From Mammootty to Darshana Rajendran: 11 Malayalam actors who shined in unconventional roles this year

Mammootty in Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam and Kaathal

2023 undoubtedly belonged to this septuagenarian who shined with his unique film selections, the majority of which were outstanding, delivering groundbreaking performances. Among his four films this year, two stood out for their compelling narratives, cinematic brilliance and the thespian’s excellence — Lijo Jose Pellissery’s Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam and Jeo Baby’s Kaathal: The Core. Though it goes without saying that Mammootty has been reinventing himself constantly for the past few years, letting go of all his inhibitions and enthusiastically embracing significant projects, Nanpakal and Kaathal emphatically highlighted why he continues to dominate the industry even after four decades.

Mammootty in Lijo Jose Pellissery’s Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam and Jeo Baby’s Kaathal: The Core. (Images: Mammootty Kampany/Facebook)

With meticulous precision, seamlessly transitioning between the distinct characters of James and Sundaram, he revealed facets of his acting potential that remained untapped despite being part of over 400 films, all complemented by LJP’s spectacular filmmaking, thus making Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam a timeless classic. Mammootty also earned his sixth Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor with this movie. His portrayal of a closeted middle-aged homosexual man, Mathew, in Kaathal too was mesmerising. He skillfully unveiled the character’s ethos and subtleties with remarkable command.

Vineeth Sreenivasan and Biju Menon in Saheed Arafath’s Thankam. (Images: Vineeth Sreenivasan/Facebook)

Vineeth Sreenivasan in Thankam

Before Girish AD’s Thanneer Mathan Dinangal (2019), it was challenging to regard Vineeth Sreenivasan as an actor, let alone a serious one. However, Vineeth surprised everyone and, 14 years after he made his on-screen debut, proved that he is not someone to be dismissed entirely, with his stellar performance in Abhinav Sunder Nayak’s Mukundan Unni Associates (2022). Just two months after the dark comedy released, Vineeth graced the screens earlier this year in Saheed Arafath’s Thankam, depicting a Thrissur-based gold broker with unmatched skill and delivering a performance previously unseen from him. With his masterful portrayal of Kannan’s struggles and determination to take the step of ending his life, Vineeth demonstrated his brilliance, emphasising that his skills go beyond the realm of comedy.

Joju George played a dual role in Rohit MG Krishnan’s Iratta. (Image: Rohit MG/Facebook)

Joju George in Iratta

Though Joju George’s prowess in rendering intricate characters, especially ones with grey shades, is well-established through movies like Ramante Edanthottam (2017), Joseph (2018), Churuli (2021) and Nayattu (2021), the character ASI Vinod Kumar in Rohit MG Krishnan’s Iratta posed a significantly heavier challenge for him. A morally corrupt cop, who pays no heed to the distinction between good and evil, Vinod is the kind of character that any lead actor would have hesitated to take up a decade or so ago. However, Joju embraced the role and delivered an exceptional performance. The brilliance in his portrayal is evident in the fact that he played a dual role in the film, embodying both Vinod and his identical twin DYSP Pramod Kumar. Joju managed to ensure absolute uniqueness in each character, skillfully bringing out their distinct shades without allowing them to appear similar in terms of mannerisms at any point.

Vincy Aloshious received her first Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress for her performance in Rekha. (Image: Jithin Issac Thomas/Facebook)

Vincy Aloshious in Rekha

While Vincy Aloshious has consistently embraced a variety of roles since her debut in Vikruthi (2019), outdoing herself nearly every time, the actor’s portrayal in Jithin Issac Thomas’ Rekha, for which she received her first Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress, was truly exceptional. In the revenge thriller, Vincy displayed her top-notch skills, investing her heart and soul in depicting the titular character. While her overall performance maintained a consistently high standard, it was particularly noteworthy in moments where Rekha grappled with distress and slowly came to the realisation that her boyfriend might be responsible for her father’s death. From portraying panic attacks to unleashing the character’s monster within, Vincy displayed her full range of acting abilities in Rekha and excelled in depicting a character seldom seen in Malayalam cinema with perfection.

Nivin Pauly in Rajeev Ravi’s period drama Thuramukham. (Image: Nivin Pauly/Facebook)

Nivin Pauly in Thuramukham

Despite a challenging phase for Nivin Pauly in recent years, marked by several films falling short of expectations, Rajeev Ravi’s period drama Thuramukham provided the actor a potential resurgence moment, though he failed to capitalise on it later. With a skilful portrayal, Nivin demonstrated a keen understanding of the character, seamlessly tracing Moidu’s gradual transformation from an apathetic youngster to an apathetic “Iblis”, remaining faithful to this distinctive character, which diverged from his usual roles.

Darshana Rajendran showcased her flawless talent yet again, in Krishand’s Purusha Pretham. (Image: Darshana Rajendran/Instagram)

Darshana Rajendran in Purusha Pretham

Darshana Rajendran undeniably stands out as one of the most powerful arrows in Malayalam cinema’s arsenal, effortlessly embodying any character she tackles. In 2023, Darshana once again showcased her flawless talent, this time (spoilers ahead) delving into a negative character with absolute excellence. In Krishand’s procedural dark comedy Purusha Pretham, Darshana magnificently brought to life the intricacies of Susanna, a middle-aged woman orchestrating an elaborate scheme to conceal a crime she committed. Her adept handling and delivery of moments depicting transformation and character elevation underscored her remarkable abilities.

Vijayaraghavan and KPAC Leela in Ganesh Raj’s Pookkalam. (Image: Vijayaraghavan/Facebook)

Vijayaraghavan in Pookkaalam

Throughout his illustrious five-decade career, 72-year-old Vijayaraghavan has consistently proven his ability to shine in diverse roles. This year, meanwhile, he undertook the role of a centenarian in Ganesh Raj’s Pookkalam and captivated audiences with his outstanding acting. Showing meticulous attention to Ittoop’s traits, behaviour and overall nature, Vijayaraghavan rendered the character truly unique, setting a majestic standard for fellow actors to aspire to.

In Aashiq Abu’s Neelavelicham and Dr Biju’s Adrishya Jalakangal, Tovino Thomas truly shined and displayed his artistic finesse. (Image: Tovino Thomas/Instagram)

Tovino Thomas in Neelavelicham and Adrishya Jalakangal

While 2023 saw Tovino Thomas taking on the lead role in the mammoth 2018: Everyone is a Hero, directed by Jude Anthany Joseph, which emerged as the highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time, it was, however, in two other projects that he truly shone and displayed his artistic finesse — Aashiq Abu’s Neelavelicham and Dr Biju’s Adrishya Jalakangal. In Neelavelicham, based on Vaikom Muhammad Basheer’s short story of the same name and a reboot of the 1964 classic Bhargavi Nilayam, Tovino’s reprisal of the central character, previously played by veteran actor Madhu, was nothing short of stellar. He masterfully grasped the layers of the role, delivering a performance in perfect harmony with its complexities. Even Madhu himself praised Tovino for his commendable work. On the other hand, in Adrishya Jalakangal, Tovino excelled in depicting a character devoid of “identity”, showcasing excellence in body language and a meticulous focus on the nuances of the role, marking a departure from his previous works.

Azees Nedumangad with Mammootty on the sets of Roby Varghese Raj’s Kannur Squad. (Image: Azees Nedumangad/Instagram)

Azees Nedumangad in Kannur Squad

Artistes coming from a background in mimicry who gained recognition through stage shows, often face the risk of being stereotyped into nonsensical comedy roles that contribute little to the overall narrative. Azees Nedumangad too found himself in a similar situation for years. However, in Roby Varghese Raj’s Kannur Squad, he effortlessly defied expectations, showcasing his talent and establishing that he shouldn’t be dismissed as “just another mimicry artiste”. In fact, he belongs to the category of artistes who, as Mammootty once famously described himself, “shine brighter if polished frequently”.

In Syam Sasi’s Vela, Sunny Wayne surprised everyone with an outstanding performance. (Image: Sunny Wayne/Facebook)

Sunny Wayne in Vela

After an underwhelming performance in Mridul Nair’s Kasargold, Sunny Wayne found redemption in Syam Sasi’s Vela, where he was offered a character that allowed him to showcase his full potential. In this crime drama, Sunny surprised everyone with an outstanding rendition, exuding a devil-like presence in the role of Mallikarjun. From his body language to the nuanced portrayal of the character, Sunny excelled in Vela, demonstrating that he has the capability to shine when presented with substantial roles.

Aju Varghese, along with other cast members, in Ahammed Khabeer’s crime series Kerala Crime Files. (Image: Aju Varghese/Facebook)

Aju Varghese in Phoenix and Kerala Crime Files

Breaking free from the confines of mediocrity and the stereotypical slapstick humour roles he had been getting, Aju Varghese experienced a transformative year with two robust characters. In Vishnu Bharathan’s Phoenix, he portrayed advocate John Williams, showcasing his capability beyond comedy by effectively conveying tension and portraying nuanced shades with command. Simultaneously, in Ahammed Khabeer’s crime series Kerala Crime Files, Aju delivered a noteworthy performance as SI Manoj, depicting a composed and diligent cop, thereby highlighting his versatility.

Honourable Mention: Mohanlal in Neru

In 2023, Mohanlal too experienced a positive turn, thanks to director Jeethu Joseph who rescued the actor from a cycle of subpar roles, by providing the actor with a refreshing character, advocate Jayamohan in the courtroom drama Neru. Despite the film’s flaws, Mohanlal’s performance stood out. By fully immersing himself in the narrative and the director’s vision, Mohanlal avoided burdening the story with his star persona, unlike most of his recent endeavours. He skillfully portrayed the role, demonstrating sharpness while maintaining a balance between the character’s vulnerability and abilities without overshadowing the ordinary nature of Vijayamohan.