Some of the best performances in Malayalam cinema came from women this year. The female actors dominated their counterparts with their spellbinding acting skills.
The best performances of 2023 in Malayalam Cinema. (Supplied)
In 2023, Mammootty’s queer man character in Kaathal-The Core, Fahad Faasil’s Pachu in Pachuvum Athbutha Vilakkum, and Basil Joseph’s characters in Kadina Kadoramee Andakadaham and Falimy became the most celebrated roles in Malayalam cinema.
Mohanlal has also been appreciated for his brilliant performance as advocate Vijayamohan in Neru.
However, some of the best performances in Malayalam cinema came from women this year. The female actors dominated their counterparts with their spellbinding acting skills.
As the calendar year is about to end, let us take a glimpse at the best performers of 2023 in Malayalam cinema.
Vincy Aloshyious in ‘Rekha’. (Supplied)
Vincy Aloshyious has been in the industry for some time. Her role in Jana Gana Mana (2022) was applauded.
She was later seen in Bheemante Vazhi (2021) and Solamante Thenichakal (2022).
However, Vincy appeared in a different avatar in Rekha, which bagged her the 53rd Kerala State Film Awards for Best Actress. The young actor effortlessly pulled off her role in this gritty tale, which had an overdose of violence.
Vincy played the titular role in Rekha, a typical Malayali girl aiming for a government job. She falls in love with an unemployed man named Arjun.
Rekha is not the kind of female lead depicted in Malayalam films.
Rekha’s relationship with her father and how she overcomes the tragedy that struck her family are portrayed well by Vincy. This is definitely her career-best performance.
The actor changed her name to “Win C” after Mammootty congratulated her for winning the award through a message where he addressed her as “Win C”.
Ashwathy B in ‘B 32 Muthal 44 Vare’. (Supplied)
Debutante director Shruthi Sharanyam’s B 32 Muthal 44 Vare has been the talk of the town after its release and became more popular after its screening at the 28th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK).
The movie showcases the issues faced by six women with their bust size. It was indeed a daring attempt to show the realities faced by women in various streams of life.
Aswathy B appears as Jaya, a domestic help. Her transformation into a model for lingerie products to make a living after her husband meets with an accident is one of the highlights of B 32 Muthal 44 Vare.
As she makes a mark for herself in modelling, Jaya’s husband — who once supported her — starts accusing her of neglecting him and accuses her of insubordination. However, Jaya is showcased as a successful model, a welcome change. Her transformation sends positive vibes to the audience.
Aswathy delivered a subtle performance as Jaya — yet another feather in her cap.
Anaswara Rajan in ‘Neru’. (Instagram)
Anaswara Rajan is a popular Malayalam actor. She debuted as a child artiste in Udaharanam Sujatha (2017).
Her works include Thaneermathan Dinangal (2019) Super Sharanya (2021), and Pranayavilasam (2023). The Malayalam movies were not only successful but also proved her mettle as an actor who could pull off comic roles.
The young actor blew minds away with her fabulous performance as a visually impaired teenager named Sarah in Neru. Sarah is a strong girl who leaves no stone unturned to bring the culprit to books, and Anaswara Rajan gets under the skin of the character.
The climax scene, where Sarah walks towards the media along with her parents, is one of the takeaways of Neru.
Sarah is definitely the career-best performance of Anaswara Rajan, who did the role without inhibitions. In an interview, the actor said she had difficulty enacting the scenes, which any woman would find disturbing.
Anjana Jayaprakash impressed in ‘Pachuvum Athbutha Vilakum’. (Supplied)
Akhil Sathyan’s Pachuvum Athbutha Vilakkum is a feel-good movie that worked well at the box office.
Debutante Anjana Jayaprakash as Hamsadwani steals the show in the film. She delivers a subtle performance in emotional scenes.
Hamsadwani has a tragic backstory. She works as a designer in a firm in Goa and is in a toxic relationship with her boyfriend Vivek (Sanju Sivaram).
The scene where Pachu offers advice to Hamsadhwani about her boyfriend is quite hilarious.
Poornima Indrajith’s career-best performance in ‘Thuramukham’. (Supplied)
Rajeev Ravi’s Thuramukham is based on the Mattanchery shooting incident in 1953.
The movie showcases the awful “Chappa” labour allocation system prevalent in the seaport in Kochi. It was a part of the feudal practice under which copper coins were thrown at workers.
Poornima Indrajith scores with her career-best performance in Thuramukham. Her role as Umma (mom) is heart-touching. She is effortless in portraying the role of a helpless woman.
Grief is the only expression she showcases throughout the film, which gives us an idea of how a single mother had to take care of her family during those times.
Poornima proved that she could do more challenging roles with her performance in Thuramukham.
Joju George in ‘Iratta’. (X)
Joju George has proved his excellence in acting with two films — Joseph (2018) and Nayattu (2021).
In 2023, the actor appeared as the lead in three films. In Iratta, Joju George played twin brothers who were at loggerheads.
He appeared as Pramod (deputy superintendent of police) and Vinod (assistant sub-inspector. Pramod and Vinod have a strange relationship even though they are twins.
It is quite challenging for an actor to do multiple roles without making any physical changes. However, Joju George succeeded in playing these estranged twin brothers with different personalities.
In Iratta, Vinod’s character is more challenging than Pramod’s. His rude behaviour towards his fellow cops and women and his transformation towards the climax are well-portrayed by Joju.
The climax scene is a highlight of the movie that keeps the audience haunted as they leave the theatre.
Jagadeesh had a good role in ‘Neru’. (Supplied)
Senior actor Jagadeesh is getting good roles these days. His roles, mainly as a father in some recent movies, were noticed.
However, his role as a policeman in Krishand’s Purusha Pretham came as a surprise for film lovers. It was unlike anything the actor had done before.
Jagadeesh’s role as a father in Falimy and Neru showed his ability to transform into a witty person (Falimy) and a serious dad who fights a case with his daughter (Neru).
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