Romancham

Bramayugam

Super Sharanya

June

Ajagajantharam

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Mollywood saw number releases before the lockdown and a few after that through OTT platforms. Here is a list of movies that did great this year and received audience accolades.

Anjaam Pathira

The thriller genre hit movie set us at the edge of the seats with a nail-biting story line. Kunchacko Boban as a psychologist helping Kerala police to track down a psycho serial killer is the basic story line. This movie deserves to be on top of this list of best of 2020.

Ayyappanum Koshiyum

The Prithviraj Biju Menon starrer revolves around the ego clashes between the two main characters Ayyappan and Koshi. The Sachi directorial is being remade into other languages.

Trance

The much-awaited Amal Neerad directorial is rich in technical brilliance and it open ups the manipulations done on basis of religions and Fahadh Faasil has played fabulously well throughout the movie.

Kappela

The movie that starts as a normal love story ends with a revelation of some ugly truths and confuse us and finally relieves us with the story. Anna Ben, Roshan Mathew and Sreenath Bhasi has given impressive credible performances.

C U Soon

The second Malayalam OTT release didn’t fail to amaze us with its crisp editing and the story line which goes entirely online. Darshana Rajendran and Roshan Mathew amaze us with their natural performances along with Fahadh.

Varane Avashyamund

The movie saw the comeback of iconic duo Shobhana and Suresh Gopi and Kalyani Priyadarshan and Dulquer Salmaan has added flavour to the movie all together.

Sufiyum Sujatayum

The first OTT Malayalam release was a musical starring Aditi Rao and Jayasurya along with the new face Dev Mohan. The songs in the movie was a huge hit, it filled the social media and WhatsApp statuses for a long time.

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Text Credits: Sandra James

Malayalam movies are best known for their quality content and brilliant comic timing. In the past few years Malayalam films have definitely been appreciated and watched by movie lovers from around the world. Most of the good scripts from Malayalam movies are either copied by Bollywood or are remade with some big names from the industry enacting it. There are some really good Malayalam films released in the recent time that went unnoticed mainly because they were not a major studio house films and therefore did not get any promotion or wide theater release. But thanks to Netflix now you can watch all of them online.

Most of the movies that we have shortlisted are from independent labels and the cinematography style is slightly offbeat, noir and experimental. If you enjoy movies with non conventional narrative style, this list is definitely for you.

Oru Ozhivu Divasathe kali (An Off Day Game)

Source: onlookersmedia.in

The film falls under the genre of drama. It starts on a very light note where five friends get together in a lavish resort after a long time. They begin playing a game from childhood but in no time the game take a serious turn, their sinful past and the inner beasts in them get revealed one by one. The movie reflects on various issues such as casteism, misogyny, emergency and the politics which revolves around it all.

Shavam

Source: silverscreen.in

This film was shot completely in black and white. The movie is based on the unprecedented demise of a family member in a middle class catholic family. The camera then follows the behavior of family members, friends and neighbors gathered for the funeral. The movie follows the tropes of an satire and black comedy.

Kanyaka Talkies

Source: lensmenreviews.com

The story line of the film is definitely gripping. A cinema hall that used to screen porn movies is dismantled and rebuilt into a church. The story then shifts focus to the church and incidents surrounding the church. The interesting bit begins when the newly appointed priest Father Michael starts hearing strange noises at night.

Oraalppokkam

Source: moviebuff.com

The movie is about a separated couple Mahendran and Maya. Mahendran fails to deal with the separation even after five year and he goes in search of Maya. This film traverse and develops through people he meets and stories he hears during his journey across the country. His search ends at the flood affected Kedarnath valley in Himalaya.

Monroe Island

Source: blogspot.com

The movie follows the story of a  troubled 18 year old visiting his ancestral home in Monroe island. There is constant play of uncertainties as regard to what is the true and what is not. There is a mysterious undertone through out the movie that will keep you intrigued. This film is a definite thriller that will surely intrigue you.

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Text credits: Lakshmi Priya

Transgender makeup artists are the new trendsetters and the women in Kerala are just awe-struck seeing their extraordinary works. They are creating magic on celebrities, models, and brides of Kerala. It is a radical change from the past when things were different. There was a time in Kerala when transgenders were treated as outcasts and judged because of various misconceptions. But now things are changing and transgenders are treading a better path in the mainstream society. Here is a list of makeup artists from Kerala who are changing the makeup scene in the state, turning out to be an inspiration for others like them.

Renju Renjimar

Image source: renjurenjimar.com

Renju Renjimar is the first transgender celebrity and bridal makeup artist in Kerala who adorned the beautiful faces of South Indian actresses, models, and brides with her bewitching ability. She has worked with popular celebrities such as Bhavana, Priyamani, Asin, Tamannah, Amala Paul and many more. Renju has also stepped into the Bollywood industry by doing a makeover for the actress Madhubala.

Born and brought up in Kollam, Renju began her career as a makeup artist by learning the art on her own and has now successfully completed 22 years in the makeup industry. The break in her career came when she assisted Ambika Pillai at Wills India Fashion Week. Renju is known for her eye makeup which stands out on the beautiful faces she that she decks up. Her bridal makeup for the business tycoon Ravi Pillai’s daughter Arathi and the recent work with actress Bhavana for her wedding received great attention from people.

Image source: renjurenjimar.com

Jaanmoni Das

Image source: facebook.com (@jaan moni das)

An Assamese by birth but a Malayali by heart. Even though Jaanmoni is not from Kerala, her works are admired by most of the Keralites. She landed in Kerala as part of the shooting of an Assamese film and ended up being the most sought-after makeup artist in Kerala. She has been living in Kochi for the last seven years. Jaanmoni has worked with celebrities such as Manju Warrier, Amala Paul, Ranjini Haridas, Nazriya Nazim and many more. Her initial interest was in dance which eventually developed her taste into makeup. Jaanmoni has also worked in a number of Malayalam movies like Ennum Eppozhum, Kalimannu. 

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Image source: facebook.com (@jaan moni das)

Avinash S Chetia

Image source: facebook.com (@avinash.schetia)

Like Jaanmoni, Avinash also hails from Assam and had played a major role in changing the makeup scene in Kerala. Avinash was working as a makeup artist in Assamese and Bengali movies when she received the invitation to Kerala from Jaanmoni and actress Amala Paul. Her debut in Kerala was the film Run Baby Run in which she did makeup on Amala. Her bridal makeup for Nazriya was also a huge hit. Avinash has worked as a makeup artist in more than 50 films like How old are you?, Oru Indian Pranayakatha, King Liar.

Image source: facebook.com (@avinash.schetia)

Vineeth Seema

Image source: facebook.com (@vineeth seema)

Vineeth Seema has already become the most favourite and requested bridal make-up artist in Kerala. She owns a bridal makeover studio at Thiruvananthapuram. Vineeth first appeared in a comedy show in a Malayalam channel. Even though her initial interest was in acting, Vineeth has now turned out to be a talented makeup artist. She has not only beautified the faces of brides from Kerala but also from cities like Chennai and Bangalore.

Image source: facebook.com (@vineeth seema)

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Text Credits: Lakshmi Priya 

It’s summer vacation and where are you heading to, to spend your holidays productively? If you haven’t decided yet then we have some special places for you. There were many famous movies in Malayalam cinema which were shot at various beautiful locations around Kerala. Why not take a walk through the ‘Varikkasseri Mana’ where Jagannathan of Aaramthampuran resided? Why not breath-in the fresh air at Kuttanad where innumerable hit Malayalam movies captured its scenic beauty on the celluloid? To make your travelling experience a bit more than just memorable, here is a list of popular shooting locations in Kerala that you can explore. From places of natural beauty to mansions full of antiques, these places will definitely take you for a nostalgic trip through the history of Malayalam cinema.

Varikkasseri Mana

Image source: hyd-masti.com

Even after years, the movie Aaraam Thampuram is greeted with applause by the viewers because of the spectacular performance of the complete actor, Mohanlal. The movie might have been incomplete without the ancient Ettukettu model house – Varikkasseri Mana where the movie was set. It is one of the oldest aristocratic Namboothiri‘s houses located at Manissery Village of Ottapalam, Palakkad. Devasuram, Rapakal, Thoovalkottaram are some of the other movies shot here. Visitors are allowed in this age-old mansion when no shooting is going on.

Kuttanad

Image source: klicktours.com

Known as the ‘rice bowl’ of Kerala, Kuttanadu in Alappuzha is popular for its vast paddy fields, backwaters and picturesque villages. The natural beauty of Kuttanad is beautifully captured in many Malayalam movies. Amen, Champakulam Thachan, Bhagyadevatha are some of the movies shot here. Few scenes from the famous Hindi films like Dil Se and Tashan were also shot here. If you are heading to Kuttanad, don’t forget to explore the Punnamada Lake in a houseboat and experience Kayaking, a water sport.

Padmanabhapuram Palace

Image source: wikipedia.org

When actress Shobana mused the character of ‘Nagavalli’ for the movie Manichithrathazhu and moved her feet to a Tamil song, Kerala witnessed one of the best movies ever made in the Indian cinema history. As stellar as Shobana’s performance, the big mansion – Padmanabhapuram Palace where the movie was shot also fascinated the movie enthusiasts.  Located at the Kalkulam taluk of Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu and owned and maintained by the Government of Kerala, Padmanabhapuram Palace is the face of the Travancore-era of Kerala. The movie His Highness Abdulla was also shot here.

Thalassery

Image source: indianholiday.com

The movies Malarvadi Arts Club, Thattathin Marayathu and Oru Vadakkan Selfie, is known for capturing the beauty of Malabar. Situated on the Malabar coast of Kerala in Kannur, Thalassery is turning out to be a popular movie location. Thalassery is known for its historically significant locations like Tellicherry fort, Gundert Bungalow and AndalurKavu. Muzhuppilangad beach, the longest Drive- in Beach in Asia is also situated there. Thalassery is also famous for giving birth to the art form Theyyam and the martial art Kalaripayattu. 

Olappamanna Mana

Image source: keralatourism.org

Moideen and Kanjana Maala of the movie Ennu Ninte Moideen has undoubtedly conquered our hearts with their tragical yet divine love story. Olappamanna Mana, situated in Vellinezhi of Palakkad district is the house of Moideen in the movie. Olappamanna is the birthplace of Kerala’s famous poet Olappamanna Manakkal Subramanian Namboothirippad. The mana is opened for tourists and also has the facility of homestay. This place can definitely give you a glimpse to the age-old Namboothiri heritage. Aaram Thampuran, Madambi, Aakasha Ganga, Naran are the other movies which were shot here.

Vagamon

Image source: vagamon.com

A hill station located at the Kottayam district, Vagamon is known for its scenic beauty and peaceful ambience. The movie Iyyobinte Pusthakam was completely shot here. The place has a number of resorts and places of adventurous sports.

Athirapally Falls

Image source : photo.webindia123.com

Located at Chalakudi Taluk of Thrissur, Athirapally falls have been a popular location for shooting song sequences in Malayalam movies. The movie Anandabadram and a number of other movies were shot here. The falls are also commonly seen in most of the Mani Ratnam movies like Kannathil Muthamittal, Guru, Raavan, Dil Se.  

Bolgatty Palace 

Image source: ktdc.com

Nirakootu, My boss, Vellinakshathram are some of the movies shot in Bolgatty palace constructed by the Dutch at the Bolgatty Island in Kochi. One of the popular holiday destinations of tourists, Bolgatty palace has an ayurvedic centre and Kathakali performances on a daily basis.

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Here is our list of Malayalam movies based on real-life incidents.

Ennu Ninte Moideen

Ennu Ninte Moideen was a movie that made us fall in love with and made people restore their faith in love. The romantic drama directed  R. S. Vimal,  shook Kerala in the year 2015. It is the saga of eternal love, which even death cannot part. Torn apart by the rude caste-ridden society, Moideen and Kanchanamala could not live together. Kanchanamala in real life lives in Mukkam and documentaries have been made about her and Moideen. The film won a grand success and also received many accolades. It stars Prithviraj and Parvathy as Moideen and Kanchanamala respectively.

Image source: dna

 Jacobinte Swargarajyam

Directed by Vineet Sreenivasan tells a tale about a family that has been torn by a financial crisis and rebuilt by their strength. It stars Nivin Pauly, Ranji Panicker, Sreenath Bhasi, Lakshmi Ramakrishnan, and Aima Sebastian in the lead. The movie is inspired by the story of a businessman and his family residing in Dubai. Once the business collapsed, the family got completely devastated, but they soon regained the business by the strength of the elder son. It turned out to be a complete family entertainer and became a chartbuster at the box-office, collecting about 25 crores.

Image source: madaboutmoviez

Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathira Kolapathakathinte Katha

This film portrays the case of harassment and murder of a young woman named Manikyam in Kerala. Set in a small village called Paleri, the victim was Thiyya woman whose murder remained a mystery for more than 50 years.It revolves around the mysterious murder of a girl Manikyam that remains unleashed even now. It got four State Awards including the Best Film Award.

Image source: epradeep98

Devasuram

Devasuram, an ever classic hit movie of Malayalam, directed by I V Sasi was written by Renjith. The lead character Mangalassery Neelakantan, done by Mohanlal, was inspired by a real-life person Mullasserry Rajagopal, who died in 2002. The film was one of the highest grossing Malayalam films of the 1990’s.

Image source: onlookersmedia

Achanurangatha Veedu

This film directed by Lal Jose has the theme of the infamous Suryanelli Rape Case. A schoolgirl of 16 lured by a marriage proposal was kept in a house prison and raped by some forty men for forty days. It made an upsurge all over Kerala. The movie features Salim Kumar, Muktha, Samrutha, and Prithviraj in the lead roles.

Image source: youtube

Celluloid

This movie traces the biography of J. C. Daniel, the father of Malayalam cinema. The first film in Malayalam, Vigathakumaran was made by J. C. Daniel, with P. K. Rosie as the heroine. But the debts and controversies hunted him down, turning his dream into a grave tragedy. Directed by Kamal, it has Prithviraj as J. C. Daniel and Mamta Mohandas as his wife. It won the 2012 National Award for the Best Feature Film, and also seven State Awards.

Image source: Youtube

Traffic

Directed by Rajesh Pillai, and written by Bobby and Sanjay the movie was inspired by a true incident that occurred in Chennai. Sreenivasan, Rahman, Kunchacko Boban, Remya Nambeeshan played the lead roles. The movie was a hit at the box office.

Image source: nowrunning

Take Off

Take off is a 2017 Indian drama thriller, directed by Mahesh Narayan. It was his debut film. The movie is inspired by real-life incidents that happened in 2014 during the early crisis of ISIS in Iraq and the attack on 46 Indian nurses. Parvathy, Kunchacko Boban, Fahad Faasil, Asif Ali play the lead roles.

Image source: manoramaonline

This is our list of Malayalam movies based on real-life incidents. Do let us know which are your favorite ones.

Text Credits : Alisha Shaji

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2017 was a year of success for Tovino Thomas.From featuring on our cover to giving us movies like Godha, Oru Mexican Aparatha, Ezra, Tharangam, and now, Mayanadhi Tovino has enlightened us with his presence on the big- screen.  He made his debut through Prabhuvinte Makkal and there was no turning back ever since then. Tovino was listed as the Most Desirable Man 2016 by Kochi Times.

Aishwarya Lekshmi, the new girl in M-town has taken her place in the hearts of Malayalees all around the country. The model turned actress, who was also an MBBS graduate was featured on our cover before her debut film ‘Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela’. After ‘Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela’ she gave a mesmerizing performance in Mayaanadhi.  It is a delight to see her conquer her dreams one step at a time.

Mayaanadhi has been compared to Padma Rajan’s classic film ‘Thoovanathumbikal’, for the benchmark it has set for the new age romantic Malayalam movies.The movie is a great combination of romance, Drama, and thriller.The weekend is here! Go watch Mayaanadi if you haven’t.

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Words: Nikhil Wilson

This Onam be prepared to get your purses lighter as it’s going to be not one but four blockbusters hitting the big screens. With Mohanlal’s latest movie Velipadinte Pusthakam hitting theatres today, Onam seems to have started early. With three other films right behind, releasing on September 1, fans and movie lovers are sure to have a blast this festive season. Here is the list of four movies to keep you and your family entertained

Velipadinte Pusthakam

Image source

Cast: Mohanlal, Reshma Rajan, Arun Kurian, Priyanka, Alancier, Sarath Kumar
Director: Lal Jose
Music: Shaan Rahman
Release date: August 31,2017.

Pullikkaran Staraa

Image source

Cast: Mammootty, Asha Sarath, Innocent, Deepti Sati, Dileesh Pothan, Hareesh Perumanna
Director: Shyam Dhar
Music: M. Jayachandran
Release date: September 1,2017 (insert link 2)

Njandugalude Naattil Oridavela

Image source

Cast: Nivin Pauly, Ahana Kumar, Shanthi Krishna, Saiju Kurup, Aishwarya Lekshmi
Director: Althaf Salim
Music: Justin Varghese
Release date: September 1, 2017 (insert link 3)

Adam Joan

Image source

Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Bhavana, Mishti, Siddique, Rahul Madhav, Narain
Director: Jinu Abraham
Music: Deepak Dev
Release date: September 1, 2107 (insert link 4)

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