New generation (Malayalam film movement)

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New generation films is a Malayalam film movement developed in the early 2010s, characterized by fresh and unusual themes and new narrative techniques. [1] [2] Films of the new wave differ from conventional themes of the past two decades and introduced several new trends and techniques to the Malayalam film industry. [3] While the new generation formats and styles are deeply influenced by global trends, their thematics are firmly rooted in Malayalee life and mindscapes. [4]

Contents

The new generation also helped to revive the Malayalam film industry in the early 2020s when the industry was hit with the effects of COVID-19 pandemic. [5]

Beginning

Filmmaker Amal Neerad is widely credited with bringing a new era of filmmaking in Malayalam cinema. [6] His directorial debut, Big B (2007), introduced a fresh cinematic experience to Malayalam audiences and has since garnered a significant cult following. [7] This style inspired upcoming filmmakers, who went on to experiment further and produce films in the coming years such as Traffic (2011), City of God (2011), Salt N' Pepper (2011) and Chaappa Kurishu (2011), which helped define the movement. In the beginning, most of the new wave films were modestly budgeted, thus supporting experiments by new directors between ₹2-3 crores, compared to the average Malayalam films that had a budget of ₹6-8 crores and have more than recovered their investment. [2] [8]

Unlike the general trend in the Malayalam films, most of the new directors were young. [1] Director Aashiq Abu, one of the most talked-about new generation film-makers in Malayalam, introduced several new wave films and technicians. [3] Actor-producer Jayasurya who had debuted into the industry in 2002, had begun creating his own signature in the new-wave of cinema through phenomenal acting performances in films such as Beautiful and Trivandrum Lodge. Jayasurya had also broke the image barrier of performing in lead roles for a mainstream actor or star, by essaying several character roles and antagonist roles all which were critically acclaimed. [9] Actor-writer Anoop Menon was another emerging personality in the beginning of New Generation Era. [3]

Characteristics of films

Erosion of the so-called "superstar" system in popular Malayalam films coincided with rise of the new wave where screenplay got rooted-to-reality, closer-to-life and lead characters became ordinary men and women. Influx of new actors, the absence of superstars, rise of metro-centric/urban and middle-class themes and different story-lines were also noted in the wave. While formats and styles of the new directors are deeply influenced by the global trends, their thematics were firmly rooted in Malayali life and mind-scape. [10] A recurrent trope in these new narratives is accidents, coincidences, casual encounters and chance meetings that set in motion an unexpected chain of events affecting the lives of the characters drifting in the urban flotsam. [10] The frequent use of Malayalam influenced by English is also noted in the films. [8] The use of latest technology has added speed to the process of change in the industry. More advanced technology and innovative techniques are being experimented and the industry has become more open to trying out new ideas.

Until the beginning of new wave, most Malayalam films had rural themes portraying the "essential goodness" and "unspoilt beauty" of villages. [11] The focus of the films also shifted from the conventional masculine, handsome, virtuous and invincible hero to more humane characters. Another notable feature is that stories shifted to depict more non-male characters as lead. Films featuring gender minorities and homosexual leads is another definitive characteristic of this era of Malayalam cinema. [2] The depiction of women has also changed in the new wave films beyond recognition. The leading ladies have often been shown to be working women who are individualistic by flirting openly, drinking and smoking in public, and making lewd comments, something which was considered taboo in the 80s and 90s. [2] A number of female-oriented films like 22 Female Kottayam (2012), How Old Are You? (2014), Rani Padmini (2015), Uyare (2019), The Great Indian Kitchen (2021) were also the part of the new wave. [1]

Impact on superstardom

Mohanlal Viswanathan BNC.jpg
Mamooty.jpg
A new macho hero image emerged through a number Malayalam films during the 1990s and 2000s, that added another dimension to the ascent of Mohanlal (Left) and Mammootty (Right) as superstars.

The new wave soon ignited a debate about the era of superstars coming to an end with Malayalam cinema witnessing a radical change. [12] In the 1980s, stars mattered, though not as much as in the 1990s and 2000s, when Malayalam cinema was practically dictated by the then superstars of the industry. [13] The stranglehold of superstars that was stifling any new experimentation, complemented by the autocratic control of Malayalam film industry organisations over all areas of the industry was seen as pushing the industry to the wall. [10] Unlike Mohanlal, Mammootty has done more films with directors of new wave movement, mostly being the directors' debut movie. [14] [15]

Actors

Actors like Thilakan, Nedumudi Venu, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Jayasurya, Kunchacko Boban, Indrajith Sukumaran, Biju Menon, Indrans, Pratap Pothen, Suraj Venjarammood, Harisree Asokan, Kunchan, Lal, Saiju Kurup, Jaffar Idukki, Baburaj, and Lena, who began their career before the new wave, were also noted for their performances in the new generation films.

Directors

Screenwriters like Syam Pushkaran, Dileesh Nair, Bobby–Sanjay, Unni R., Santhosh Echikkanam, Anjali Menon, PS Rafeeque, P. F. Mathews, S. Hareesh, Murali Gopy, Gopan Chidambaram, P. Balachandran, Shahi Kabir, Muhsin Parari; Cinematographers such as Shyju Khalid, Sameer Thahir, Madhu Neelakandan, Abinandhan Ramanujam, Jomon T. John, Renadive, Little Swayamp, Anend C. Chandran, Pappu, Shehnad Jalal, Vinod illampally; Musical Artists Bijibal, Rex Vijayan, Jakes Bejoy, Prashant Pillai, Sushin Shyam, Gopi Sundar, Rahul Raj, Shaan Rahman, Rajesh Murugesan, Shahabaz Aman, Vishnu Vijay, Justin Varghese; Editors like Vivek Harshan, B. Ajithkumar, Saiju Sreedharan, Mahesh Narayanan, Praveen Prabhakar, Manoj, Noufal Abdullah, Deepu Joseph etc. were also made significant contributions to New Wave films.

Films widely regarded as new generation films

The following are some of the films widely considered as new generation Malayalam films:

General response and criticisms

As per critics, the new wave of activity in Malayalam cinema is reminiscent of the 1980s, regarded as the golden age of Malayalam cinema, when mainstream films bridged the gap between arthouse and commercial movies, led by a team of talented writers and directors. [13] In the 1980s, Malayalam films witnessed some positive changes through directors like Padmarajan and Bharathan, who made path-breaking films. These films too broke the norms which were considered the prerequisite for a commercial entertainer, and traversed a new path between popular and parallel cinema. [12]

There is a general consensus that the New-Gen movies draw much inspiration from other film industries. They depict lives of people living in 21st century Kerala through a very realistic lens, it's often said that most of its success is due to the freshness these narratives possess in comparison to traditional Malayalam movies. [ citation needed ]. New-Gen Malayalam movies tend to feature more nucleus families and urban lifestyle, rather than the depiction of traditional joint families from villages. This and the adult themes present in many movies has gained the New-Gen movies the criticism that they're primarily targeted towards young people.

The new wave films are criticized for explicit language and provocative themes, often "under the guise of bold or modern". [3] Malayalam actor Jayaram has talked about his disinterest towards the new generation films publicly, he has heard to be saying the new wave films lacks its appeal towards a family environment as the inappropriateness of mannerisms in certain films, beyond a PG-13 is very awkward to someone who expects to watch a family film such as most of the conventional Malayalam movies were, which did not need a specific rating.[ citation needed ]

The New generation received criticism from some conventional film-makers. They accused that plagiarized versions of foreign films are being presented under the guise of New Wave experiments. [3] While admirers of the New Wave of Malayalam films call it the "Jasmine revolution", critics refer it as the "multiplex revolution". [2] "Some films that are fresh in thought and execution have clicked at the box office," says veteran director Sibi Malayil. "But I am against referring to them as New Wave Cinema. Changes were always there in Malayalam films. But most of these so-called new-generation movies revolve around the themes that deal with life in a metro city. These films are getting a good response in tier-I cities only". [12]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malayalam cinema</span>

Malayalam cinema is the segment of Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Malayalam language, which is widely spoken in the state of Kerala and Lakshadweep islands of india. Malayalam cinema includes the commercial film industry, sometimes known as Mollywood, as well as independent cinema made in Malayalam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mammootty</span> Indian actor and film producer

Muhammad Kutty Panaparambil Ismail, known mononymously by the hypocorism Mammootty, is an Indian actor and film producer who works predominantly in Malayalam-language films. He has also appeared in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, and English-language productions. In a career spanning five decades, he has appeared in more than 420 films, predominantly in lead roles. He is the recipient of several accolades, including three National Film Awards, eleven Kerala State Film Awards, eleven Kerala Film Critics Awards and fifteen Filmfare Awards South. He was honored with the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award by the Government of India in 1998, for his contributions to cinema. He was also honored with the Kerala Prabha Award by the Government of Kerala in 2022. Mammootty was named as one of "the men who changed the face of the Indian Cinema" by CNN.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jayasurya</span> Indian actor, distributor, film producer, playback singer, impressionist (born 1979)

Jayasurya is an Indian actor, distributor, sponsor, model, film producer, playback singer, and impressionist who works in Malayalam films. He has appeared in more than 100 films and has won several awards, including a National Film Award, three Kerala State Film Awards, two Filmfare Awards South for acting and Best Actor at the Cincinnati Film Festival held in Cincinnati, US. Jayasurya has also appeared in a few Tamil films.

<i>Twenty:20</i> (film) 2008 film by Joshiy

Twenty:20 is a 2008 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film written by Udayakrishna-Siby K. Thomas, directed by Joshiy, produced and distributed by Dileep through Graand Production and Manjunatha Release. The film stars Mohanlal, Mammootty, Suresh Gopi, Jayaram and Dileep. The film was produced on behalf of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) as a fundraiser to financially support actors who are struggling in the Malayalam cinema. All the actors in AMMA worked without payment in order to raise funds for their welfare schemes.

<i>Azhakiya Ravanan</i> 1996 Indian Malayalam drama film

Azhakiya Ravanan is a 1996 Indian Malayalam-language romantic comedy-drama film directed by Kamal and written by Sreenivasan. The film has an ensemble cast of Mammootty, Bhanupriya, Sreenivasan, Innocent, Biju Menon, Rajan P. Dev, and Cochin Haneefa. Kavya Madhavan portrayed Anuradha's younger self. The movie was produced by V. P. Madhavan Nair under the banner of Murali Films, while the music was composed by Vidyasagar as his debut in Malayalam. The 2015 film Chirakodinja Kinavukal is a spin-off to this film.

Johny Antony is an Indian film director and actor, known for making comedy films in Malayalam cinema. He is from Changanassery in Kottayam district, Kerala. He worked for about a decade as an associate to directors Thulasidas, Taha, Kamal and Jose Thomas. Antony made his directorial debut with the slapstick comedy C.I.D. Moosa in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amal Neerad</span> Indian film director, cinematographer and producer (born 1976)

Amal Neerad is an Indian film director, cinematographer and producer who mainly works in Malayalam cinema. He attended the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata. He was awarded the National Film Award for Best Cinematography in 2001 for his diploma film Meena Jha.

<i>Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha</i> (film) 2009 Indian film

Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha is a 2009 Indian Malayalam-language mystery film written and directed by Ranjith, starring Mammootty, Shwetha Menon and Mythili. It is based on the novel of the same name by T. P. Rajeevan,. Mammooty plays three characters in the film. The film was Mythili's debut in cinema. Ranjith also introduced about thirty Malayalam stage artists through this film. The film tells the story of a private detective, who returns to his birthplace, a village called Paleri, to solve a murder mystery that occurred on the same night he was born.

<i>Traffic</i> (2011 film) 2011 Indian film by Rajesh Pillai

Traffic is a 2011 Indian Malayalam-language road action thriller film written by brothers Bobby and Sanjay and directed by Rajesh Pillai. The film features an ensemble cast consisting of Sreenivasan, Kunchacko Boban, Asif Ali, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Rahman, Anoop Menon, Sandhya, Roma, Remya Nambeesan, Namitha Pramod, Lena, Jose Prakash and Krishna. The film has its narrative in a hyperlink format. The film opened on 7 January 2011, to a positive reception. A multi-narrative thriller that intertwines multiple stories around one particular incident, Traffic is inspired from an actual event that happened in Chennai. Owing to its critical and commercial success, Traffic was remade into Tamil as Chennaiyil Oru Naal, in Kannada as Crazy Star and is also remade in Hindi, with the same name. This was also the last film of the veteran actor Jose Prakash. The film has a cult status.

<i>5 Sundarikal</i> 2013 Indian film

5 Sundarikal is a Malayalam romantic anthology film. It contains five short stories on love about five types of women. The stories are directed by Shyju Khalid, Sameer Thahir, Aashiq Abu, Amal Neerad, and Anwar Rasheed, and feature an ensemble cast. The film was produced by Amal Neerad Productions. The music directors were Gopi Sundar, Bijibal, Prashant Pillai and Yakzan Gary Pereira. The film reached theatres on 21 June. A promo song by popular Kochi-based rock band Black Letters was also released.

<i>Philips and the Monkey Pen</i> 2013 Indian film

Philips and the Monkey Pen is a 2013 Indian Malayalam language children's film written by Rojin Thomas and directed by Rojin Thomas and Shanil Muhammed. The film stars Sanoop Santhosh, Jayasurya and Remya Nambeesan.

<i>Iyobinte Pusthakam</i> 2014 film by Amal Neerad

Iyobinte Pusthakam is a 2014 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film directed by Amal Neerad and written by Gopan Chithambaran, with dialogues written by Syam Pushkaran. The film stars Fahadh Faasil, Lal, Jayasurya and Isha Sharvani with Jinu Joseph, Chemban Vinod Jose, Vinayakan and Padmapriya in supporting roles. Aashiq Abu makes a cameo appearance as P.J. Antony. Faasil and Neerad co-produced the film.

Reenu Mathews is an Indian actress who has acted in Malayalam films. She works as a cabin crew member for Emirates (airline) in Dubai. She made her debut in Immanuel (2013), opposite Mammootty, directed by Laljose. She has acted with Mohanlal in Ennum Eppozhum, directed by Sathyan Anthikad & with Prithviraj Sukumaran in Sapthamasree Thaskaraha. She has paired with Mammooty again in Praise the Lord.

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Sachin is a 2019 Indian Malayalam-language romantic comedy film directed by Santhosh Nair and written by S. L. Puram Jayasurya. It stars Dhyan Sreenivasan,Anna Rajan,Aju Varghese, Hareesh Kanaran, Renji Panicker, Ramesh Pisharody, Appani Sarath, Maniyanpilla Raju, Maala Parvati, Aabid Nassar, Reshmi Boban and Sethu Lakshmi. Sachin is a romance film in the backdrop of cricket. The story revolves around a boy who born on the auspicious day when cricketer Sachin Tendulkar hit century. After watching Sachin's performance, Viswanathan (Raju) got excited and named his son as Sachin. The film was released on 19 July 2019.

<i>Neeyum Njanum</i> 2019 film by A.K. Sajan

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<i>Kumbalangi Nights</i> 2019 film by Madhu C. Narayanan

Kumbalangi Nights is a 2019 Indian Malayalam-language drama film directed by Madhu C. Narayanan. The directorial debut was written by Syam Pushkaran and jointly produced by Fahadh Faasil and Nazriya Nazim under their production house Fahadh Faasil and Friends, in association with Dileesh Pothan and Syam Pushkaran under Working Class Hero. The film stars Shane Nigam, Soubin Shahir, Fahadh Faasil and Sreenath Bhasi, along with debutants Anna Ben, Grace Antony and Mathew Thomas in pivotal roles. The cinematography and editing were handled by Shyju Khalid and Saiju Sreedharan, respectively. The soundtrack and background score is composed by Sushin Shyam.

<i>Kolaambi</i> 2023 Indian Malayalam-language drama film

Kolaambi (transl. Loudspeaker) is a 2023 Indian Malayalam-language drama film written and directed by T. K. Rajeev Kumar, starring Nithya Menen, Renji Panicker, Rohini, Sijoy Varghese and Dileesh Pothan. The film is produced by Roopesh Omana under the production house Nirmalyam Cinema. Resul Pookutty handles the sound recording, while music is composed by Ramesh Narayan and cinematography is done by Ravi Varman. Production design is done by Sabu Cyril.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Malayalam new generation films failing to click? – Indian Express
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Malayalam cinema pushes the envelope : NATION – India Today". Indiatoday.intoday.in. 7 July 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Viay George (27 December 2012). "Arts / Cinema : The show goes on…". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  4. ↑ "Frontline.in".
  5. ↑ City Times – Hit parade
  6. ↑ Menon, Neelima (26 March 2022). "Revisiting Big B: Amal Neerad's stylish directorial debut headlined by Mammootty". The News Minute. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  7. ↑ "10 Years Of Mammootty's Big B: Here Are The Film's Big Contributions To The Industry!". www.filmibeat.com. 13 April 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 www.outlookindia.com | Chemmeen Pickle
  9. ↑ "- Malayalam News". Archived from the original on 10 April 2015.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Venkiteswaran, C. S. (13 April 2013). "Goodbye to the superstar era". The Hindu. Chennai, India.
  11. ↑ "Malayalam movies turn urban-centric | NDTV Movies.com". Movies.ndtv.com. 6 June 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  12. 1 2 3 "Malayalam cinema still considers old as gold". Ibnlive.in.com. 23 September 2012. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  13. 1 2 "CityTimes – Glorious 100". Khaleejtimes.com. 4 November 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  14. ↑ "I've introduced over 70 directors in my career: Mammootty". 2 February 2019.
  15. ↑ "When Mammootty Gave a Great Start to These Directors' Careers". 16 March 2014.
  16. 1 2 3 Vijay George (12 April 2012). "Arts / Cinema : Battle of the genres". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  17. ↑ Nair, Manoj. "Malayalam movies: Non-linear narratives are making the box-office ring louder – The Economic Times". The Times of India.
  18. ↑ Review: Neelakasham Pachakkadal Chuvanna Bhoomi is impressive – Rediff.com Movies
  19. ↑ Meena T. Pillai (7 March 2013). "The daughters of P.K. Rosy". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
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