and international markets. It raked in around ₹130 crore worldwide.
Anweshippin Kandethum, directed by debutant Darwin Kuriakose, is an investigative film that was complemented by good artwork, music, and background score. Tovino Thomas played the lead investigative officer in the flick, which saw him deliver one of his best performances.
Anweshippin Kandethum collected over ₹50 crore at the global box office. However, Premalu and Manjummel Boys overshadowed its success.
Mammootty’s Bramayugam came out on 15 February and turned out to be a tremendous hit. It was the new addition to the list of box-office successes the actor had been delivering since 2022.
In the film, Mammootty appears as an exorcist named Kodumon Potty. Directed by Rahul Sadasivan, Bramayugam grossed over ₹60 crore worldwide.
Then came Manjummel Boys on 22 February, the first Malayalam movie to earn ₹200 crore. The Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada dubbed versions each collected over ₹10 crore. It also created history by becoming the first Malayalam movie to gross ₹60 crore in Tamil Nadu.
A survival thriller directed by Chidambaram, Manjummel Boys revolves around a group of 10 friends who get trapped in the famous Guna Caves in Kodaikanal. It is based on a real-life incident.
Anchakkallakokkan, released on 15 March, starred Chemban Vinod Jose and Lukman Avaran in the lead. It evoked a positive response for its retro filmmaking style.
Then came Aadujeevitham, featuring Prithviraj Sukumaran and Amala Paul. Directed by Blessy, the movie was released on 28 March and turned out to be a blockbuster hit by earning ₹150 crore at the global box office.
Following its unbelievable success, Prithviraj and Blessy revealed their big dreams for the film, They said they were looking for “reputed firms so the film could reach global audiences through international festivals“.
In April, during the Eid-Vishu festive vacation, Aavesham and Varshangalkku Shesham hit the screens amid much fanfare. The success streak continued in April too, with both films doing extremely well at the box office.
Aavesham, which showcased Fahadh Faasil as a Bengaluru-based don, became an overnight sensation. It collected over ₹100 crore, the first in the actor’s career. However, its OTT premiere within a month of its release affected the theatrical business.
Varshangalkku Shesham, headlined by Dhyan Sreenivasan and Pranav Mohanlal, raked in ₹70 crore. Though the film did well in theatres, after its OTT debut, the makers were trolled for the melodramatic elements.
Prithviraj Sukumaran and Basil Joseph’s Guruvayoor Ambala Nadayil was another major release in May. The Vipin Das film earned ₹90 crore worldwide. It is all set for its OTT premiere on Disney+ Hotstar on 27 June.
This was followed by Mammootty’s Turbo on 23 May. Directed by Vysakh, the movie grossed over ₹70 crore at the global box office and completed 40 days at the box office.
Turbo marked Mammootty’s return to mass films after a gap of two years. The actor recently launched the Arabic teaser of the film at the success meet in Sharjah.
Meanwhile, Asif Ali and Biju Menon’s Thalavan became a sleeper hit upon its release on 24 May. The investigation thriller directed by Jis Joy reportedly grossed more than ₹20 crore until now and entered its fourth week in theatres.
Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan was all praise for the team and met them personally to laud their efforts.
The first half of 2024 in Malayalam cinema also witnessed a few small-budget films making a profound impact on viewers with their content. for example, Mandakini, featuring Anarkali Marikar in the lead role, opened to critical reviews on 24 May.
Golam is another small movie, which hit the screens on 7 June and is running successfully in cinema halls. The makers recently announced a sequel to this investigative thriller.
Director Christo Tomy’s first feature film, Ullozhukku (released on 21 June), is having a good run in cinema halls. It won the hearts of critics and audiences because of the awe-inspiring performances of Urvashi and Parvathy Thirvuvothu and the realistic portrayal of the characters.
Surprisingly, Ullozhukku script (initially named ‘The Funeral’), penned by Christo Tomy, was the winner at the Cinestaan India’s Storyteller Contest in 2018. The young filmmaker turned heads with Curry & Cyanide: The Jolly Joseph Case (2023), a true-crime documentary series streaming on Netflix.
Meanwhile, films like Little Hearts and Grrr, released in June, turned out to be average grossers.
Biju Menon and Suraj Venjaramoodu’s Nadanna Sambavam, which was also released in June, received a good response. But isn’t showing any signs of becoming a super hit.
Sasidharan, the manager of a twin-screen theatre complex in the Palakkad district, tells South First that films will surely work in theatres if they have good content. “Several low-profile movies released in the first half of 2024 earned us profits because of their content.”
A Kochi-based exhibitor South First contacted observes, “The first half of 2024 has been fruitful for Malayalam cinema. Several films have run to packed houses thus far. There was a drop in the footfalls after the vacation. Nevertheless, Ullozhukku and Gaganachari are reviving the business. Indeed, the screen count for director Arun Chandu’s Gaganachari has been increased in the state.”
He hastens to add that the exhibitors are looking forward to good business during the Onam festive season in August.
Meanwhile, actor Vijay Sethupathi‘s latest Tamil outing, Maharaja, is enjoying a successful run in theatres across Kerala.
Though some Malayalam movies had good expectations, they underperformed at the box office. For instance, Mohanlal’s Malaikottai Vaaliban (released in January), directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery, was one of the most-anticipated films of 2024. However, it missed the mark as it failed to impress fans.
In fact, the Mohanlal film received severe criticism on social media, reacting to which Lijo Jose noted that the audience should never form an opinion about a movie based on others’ feedback.
Dileep’s big-budget movies Thankamani and Pavi Caretaker also didn’t work in theatres. Similarly, Biju Menon’s Thundu, released in February, failed to meet the expectations of audiences though it dealt with a relevant topic.
The other films that didn’t work at the box office include Nivin Pauly and Dhyan Sreenivasan’s Malayalee From India and Tovino Thomas’s Nadikar, directed by Lal Jr. Thanks to extensive promotions, both movies made headlines for several months but in vain.
These apart, Arjun Ashokan’s Once Upon A Time in Kochi was a disappointment, too.
Even as Malayalam cinema was celebrating phenomenal successes in the first half of 2024, the absence of women in blockbuster hits like Manjummel Boys, Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life), and Aavesham became a hot topic of discussion on social media platforms. However, netizens were divided on the issue.
Reacting to the issue, Parvathy Thiruvothu appreciated the media for pointing out the disturbing trend.
Award-winning actor Kani Kusruti, whose All We Imagine As Light won the Grand Prix Award at Cannes 2024, in an interview with South First, explained how female characters don’t get importance in Malayalam films and wondered if the scriptwriters and storytellers ever think about it.
She also wondered why there was no representation of other genders in movies. “How are we being inclusive with all this?” the actor asked.
Last but not least, the successive hits in Malayalam cinema landed the producers in trouble, with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) launching a probe into the financial transactions of super hit films in the last five years.
The ED’s move came after the police confirmed a financial fraud by Manjummel Boys producers. The makers have been facing allegations of inflating the ticket collection figures.
Two filmmakers reportedly approached the ED with information about black money transactions by a handful of producers, which prompted further probe.
It is worth mentioning that Malayalam cinema witnessed a roaring business to the tune of over ₹700 crore in the first half of 2024 via four films—Premalu, Manjummel Boys, Aadujeevitham, and Aavesham. All the films secured a place in the ₹100-crore club.
The ED raided the offices of various production houses in 2023, too, after black money transactions were reported.
In between, a tussle between PVR-Inox and the Kerala Film Producers Association (KFPA) affected the collection of films like Aavesham and Varshangalkku Shesham during the festival season. However, a truce came as a relief for the makers.
Meanwhile, the second half of 2024 will see the release of a few more interesting films like Tovino Thomas-starrer Ajayante Randam Moshanam, Mohanlal’s Barroz and L360, Mammootty’s Bazooka, and Jayasuryas’s Kathanar-The Wild Sorcerer, to mention a few.
Well, let’s hope the success streak continues in the next six months, too!
(Edited by Y Krishna Jyothi)
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