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, India. Malayalam cinema includes the commercial film industry popularly known as Mollywood as well as independent cinema of Malayalam language. In 1982, Elippathayam won the Sutherland Trophy at the London Film Festival, and Most Original Imaginative Film of 1982 by the British Film Institute. The film Marana Simhasanam has won the prestigious Caméra d'Or at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival.
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, nine Kerala State Film Awards, eleven Kerala Film Critics Awards and thirteen 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.
Palappurathu Keshavan Surendranatha Thilakan was an Indian film and stage actor who appeared in over 200 Malayalam films. Thilakan was known for his elaborate method acting, realistic and spontaneous appearances and is considered to be one of the greatest actors in Malayalam Cinema.
Master Chief Petty Officer Krishnan Madhavan Nair, better known by his stage name Jayan, born as the son of Madhavan Pillai and Bharathiyamma in Kollam, was an Indian actor, naval officer, and stunt performer of the 1970s and 1980s. He starred in over 150 Malayalam films, primarily as an action star. In 2010 he was referred to as the first and most successful action hero of Malayalam cinema.
Suresh Gopi is an Indian actor, playback singer, television presenter and politician who is currently serving as the Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Ministry of Tourism since June 2024. He was elected as a Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha in the 2024 general election from Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency, becoming the first BJP MP from Kerala, marking the party’s first-ever victory in a Lok Sabha election in the state. He is also serving as the President of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute from September 2023.
M. G. Soman was an Indian actor and former Indian Air Force officer who appeared in Malayalam films. He was one among the leading star actors doing hero roles in Malayalam Cinema during the late 1970s and early 1980s. He has also done roles in Tamil films Aval Oru Thodar Kathai, Naalai Namadhe, Kumara Vijayam and Airport. However, in the late 1980s and 1990s, he switched to character and villainous roles.
Ranjith Balakrishnan is an Indian film director, screenwriter, producer, and actor who works in Malayalam cinema. Ranjith made his directorial debut in 2001 with Ravanaprabhu, the sequel to Devaasuram. His films Thirakkatha and Indian Rupee won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam in 2008 and 2011 respectively. He is also the current chairman of Kerala State Chalachitra Academy.
Oduvil Unnikrishnan was an Indian actor who worked in Malayalam cinema. He has portrayed supporting roles in both dramatic and comedic roles. He is a four-time winner of Kerala State Film Awards.
Shaji Kailas is an Indian film director and screenwriter known for his works in Malayalam cinema. Shaji got a breakthrough with the comedy film Dr. Pasupathy (1990).
Renji Panicker is an Indian actor, scriptwriter, director, film producer, and journalist best known for his Malayalam films. He made his debut as a director with Bharatchandran IPS in 2005.
Rizabawa was an Indian actor who worked predominately 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.
Lalu Alex is an Indian actor who works in Malayalam and Tamil Films In a career spanning four decades, Lalu Alex has acted over 250 movies and is known for his character roles, comic roles and antagonistic roles in the Malayalam movie industry.
Chitra Shaji Kailas, better known by her birth name Annie, is an Indian television host and former actress from Kerala, who appears in Malayalam television and films. Her film career spanned three years from 1993 to 1996 with a total of 16 films in Malayalam cinema, she retired from acting post-marriage and returned as a television host in 2015.
Ashokan is an Indian actor known for his roles in Malayalam films. He made his film debut with Peruvazhiyambalam the film won the 1979 National film award for best feature film. He is best known for his roles in Yavanika (1982), Yuvajanotsavam (1986), Thoovanathumbikal (1987), Moonnam Pakkam (1988), In Harihar Nagar (1990), Amaram (1990), 2 Harihar Nagar (2009) and In Ghost House Inn (2010).
Suresh Krishna is an Indian actor, known for his comedic roles, earlier negative performances and character roles. He is noted for his portrayals in Manju Poloru Penkutti, Christian Brothers, Pazhassi Raja and Kutty Srank.
Raveendran (Ravindher), popularly known as Disco Raveendran is an Indian actor, primarily concentrating in Malayalam and Tamil films and he was a very busy actor of both these languages in the 1980s. A multi-faceted personality, Raveendran is also a screenwriter, interior designer, anchor, a film scholar, an acting coach, social activist and director of film festivals like Kochi Metro (Malayalam) Short Film Fest. He is an alumnus of the Adayar film school, Chennai.
Madirasi is a 2012 Malayalam action comedy film directed by Shaji Kailas, starring Jayaram, Meera Nandan, Meghana Raj, Kalabhavan Mani, Tini Tom, John Vijay, and Kailash. The film is based on a series of true incidents that took place in the city of Madras, known in Malayalam as "Madirasi". Madirasi is, however, described as a part of Coimbatore in the film.
Nandalal Krishnamoorthy, better known by his stage name Nandu, is an Indian actor primarily working in Malayalam, and a few Hindi and Tamil films. He has been in the industry for more than 30 years and is acclaimed for his performance in Mohanlal's Spirit, directed by Ranjith. He was also seen in many Priyadarsan films. He received SIIMA award for best supporting actor, for the movie Spirit.
Sajith Jagadnandan is an Indian film director who works in Malayalam films. He made his directorial debut with Ore Mukham (2016). He works as an associative director and director.
Alone is a 2023 Indian Malayalam-language mystery thriller film directed by Shaji Kailas, written by Rajesh Jayaraman, and produced and distributed by Antony Perumbavoor through Aashirvad Cinemas. The story is set during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic in India. It stars Mohanlal as the only character appearing in the film which otherwise features voice roles as supporting cast. 4Musics composed the film's background score and songs.
