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. 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.
Miss Kumari (1932–1969) was an Indian actress working in the Malayalam film industry between 1949 and 1969. In the '50s and early '60s she was the most prominent female lead in the Malayalam film industry. She briefly worked as a teacher before she made her film debut in the 1949 film Vellinakshatram. She took on the stage name Miss Kumari on the sets of her second film, Nalla Thanka.
Murappennu is a 1965 Malayalam-language drama film directed by A. Vincent and written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair. The film stars Prem Nazir in the lead role with an ensemble supporting cast including Sharada, Madhu, Jyothilakshmi, K. P. Ummer, P. J. Antony, Jyothilakshmi and Adoor Bhasi playing the pivotal roles. The film revolves around a joint family and the romantic relationships between the cousins of the family. The film explores the Indian custom of marriage between cousins.
Balan is a lost 1938 Indian Malayalam-language drama film produced by T. R. Sundaram under the banner of Modern Theatres, directed by S. Nottani and written by Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai. It is notable for being the first sound film in the Malayalam language, and the third feature film in Malayalam cinema after Vigathakumaran and Marthanda Varma. Based on the short story Vidhiyum Mrs. Nayarum by A. Sundaram. The film is a melodrama about the struggle of two orphaned children. The film stars K. K. Aroor in the title role and M. K. Kamalam as the female lead, with Master Madanagopal, M. V. Shanku, K. Gopinath, Alleppey Vincent and C. O. N. Nambiar in supporting roles.
Kaanatha Veshangal is a 1967 Indian Malayalam-language film directed by M. Krishnan Nair and produced by K. P. Kottarakkara. The film stars Prem Nazir, Sheela, Sukumari and Jayabharathi in the lead roles. The film has musical score by B. A. Chidambaranath.
Pavappettaval is a 1967 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by P. A. Thomas. The film stars Sathyan, Kamaladevi, Sukumari and Adoor Bhasi. The film had musical score by B. A. Chidambaranath. It is a remake of the 1941 Telugu film Devatha.
Aabhijathyam is a 1971 Indian Malayalam-language drama film directed by A. Vincent and produced by R. S. Prabhu. A remake of the Marathi film Manini (1961), it stars Madhu, Sharada, Sukumari and Kaviyoor Ponnamma. It was released on 12 August 1971. It was remade in Tamil as Petha Manam Pithu and in Telugu as Abhimanthavalu.
Udaya Studios was one of the oldest film studios in the Malayalam film industry of India. It was established in 1947 by director-producer Kunchacko (1912–1976) and film distributor K. V. Koshy in Pathirappally, Alappuzha in Kerala. The studio influenced the gradual shift of Malayalam film industry from its original base of Chennai, Tamil Nadu to Trivandrum, now considered a milestone in the history of Malayalam film industry. The first film of the studio was Vellinakshatram (1949).
Nalla Thanka is a 1950 Indian Malayalam-language mythological film directed by P. V. Krishna Iyer and produced by K. V. Koshy and Kunchacko under the banner of Udaya Studios and K & K Combines. It was the second film produced at the Udaya Studios, the first being Vellinakshatram (1949). The film stars Miss Kumari in the title role along with Augustine Joseph, Vaikom Mani and Miss Omana in other supporting roles. The film is based on the legend of Nalla Thanka, which is based on a popular Tamil folk tale.
Merryland Studio is an Indian film studio based in Trivandrum, Kerala. It was the second film studio in Kerala, established in 1950 by former Trivandrum mayor and businessman P. Subramaniam. He produced 70 films, 59 of them directed by himself. He was active between 1951 – 1979. The studio's home productions were made under the company Neela Productions. Merryland Studio was famous for their professional rivalry with Kunchacko's Udaya Studio, the first film studio in Kerala. They resumed film production under the newly christened company Merryland Cinemas, debuting with Hridayam (2022).
Randidangazhi is a 1958 Malayalam political film based on the novel of the same name by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai and directed by P. Subramaniam with Miss Kumari, P. J. Antony, T. S. Muthaiah, Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair, Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair, S. P. Pillai, Bahadoor, Adoor Pankajam, Soman and J. A. R. Anand in the star cast. It received a certificate of merit at the National Film Awards.
Sreekrishnapurathe Nakshathrathilakkam is a 1998 Indian Malayalam-language comedy drama film, directed by Rajasenan. It is a remake of the Tamil film Bama Vijayam (1967). The film features Innocent, Jagathy Sreekumar, Cochin Haneefa, Oduvil Unnikrishnan, K. P. A. C. Lalitha, Kalaranjini, Bindu Panicker and Nagma in her debut malayalam film, although her previous Malayalam film, “Anna” was officially unreleased to date. It was produced by Highness Arts and was distributed by Kavyachandrika Release. The story and screenplay of the movie were designed by Mani Shornur, to which Rajan Kizhakkanela added the dialogues.
Kaathirunna Nimisham is a 1978 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by Baby. The film stars Kamal Haasan, Vidhubala, Jayan, Jayabharathi and M. G. Soman. The film has musical score by M. K. Arjunan.
Alleppey Vincent was an Indian actor in Malayalam cinema. He acted in Balan (1938), the first talkie made in Malayalam. He is the brother of Sebastian Kunjukunju Bhagavathar.
Prasanna is a 1950 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by S. M. Sriramulu Naidu and produced by Pakshiraja Studios. The film stars Pappukutty Bhagavathar, Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair and P. A. Thomas in lead roles. The film had musical score by M. S. Gnanamani. It is debut Malayalam film of Travancore Sisters, Lalitha, Padmini and Ragini. Also the debut film of actors Kandiyoor Parameshwarankutty, P. A. Thomas, Pappukkutty Bhagavathar, debut Malayalam film of Sreeramulu Naidu, playback singers M. L. Vasantha Kumari, P. A. Periyanayiki and Radha-Jayalakshmi.
Vanamala is a 1951 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by G. Viswanath and produced by V&C Productions. The film stars P. A. Thomas, Ammini in lead roles. The film had musical score by P. S. Divakar. It is the first jungle movie in Malayalam, also the debut film of Neyyattinkara Komalam, director G. Viswanath, lyricist P. Kunjukrishna Menon, singer Jikki and cameraman Arumugham.
Mathravadi is a 1956 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed and produced by P Subramaniam. The film stars Prem Nazir, Kumari Thankam in lead roles. The film had musical score by Brother Laxmanan and lyrics by Thirunainarkurichy Madhavan Nair.
Devi Kanyakumari is a 1974 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed and produced by P. Subramaniam. The film stars Baby Vinodini, Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair and Kedamangalam Sadanandan. It was released on 30 August 1974.
Kochavva Paulo Ayyappa Coelho is a 2016 Indian Malayalam-language comedy drama film written and directed by Sidhartha Siva. It is produced by Kunchacko Boban, who also stars in the title role, along with Rudraksh Sudheesh. The film marks the return of Udaya Pictures, the first ever film production company in Malayalam cinema, after 30 years. Anusree played the female lead role. The film was released during the festival of Onam, on 9 September 2016 and received a positive response from the audience.
Dharma Devatha is a 1952 Indian film produced and directed by P. Pullaiah. The film stars Santha Kumari and Kaushik, with Mudigonda Lingamurthy, Mukkamala, Relangi, Baby Sachu and Girija in supporting roles. It was simultaneously shot in Tamil and Telugu languages.
