Reflections on film society movement in Keralam - Taylor & Francis
He remembered 1975, when he ran the reels of Chuvanna Vithukal . The entire theatre had erupted in applause during the land-reform dialogues. He saw old communist karshakars (farmers) wiping tears, not for the actors, but for their own struggles under the feudal janmi system. Cinema, here, was a public square.
Despite its many successes, Malayalam cinema faces several challenges, including the rise of piracy, the increasing popularity of OTT platforms, and the competition from other film industries. However, these challenges also present opportunities for innovation and growth. The increasing popularity of Malayalam films on OTT platforms has opened up new avenues for filmmakers to reach a global audience.
In recent years, Malayalam cinema has experienced a resurgence, often referred to as the "New Wave" or "Parallel Cinema." Filmmakers like Adoor Gopalakrishnan, A. K. Gopan, and Hariharan have gained international recognition for their thought-provoking and visually stunning films. Movies like "Swayamvaram" (1972), "Nishant" (1975), and "Mathilukal" (1989) have been critically acclaimed and have contributed to the growth of art-house cinema in India.
Inside, the audience was sparse but devoted. There was a family of farmers from Kuttanad, the rice bowl of Kerala, their lungis still rolled up, their bodies smelling of wet earth and toil. There was an elderly Muthashi (grandmother) who had walked two kilometers in the rain, clutching a cloth bag of crunchy, salted kappalandi (peanuts). And in the front row, a group of college boys, their mobile phones temporarily forgotten, already tearing up during the iconic scene where the protagonist, Sethumadhavan, holds the bloodied oda (a long, heavy machete used for chopping coconuts), not as a weapon, but as a symbol of his lost destiny.
The 2000s saw the emergence of a new generation of filmmakers, including Kamal Haasan, Priyadarshan, and Vineeth. Their films, such as "Nizhal" (2002), "Mansoor" (2012), and "5 Sundarikal" (2013), explored new themes and styles, appealing to a younger audience.
blended art-house sensibilities with mainstream storytelling.
