Malayala Cinema 2009
By cinebuzz | Tuesday, 13th Jan

Not a memorable 2008 Year for malayala cinema 2009 will be the year of the anti-superstar revolt. The pick of Malayalam’s writers, directors and producers will launch the first-ever combined offensive against the quarter-century old hegemony of the two Ms — Mammootty and Mohanlal.

The most venerated writer, M T Vasudevan Nair, talented director like Shaji N karun and the most sought after director, Lal Jose, have already joined hands in a venture with new faces. More will be introduced by other top names — Shaji Kailas, Unnikrishnan B, Shafi and A K Sajan. There are surprises too like the one by director Shyamaprasad who announced his new film Ritu, the entire cast of which would be fresh faces. This time he has dropped the idea of scripting published novels or plays and has chosen an original screenplay by a debutant writer. There is but a twist, rather a tame one, to the story. MT and Shaji Kailas have penned this year’s offerings of Mammootty and Mohanlal.

On the face of it, it’s an uneven contest. Four of the six most keenly awaited films this year belong to one of the two Ms. In Pazhassiraja, Mammooty plays the eponymous Malabar hero. This film is made by Malayalam’s greatest writer-director duo, M T Vasudevan Nair and Hariharan. Next is Love in Singapore, a comedy film by Malayalam’s most successful purveyors of slapstick, Rafi and Mecartin.

Mohanlal reprises one of his most dashing roles in the underworld flick, Sagar Alias Jacky — Reloaded. Infusing the film with loads of attitude is young filmmaker Amal Neerad. In Red Chillies, the first biggie to hit the screens this year, Mohanlal teams up with Shaji Kailas. This duo is famous for their all-out masala-flicks such as Aaram Thampuran and Narasimham, that eventually made box-office history.

Siddique and Lal, the filmmakers who together made comedy a serious business are back with two films. Body Guard will be Siddique’s first film in four years. It’s a Dileep and Nayanthara starrer. Lal directs In Harihar Nagar — 2 for the first time after he had parted ways with Siddique. It is the second part of the duo’s blockbuster In Harihar Nagar.