The music of Kerala has a complex history. It is not the same as Malayalam poetry, although most of it is poetry driven. Kerala has a rich tradition in Carnatic music. Songs formed a major part of early Malayalam literature, which traces its origin to the 9th century CE. The significance of music in the culture of Kerala can be established just by the fact that in Malayalam language, musical poetry was developed long before prose. With the development of music in the region, different branches were formed out of it.
Poochakkoru Mookkuthi is a 1984 Indian Malayalam-language screwball comedy film written and directed by Priyadarshan. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Mohanlal, Shankar, Menaka, M. G. Soman, Nedumudi Venu, C. I. Paul, Sukumari, Jagathy Sreekumar, Kuthiravattam Pappu, Sreenivasan and Baiju Santhosh.
Kilukkam (transl. Jingle) is a 1991 Indian Malayalam-language comedy drama film directed by Priyadarshan and written by Venu Nagavalli. The story set in Ooty revolves around tourist guide Joji (Mohanlal) and photographer Nishchal. They happen to meet a lavish tourist Nandini (Revathi), whom they bet their fortunes on. It also stars Thilakan, Innocent, K. B. Ganesh Kumar, Sukumari, and Sharat Saxena, with Murali and Jagadish making cameo appearances. The music was composed by S. P. Venkatesh. Kilukkam was released on 15 August 1991. The film was the highest-grossing Malayalam film at that time and ran for more than 365-days at the theaters. Kilukkam won five Kerala State Film Awards, including Best Actor for Mohanlal, Second Best Actor for Jagathy Sreekumar, Best Editor for N. Gopalakrishnan, and Best Cinematographer for S. Kumar. The film is regarded as one of the best comedy films of Malayalam cinema. It was remade in Telugu as Allari Pilla and in Hindi as Muskurahat by Priyadarshan himself. Later, the film had a sequel Kilukkam Kilukilukkam (2006). The movie was reported to have been inspired by the 1953 American movie Roman Holiday.
Kaalapaani is a 1996 Indian Malayalam-language epic historical drama film written by T. Damodaran and directed by Priyadarshan. Set in 1915, the film focuses on the lives of Indian independence activists incarcerated in the Cellular Jail in Andaman and Nicobar Islands during the British Raj. The ensemble cast includes Mohanlal, Prabhu, Tabu, Amrish Puri, Nedumudi Venu, Sreenivasan, Tinnu Anand, Annu Kapoor, Alex Draper, Sankaradi, and Vineeth. The film was produced by Mohanlal for Pranavam Arts in association with R. Mohan's Shogun Films.
Cycle is a 2008 Indian Malayalam film directed by Johny Antony and written by James Albert, starring Vineeth Sreenivasan, Vinu Mohan, Sandhya, Bhama, and Jagathy Sreekumar. The tale is about two friends, Roy and Sanju, struggling to make both ends meet with their low salaries, working respectively as a cashier in a private finance company and as a salesman in an electronics goods shop. It was a box office success.
Vellanakalude Nadu is a 1988 Indian Malayalam-language political satire crime film directed by Priyadarshan, written by Sreenivasan and produced by Maniyanpilla Raju. The film stars Mohanlal, Shobhana, Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair, M. G. Soman, Sreenivasan, Karamana Janardanan Nair, Maniyanpilla Raju, Sukumari, K. P. A. C. Lalitha and Lizy. The film tells the story of contractor C. Pavithran who has obtained a road contract. This film was a critical and commercial success, becoming one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of the year. It ran for over 200 days in theatres. Priyadarshan later remade the film in Hindi as Khatta Meeta, released in 2010.
Akkareyakkareyakkare, also known Akkare Akkare Akkare is a 1990 Indian Malayalam-language buddy cop comedy film directed by Priyadarshan and written by Sreenivasan. It stars Mohanlal, Sreenivasan, M. G. Soman, Mukesh, Maniyanpilla Raju, Parvathy and Nedumudi Venu in major roles. It is a sequel to 1987's Nadodikkattu and 1988s Pattanapravesham; Mohanlal and Sreenivasan reprises their roles. However, Thilakan, Mamukkoya and Innocent, who have appeared in the previous films, do not appear in this film. Also, a new cast of Nedumudi Venu, Sukumari, Parvathy Jayaram, Jagadish,Mukesh and Maniyanpilla Raju appears. M. G. Soman plays a character role, having appeared as himself in Nadodikkattu. The story follows C.I.Ds Dasan and Vijayan on an investigation for a gold crown stolen to the United States.
Madhusoodanan Jayachandran is an Indian composer, singer, and musician. He has won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director for a record number of nine times. In 2005, he also won the state award for best male singer. In 2015, he won the National Film Award for Best Music Direction for the film Ennu Ninte Moideen. He has composed music for 126 films.
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. Former child artist Kavya Madhavan portrayed Anuradha's younger self. The move was produced by V. P. Madhavan Nair under the banner of Murali Films, while the music was composed by Vidyasagar, his debut Malayalam movie. The 2015 film Chirakodinja Kinavukal is a spin-off to this film.
Odaruthammava Aalariyam is a 1984 Indian Malayalam-language screwball comedy film directed by Priyadarshan and written by Sreenivasan from a story by Priyadarshan. It is about a middle aged family man who is a womanizer and about three college students and their efforts to woo the womanizer's daughter. Nedumudi Venu, Sreenivasan, Mukesh, Jagadish, and Shankar play the lead roles. Odaruthammava Aalariyam was a commercial success at the box office. It was partially adapted from Sai Paranjpye's 1981 film Chashme Buddoor, and partially from K. Balachander's 1983 film Poikkal Kudhirai.
Nagarangalil Chennu Raparkam is a 1989 Indian Malayalam-language black comedy film directed by Viji Thampi and written by Ranjith. The film stars Jayaram and Sreenivasan and is partially based on Ruthless People (1986).
Ishtam is a 2001 Indian Malayalam-language romantic comedy-drama film directed by Sibi Malayil and written by Kalavoor Ravikumar. It stars Dileep and Navya Nair, with Nedumudi Venu, Innocent, Sreenivasan, and Jayasudha appearing in supporting roles. The music was composed by Mohan Sitara. Ishtam was remade in Hindi as Mere Baap Pehle Aap by Priyadarshan.
Adhwaytham is a 1992 Indian Malayalam-language political crime thriller film directed by Priyadarshan and written by T. Damodaran. It stars Mohanlal, Jayaram, Chithra, Revathi, Innocent, and M. G. Soman. The songs in the film were composed by M. G. Radhakrishnan and the film score was composed by Johnson.
Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam is a 1986 Indian Malayalam-language comedy-drama film directed by Sathyan Anthikkad and written by Sreenivasan from a story by Anthikkad. The film stars Mohanlal, Karthika, Sreenivasan and M. G. Soman. The film features songs composed by Jerry Amaldev and background score by Shyam.
Mazhavilkavadi is a 1989 Indian Malayalam-language comedy drama film directed by Sathyan Anthikad and written by Raghunath Paleri. It stars Jayaram, Sithara, Krishnankutty Nair, Urvashi, Innocent in the lead roles. This is one of the very few films where Innocent plays a negative role. It won four Kerala State Film Awards that year, the awards for Best Actress (Urvashi), Best Supporting Actor (Innocent), Best Music Director (Johnson), and Best Singer.
Dheem Tharikida Thom is a 1986 Indian Malayalam-language comedy film directed by Priyadarshan. This film is about an innocent young man joining a ballet team just to express his love towards the main actress. Maniyan Pillai Raju and Lizy appears in the leading roles, supported by Mukesh, Nedumudi Venu, Sreenivasan, Jagathi Sreekumar and Shankar. The story is adapted from the British musical comedy film Happy Go Lovely.
Onnanam Kunnil Oradi Kunnil is a 1985 Indian Malayalam-language screwball comedy film written and directed by Priyadarshan. The film stars Mohanlal, Shankar, Sukumari, Prem Prakash and Sankaradi. The film has musical score by Raghu Kumar.
Nettippattom is a 1991 Indian Malayalam-language comedy drama film directed by Kaladharan and produced by Balagopalan Thampi. The film starred Sreenivasan, Rekha, Sukumari, Jagathy Sreekumar, Manoj K. Jayan, K. P. A. C. Lalitha, Vijayaraghavan, Oduvil Unnikrishnan, Jagadish and Kumbalathu Padmakumar. The film's musical scored by Johnson.
Srikant Murali is an Indian actor, director and ad filmmaker. He has been in Malayalam movies such as Home(2021), Aby (2017), Virus (2019) and Action Hero Biju (2016). As an ad filmmaker Srikant has created material in various Indian languages.
