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This is an archive article published on July 2, 2023

From Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam to Iratta, five Malayalam films that stood out in 2023 amidst a flood of mediocrity

In spite of several box office disappointments in the Malayalam film industry, largely due to films' subpar quality, it has nevertheless been able to create a range of decent to outstanding movies over the past six months.

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Here are five Malayalam films that indianexpress.com believes stood out from other works that were released in the previous six months.

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It is never easy to choose ‘favourite films’. No matter how carefully you consider it and how much research you do, it’s possible that you might second-guess your decisions as soon as the piece is published, particularly the inclusion or exclusion of certain films. Even though readers will undoubtedly disagree, this internal conflict still exists. Therefore, achieving “perfection” in such articles is impossible.

With that as a beginning note, indianexpress.com is attempting to pick five Malayalam films that it believes stood out from other works that were released in the previous six months, as we head towards the second half of 2023.

5) Rajeev Ravi’s Thuramukham

Thuramukham is available for streaming on SonyLIV. (Image: Nivin Pauly/Facebook)

Thuramukham can be considered one of cinematographer-turned-director Rajeev Ravi’s weakest films to date. This isn’t because the movie is bad; rather, it’s because many people had high expectations for the director, who is capable of far better work. Thuramukham, however, is one of the most significant films the Malayalam industry has produced recently since it highlights the ability of a film to start conversations, particularly on topics that have been purposefully left off of history books.

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Based on the cold-blooded Mattanchery firing incident of 1953, the film also serves as a tribute to the resilient labourers of Kochi, their struggles, their fights for justice, and the protests that played a vital role in securing their rights and demands.

Thuramukham depicts a tale that highlights how we, as a society, got to this point by uniting ourselves, in contrast to the majority of so-called political films produced by the Malayalam industry up to that point which told stories about an angry young man who took on the system alone and overthrew the oppressors.

Thuramukham, by exposing the unfair chappa system and capturing the life of a group of people who have always been on the margins, becomes a model for how a political movie should be made.

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Thuramukham is available for streaming on SonyLIV.

4) Rohit MG Krishnan’s Iratta

Iratta is available for streaming on Netflix. (Image: Rohit Mg Krishnan/Facebook)

It’s not just psychological thrillers or horror flicks that can disturb viewers and make them feel hopelessly dejected; dramas can also accomplish it. One of the films that does this in a really unsettling manner is Iratta.

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A film that explores the effects childhood traumas can have on a person’s life and how a person’s traumas and life experiences can in no way justify their wrongdoings, Iratta also vehemently demonstrates that goodness is a very subjective concept because every person, who appears to be good, will undoubtedly have some grey shades.

Beyond the typical discussion points on crime and punishment, Iratta emphasises that though death may seem like the best option, the effects of one’s actions may last long even after the person has passed away.

While Joju George’s outstanding and nuanced performances as the twin brothers Pramod and Vinod provide Iratta’s most memorable moments, debutant Rohit MG Krishnan’s entrancing screenplay serves as the framework on which everything is built. The film has components that make it difficult to classify it as either a police procedural or a crime thriller, but it is best to leave Iratta unboxed because doing so makes the story even more unsettling and highlights the narrative’s ethos.

Though Iratta doesn’t point fingers at any of the characters, there are scenes in which the characters, particularly men, own up to their mistakes and wrongdoings, shattering Malayalam cinema’s longstanding veneration of unrepentant men.

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Iratta is available for streaming on Netflix.

3) Krishand’s Purusha Pretham

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Purusha Pretham is available for streaming on SonyLIV. (Image: Purusha Pretham/Instagram)

For an industry that rarely ventures into realms outside drama, Purusha Pretham is a solid dark comedy that will have the audience in stitches. Though the movie shifts from being a procedural cop drama to an investigation thriller, a horror story, and a dark comedy frequently, it never lets the shifts feel forced. Purusha Pretham also explores a wide range of subjects and occasionally fuses genres.

The overwhelming number of bodies which the police unearth but that remain unidentified in the end is the main focus of Purusha Pretham’s story, as well as how individuals with vested interests try to pounce and stake claim on these bodies.

At the same time, it also reveals how supposedly brave police officers actually are and how well they avoid circumstances that could give them even the slightest additional obligations. In a roundabout way, Purusha Pretham also shows the horrendous working circumstances that police officers endure. The film also touches on a variety of sociopolitical issues while avoiding having them appear pushed into the story.

Krishand’s second directorial venture, after the much acclaimed Aavasavyuham, Purusha Pretham is what happens when a project is approached with utmost clarity and vision.

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Purusha Pretham is available for streaming on SonyLIV.

2) Jithu Madhavan’s Romancham

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Romancham is available for streaming on Disney Plus Hotstar. (Image: Jithu Madhavan/Facebook)

Horror is one genre that most Indian filmmakers are yet to truly nail. Even though viewers have had wonderful experiences watching spine-chilling and magnificent films like Tumbbad, Raat, Bhoot, and Dibakar Banerjee’s segment in Ghost Stories, the majority of our horror films are marred by cliches and made using templates. And the Malayalam industry follows suit in producing such appalling works.

The horror-comedy Romancham, however, brilliantly achieves the perfect harmony between the two genres, simultaneously evoking waves of laughter and fear. The film, despite having an Ouija board at its centre, is a masterclass on how to use an age-old theme and still create a marvel.

Helmed by debutant Jithu Madhavan, many famous distributors passed on Romancham as the film lacked big stars. But after numerous failed attempts, the movie finally had its theatrical release and emerged as one of the most successful Malayalam films of recent times.

The movie’s success can predominantly be attributed to its script. Though Romancham has a joke or a funny moment every minute or two, it never compromises on the horror aspect and handles it with maturity, without the use of jump scares or a ghost figure purely for kicks. Despite the fact that the ghost itself isn’t shown until the very end of the film, the creators are successful in terrifying the audience by expertly portraying the misery the tenants are going through. Romancham, therefore, excels as a comedy and a horror movie at the same time.

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Romancham is available for streaming on Disney Plus Hotstar.

1) Lijo Jose Pellissery’s Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam

Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam is available for streaming on Netflix. (Image: Mammootty Kampany/Facebook)

There are good films, great films and then there is Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam. Yet another cinematic marvel by Lijo Jose Pellissery, Nanpakal is one of those movies where you can actually see the melding of a brilliant story and mind-blowing technical components. At most times, the movie embraces silence and ambient sound, eschewing loud noises and even forgetting about them occasionally.

In all honesty, it is challenging to categorise Nanpakal into a single genre. From viewer to viewer, it differs. For some, Nanpakal may be a film that uses magical realism; for others, it may be a psychological drama; for a few, it may be best viewed as a supernatural or fantasy film; for a couple of others, it may be a philosophical film; or it may fit into one of the many other genres. However, it’s crucial to note that Nanpakal provides a very unique experience to each viewer.

Also read | Mammootty on politics of Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam: ‘There is space for human values beyond language, religious disagreements’

While Mammootty’s outstanding performance is what garners the most attention, everyone involved in Nanpakal worked flawlessly as a team to achieve the film’s success. All the actors, including the background performers, have nailed the story’s essence and given their all to their respective parts. At the same time, DOP Theni Eswar expertly captures the subtleties of the Tamil Nadu village where the bulk of the film is set in.

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Deepu Joseph, the editor, simultaneously maintains a seamless flow to the story, which includes a number of lengthy single shots. He has created a gorgeous necklace that perfectly captures the ethos of the setting and the people. Finishing touches by colourist Liju Prabhakar, who also made the frames, are ever-memorable.

Since the background music and each and every sound that viewers hear in the film contribute significantly to Nanpakal’s aesthetics, the efforts of the project’s sound designer Renganaath Ravee, sound mixer Fazal A Backer, and sync sound producer Ajeesh Omanakuttan further elevate the film’s overall quality.

If Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam is still on your watch list and you have been putting off seeing it, we firmly believe that you are losing out on one of the best films in Indian cinema up to this point in 2023.

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Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam is available for streaming on Netflix.

Anandu Suresh

Anandu Suresh is a Senior sub-editor at Indian Express Online. He specialises in Malayalam cinema, but doesn't limit himself to it and explores various aspects of the art form. He also pens a column titled Cinema Anatomy, where he delves extensively into the diverse layers and dimensions of cinema, aiming to uncover deeper meanings and foster continuous discourse. Anandu previously worked with The New Indian Express' news desk in Hyderabad, Telangana. You can follow him on Twitter @anandu_suresh_ and write (or send movie recommendations) to him at anandu.suresh@indianexpress.com. ... Read More

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