Text Credit : Shibul Pavithran 

Malayalam films always had a great message to the current times and have reflected the realities of Kerala to the big screen efficiently. The ability to showcase social issues to the general public is one of the best qualities that Malayalam film directors have imbibed. From freedom, politics and patriarchy, many issues have been covered extensively. One such issue is unemployment which surfaced predominantly in Malayalam movies and was able to touch the pulse of Malayalis.

  T. P BALAGOPALAN M.A (1986)

Directed by : Sathyan Anthikad

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The story revolves around T.P Balagopalan (Mohanlal) who earns a part time salary. Despite of being a post graduate he struggles hard to make ends meet and has to take care of huge family. This film shows the problems related to unemployment at many levels.

 Gandhinagar 2nd Street (1986)

Directed by :  Sathyan Anthikad

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Mohanlal plays the role of an unemployed Malayali youth and imposters as a Nepali Gurkha with a false name to get a job as watchman in Gandhinagar.

Doore Doore Oru Koodu Koottaam (1986) : 

Directed by :  Sibi Malayil

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This film narrates the story of guy named Divakaran (Mohanlal) who takes up the job of teacher in government school by producing fake certificates. It was indirect take about the lack of employment opportunities in our society. However, when he realizes that the school is run by corrupt officials and due to which children were suffering, he decides to change the system.

Ramji Rao Speaking (1989)

Directed by : Lal

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One of the best films till date that addresses the issues of unemployment in society. The story is about three bachelors struggling to earn a livimg as they are unemployed. The character of Balakrishnan (Saikumar) and Gopalakrishnan (Mukesh) were good representation of the jobless youth in that era.

Mazhavilkavadi (1989)

Directed by :  Sathyan Anthikad

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Unemployed Velayudhankutty (Jayaram), a villager, goes to a city in Tamil Nadu to earn a living so as to marry his lover, Amminikutty (Sithara). But many unexpected turn of events happen while he starts his new life in the city of Tamil Nadu. This movie won four Kerala state awards and is one of my personal favourites.

Nadodikkattu (1987)

Directed by : Sathyan Anthikad

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Sathyan Anthikkadu and Sreenivasan moulded this film that looks deeply into the issues of unemployment. Dasan (Sreenivasan) and Vijayan (Mohanlal) find it really hard to get any work after losing their job. So they finally decide to go to Dubai to try their luck. But they end up in a different location in South India, where they are mistaken for crime investigation officers. The film has been narrated with a humourous touch and has successfully addressed the issues of unemployment. This movie is one of the all time classics among Malayalis.

Most of the films in this list have attained a cult-classic status. The best part is the fact that most of these films have done extremely well at the box-office. Directors like Sathyan Anthikad, Lal, Sibi Malayil addressed the issues of unemployment in most of their movies. In fact, it is the combination of Sreenivasan and Sathyan Anthikkad which gave us some evergreen classics. Films like Nadodikkattu and Ramji Rao Speaking, dealt with such issues in the best possible ways.

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