Malayalam cinema, is an Indian film industry of Malayalam-language motion pictures. It is based in Kerala, India. The films produced in Malayalam cinema are known for their cinematography and story-driven plots. In 1982, Elippathayam won the Sutherland Trophy at the London Film Festival, and Most Original Imaginative Film of 1982 by the British Film Institute. Rajiv Anchal's Guru (1997), Salim Ahamed's Adaminte Makan Abu (2011) and Lijo Jose Pellissery's Jallikkattu (2019) were Malayalam films sent by India as its official entries for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the Academy Awards.
Priyadarshan is an Indian film director and screenwriter who predominantly works in Malayalam and Hindi cinema. He was one of the first directors in India to introduce rich color grading, clear sound and quality dubbing through his early Malayalam films.
Sreenivasan is an Indian actor, screenwriter, director, dubbing artist and producer who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema. Sreenivasan has starred in over 225 films. Sreenivasan wrote the screenplays of films such as Odaruthammava Aalariyam (1984), Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam (1986), Gandhinagar 2nd Street (1986), Nadodikkattu (1987), Pattanapravesham (1988), Varavelpu (1989), Thalayana Manthram (1990), Sandesam (1991), Midhunam (1993), Mazhayethum Munpe (1995), Azhakiya Ravanan (1996), Oru Maravathoor Kanavu (1998), Udayananu Tharam (2005), Katha Parayumpol (2007), and Njan Prakashan (2018) among which the latter is one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time. He has won two Kerala State Film Awards for Best Screenplay, for Sandesam and Mazhayethum Munpe.
In Harihar Nagar is a 1990 Indian Malayalam-language comedy thriller film written and directed by Siddique-Lal. The film, set in the fictional locality of Harihar Nagar follows four unemployed bachelors: Mahadevan (Mukesh), Govindan Kutty (Siddique), Appukuttan (Jagadeesh) and Thomas Kutty (Ashokan) and their attempts to woo their new neighbour Maya However, she is in town to investigate the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of her brother. It also stars Rizabawa, Kaviyoor Ponnamma and Rekha, with Suresh Gopi and Sai Kumar making cameo appearances. The music was composed by S. Balakrishnan.
Mukesh Madhavan, known mononymously as Mukesh, is an Indian actor, film producer, television presenter, and politician who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema besides also having sporadically appeared in Tamil-language films. In a film career spanning four decades, he has acted in over 260 Malayalam films. His 1996 film Kaanaakkinaavu premiered at the IFFI and won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration. He co-produced Kadha Parayumbol (2007), which won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value. He also produced the 2012 film Thattathin Marayathu, which is considered one of the defining films of the Malayalam New Wave.
Abdul Hameed Muhammed Fazil, known mononymously as Fazil, is an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter and actor who works in Malayalam cinema, in addition to directing a handful of Tamil films and a Telugu film. He made his directional debut with the 1980 film Manjil Virinja Pookkal.
Godfather is a 1991 Indian Malayalam-language action comedy drama film written and directed by Siddique–Lal. It is produced by Appachan under the banner of Swargachithra. The film stars N. N. Pillai, Mukesh, Thilakan, Innocent and Bheeman Raghu with Philomina, Kanaka, Jagadish, Siddique and K. P. A. C. Lalitha in supporting roles. The film revolves around the rivalry between two families, the Anjooran and Anappara houses and the consequences faced when two members of the families fall in love.
Sai Kumar, also credited as Saikumar, is an Indian actor who appears in Malayalam films. He is the son of Malayalam actor late Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair. He appears in both positive and negative roles. He notably plays the hero role in Ramji Rao Speaking, and the villain in Makkal Mahatmyam.
Siddique is an Indian actor and producer, who works mainly in Malayalam cinema. Along with appearing in over 350 Malayalam films, he has also acted in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi language films. He is known for having played a wide range of starring and supporting roles, including comic characters, romantic leads, anti-heroes and villains.
Siddique–Lal are a screenwriter and director duo, consisting of Siddique and Lal. They were active together in Malayalam cinema during 1986–1995. They were initially assistant directors to director Fazil. Particularly known for making films in the comedy genre, the films that came out of the partnership include Ramji Rao Speaking (1989), In Harihar Nagar (1990), Godfather (1991), Vietnam Colony (1992), and Kabooliwala (1993). All of these films were some of the biggest hits in Malayalam cinema and many of them have a cult following in Kerala. The duo broke off in 1993, but later continued their association by Lal producing some of the films directed by Siddique. The duo reunited again after two decades in 2016 to co-write the film King Liar which was directed by Lal.
M. P. Michael, better known by his stage name Lal, is an Indian actor, director, screenwriter, producer and distributor who predominantly works in Malayalam and Tamil films and in a few Telugu films. Lal has won several awards, including a National Film Award – Special Mention for acting (2012), two Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor, and a Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Malayalam (2008). He is the owner of Lal Media Arts, a post-production studio.
Bheeman Raghu is an Indian actor, singer, dancer, former politician and police officer (retired) who appears mainly in Malayalam films and is best known for his villainous and comedy roles. In a career spanning over three decades, he has appeared in more than 400 films, and has started doing comic roles as well.
2 Harihar Nagar is a 2009 Indian Malayalam-language comedy thriller film written and directed by Lal and produced by P. N. Venugopal starring Mukesh, Siddique, Jagadish and Ashokan. It is the sequel to In Harihar Nagar (1990). The film chronicles the story of four childhood friends Mahadevan (Mukesh), Govindan Kutty(Siddique), Appukuttan (Jagadish) and Thomas Kutty (Ashokan) who revisits their home residence Harihar Nagar after many years to relive their old days. However, problems arise when one of them goes missing.
Rizabawa was an Indian actor who works predomiantly in Malayalam films and television. His breakthrough role was as a villain in the 1990 film In Harihar Nagar. Since then, he acted as villain in several films in 1990s.
In Ghost House Inn is a 2010 Indian Malayalam-language horror comedy film written, directed, and co-produced by Lal. Starring Mukesh, Siddique, Jagadish, Ashokan and Nedumudi Venu in the lead roles, the film is a sequel to 2 Harihar Nagar (2009) and In Harihar Nagar (1990). In the film, Thomas Kutty buys a haunted bungalow and convinces his friends to stay with him on the first night. The trouble begins when they actually see the ghost of the mistress who was killed seventy years ago.
Nagarathil Samsara Vishayam is a 1991 Malayalam comedy-thriller film written by Kaloor Dennis, directed by Prashanth. It stars Jagadish, Siddique, Chithra and Keerikkadan Jose in the lead roles. This is one of the low budget comedy films were produced following the success of In Harihar Nagar with Jagadish and Siddique in the lead role.
Raveendran Nair, known by his stage name Poojappura Ravi is an Indian actor, primarily concentrating on Malayalam films doing comedy roles. He was a stage actor and was a part of Kalanilyam Drama Vision, the famous drama institution. He started doing Malayalam films in the mid-1970s. He has done many " black and white " movies produced in Kerala. Ravi is actually a very flexible character actor who can do almost any role which is evident from his movies. Even though the exact count of the list of his movies is not updated, he has surpassed 600 films. In the 1990s he also did TV serials.
Soubin Shahir is an Indian actor and director who works in Malayalam cinema. He began his film career as an assistant director in 2003 and worked under several directors. Soubin made his acting debut in 2013 with a supporting role in Annayum Rasoolum. He made his directorial debut with the drama Parava (2017). In 2018, he won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for his leading role in Sudani from Nigeria, the film was also a major commercial success.
Pradeep K. R., professionally credited as Pradeep Kottayam, was an Indian actor who primarily worked in Malayalam films and some Tamil films. He is best known for his comedic roles. His role in the 2010 Tamil film Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa gave him a breakthrough after a dialogue received public attention.
John Honai is a 2015 Indian Malayalam-language comedy thriller film produced by P T Saleem. The film stars Siddique as John Honai in the lead role along with Malavika Menon, Jagadish and Mukesh in the major roles. The films is directed by T A Thufeeq. The music is composed by Alex Paul. The screenplay is based on a story written by Fazal. The film's name gives the impression that it is a sequel to the comedies "In Harihar Nagar", "2 Harihar Nagar" and "In Ghost House Inn", but it is completely unconnected.
