"Facepalm worthy" things of the late 90s-malayalam movies

Aside from a handful of quality, timeless flicks, most movies in the late 90s and early 2000s took an awful detour from the classic vibes of the 80s and early 90s, emphasising more on commerical masala and action rather than the creative writing and storytelling which our films relied on. Though, it started out as a  trend,  the repetitive promotion of larger than life characters in the silver screen slowly contributed to wears and tears in the quality of our movies. The movie industry as a whole started to receive heavy criticism for the lack of sensible content that was put out, thus giving the audience no reason to ever place foot in a cinema hall at that given time. It was a very unfortunate time for the cinema industry as the public started to lose interest in going to cinema halls, as they got tired of being fed with the same old cringe worthy cliched material over and over again. Apart from the action oriented action masala formulae, movies used the same set of  hilarious tools and techniques to present characters,emotions, stunts, relationships, and what not. however most of the time making no sense at all. So lets not waste any more time and quickly jump into the matter of discussion.

1. The bizarre role of  Basketball 

Really don't whose idea it was but the game of basketball least familiar to our sporting skills is chosen as the medium to emote heroism, villainism, and even romance in most of our commercial flicks. It is a laugh out riot to see how the characters keep a serious face while dribbling the ball in the most insane and hilarious way possible. For instance, in the malayalam movie Mark Anthony, the female lead steals the spotlight as she laughably dribbles her team to victory, igniting showers of romance from the male lead. Hit movies like Kochi Rajaav had unfortunately used the same pattern where it portrays the villain glorifying the criminal act that he successfully committed on a poor girl and in turn, the hero repays his cruel debts using the taste of his own medicine-all in the presence of the basket ball arena. Lets not even talk about the back and forth dialogues, the ganging up, and the dodge ball game leading to fight  between the characters in movies like "Highway" and "Black". On a positive note, maybe the directors thought no one know the basics of the game; plus it may have been easier for the director to grasp the scene in its entirety using just a few camera angles and positions. 

2. The Easily Breakable Glass

The breakable glass and tube bulbs, though discussed sarcastically by our audiences,however were always been given the positive nod. These items may have added an edge to the stunt scenes back in the day, but to place such breakable glass as bed room doors, kitchen doors and table tops along with placing tube bulbs in easily accessible positions,where it never belonged, but just for the sake of using them or breaking them in a fight sequence is quite fascinating to say the least. However, thank god fights are more realistic these days in our movies.

3. The Hero's GPS system

Before we ever heard of the GPS system, our movie protagonists were able to track down the antagonists using some GPS system that they had in their minds. In most action oriented flicks, there might be a kidnapping or just a scene,especially towards the movie's climax , where the heroine could be held captive by the villains.The villain might not even contact the hero, nor would anyone witness the kidnapping event, but the hero always manage to target and locate the villain's hideout with just a thought or an intuition and 10 out of 10 times, the hero will always reach the hideout just in time, but always before the smart and efficient Kerala Police. Such scenes should be removed from future as they portray our Police force in a very wrong manner.

4. The Stunt BGMs

This was a recurring phenomenon in many movies back in the day. During the stunt scene, the director would often make use of all the positive characters including the ones who do the comedy oriented character roles. When the lead character gets the screen time, the BGM will be more of a serious action oriented thing and the villain will bear the same energy; however, the co actors who do the comic role will be given the elephant cycling circus theme and the henchmen will suddenly act accordingly. Now, they go with the changing BGMs  back and forth for the lead,villain, his henchmen and the character artists at least for 5 minutes, which makes it more cringe rather than producing comedy gold.

5. Chirakodinja Kinaavukal- The Movie

This article won't be complete without mentioning the recent Malayalam spoof movie Chirakodinja Kinavukal. The movie had managed to talk about some of the washed up cliche elements that often took up screen time of most of our beloved movies. This movie was more of a wake up call, showing how much our movie industry has changed from using the same old formulae, that had tested the patience of our audience.

Though our malayali movie goers are used to saying "Kathayil Chothyamilla", we can wholeheartedly say that our movie producers have finally succumbed to the demands of the casual malayali audience to carry out a quality check for the content they produce these days.

 

The "ITCH" factor

As soon as you or your close family set sights on starting a new venture or doing something simple as renovating your house or purchasing a new phone, out of the blue appear before you some of your annoying relative(s) in the form of cousins,uncles & aunts, lets just call them the mosquito squad, either with a bunch of unconventional ideas of their own or advices that often lead you nowhere. They talk about the success story of Global billionaires and how we should follow their lead, and create a legacy that inspire our children and children's children. The more we begin to contradict their beliefs, the lengthier their "I have a dream" speech, so it is better to keep our mouth shuts for the eclipse to pass. Now, their mentoring play card  can be categorized into the following phases:

1. Mindgames 

Once you get to share your idea of the projects that you want to execute, the squad tries to manipulate you, emphasising more on the unforeseen consequences, even if  they don't really exist at all in the first place. You are fed with the so much negative vibes that you start to question yourself and might even consider dropping your plans and objectives. In other circumstances, they might give you hopes of  introducing you to the right resources that can help you attain your goals, however falling for their sugar coatings would only give you a reality check that fancy words are just fancy words and produce no productive results. Now, a few might pass the first stage with flying colours, thinking to themselves that they are free from the clutches of the envious for once and for all. Unfortunately this is as wrong as it gets as the second phase awaits them with a much higher dose of annoyance. 

2. The Overseer

After you are done with the initial phase, the so called mosquito squad will take up the role of an overseer, analysing your every move, ongoing works and actions. While you proceed with all the tasks that you have in front, evading all the turmoils, they perfect their skills as a layman's whistle blower, finding fault in even the most efficient things,and delivering your progress report that you never asked for.

3a.The Secret Coach

Finally if you somehow manage to make your project a success, then the squad takes up all the credit and will be more than happy in lecturing everyone about the influence they had on your project. Moreover, the success party you might intend to celebrate within your family circle, will be co-hosted by the mosquito squad, though you will be the one paying for all the expenses.

Now if the unfortunate happens, then they will appear before you as:

b.The critic of critics

When your longtime vision crumbles or when you incur irreparable losses in your project, then the same bunch will point their fingers at your inability in making your vision a reality. Unfortunately, their voices are heard everywhere in your family circle. In some cases they appear to be sad, though they are having a wonderful time inside their heads. A few others may sometimes make prejudiced statements or play the war of words on you, but ultimately would try to ease your mind, with certain things that might have added value to your efforts, had it been produced before you in the first place; however, their words and promises will never become fruitful actions under any circumstances.

So, no matter the challenges you face, believe in yourself, and always show respect for the old saying "Hard work pays off ". At the end of the day, it is always your close family that sticks with you till the very end. So never ever take them for granted.

Kerala's Biggest Social Media Stars in recent history

Social media has played a huge role in shaping the career of a whole lot of malayali talents, who have ever dreamed of money, fame and fortune to blossom in their ordinary lives. However, not everyone received  the same fate, as sometimes people get stuck in the curse of the "five seconds of fame" or "one hit wonder" status; and though to everyone's surprise, even if a few happen to reach a step further, they are most likely to be ranked in the list of people who have attained the viral sensationalism in the virtual reality world of entertainment. Quite frankly, a lot of them show the courage to step up to the challenge, but fail to keep up their momentum, making them just another spoke on the wheel, whereas some of them have fortunately managed to create a permanent mark in the minds of the common malayalis, thereby making a name for themselves; making most out of the god given talent, charisma, attitude,thought process,style,presentation,persona; and the "odd one out"  factor "luck", which could be the most differentiating, yet non analytical and unpredictable factor of the lot. Now I have compiled a list of the celebrities of the future, who have become household names in addition to being prominent social media players who,in recent history, has made fame and fortune to the best of their efforts. Of course, there are many more social media players out there, getting a lot of views for their projects, however not necessarily influential and a figure so popular to the remotest malayali viewer and, thus not included in this list. 

PS: The following personnel are not ranked in any order

1. Ahaana Krishna and Family

Actor Krishnakumar and family got more recognition than ever, since entering the magical world of social media. His eldest daughter, Ahaana Krishnan, who has just started to attain the "forefront actor"status might want to attribute part of her success story to Youtube vlogging, as she have set the gold standard for the rest of  her family, and stepping in her shoes are her siblings, making the most out of every opportunity that comes along their way. 

2.Santhosh Pandit

The man that showed the true power of social media to casual malaylis is quite possibly Mr Santhosh Pandit. He used the power of negative publicity to the fullest, a very risky move that roared unrepairable consequences, having the potential to destroy one's career in front of the public eyes. He showed the courage, determination and used all his tactics to attain a celebrity status, but a path almost impractical,unorthodox and non-recommended to say the least. Despite the criticism he faces for his film making efforts, he is praised for his humanitarian efforts by the public. 

3. The Gayathriofficial

She is a unique vlogger, a conglomerate containing topics that range from basic malayali lifestyle to youtube roasting /trolling cringe worthy content. Folks appreciate her videos that provide awareness regarding legal job opportunities and income generation available in the world wide web, along with her no BS approach towards controversial ads and related contents.

4. Arjyou

Following in the path of Youtuber-Trollmaster Ubaid Ibrahim is Mr Arjun Sundaresan, who single handedly elevated the art of trolling and video roasting to a whole new level. He showed everyone that it is not necessary to ooze artificial charisma, but how important it is to understand the pulse of the normal viewer to reach the "brass ring" of vlogging. To put in Layman's terms, he believed a lot in his own style n' swagger and kept everything real in his "trollability", that brought him tremendous success in the social media world.

5. Karikku

When a group of talented youngsters that share the same goals, joined hands to start a revolution in the entertainment industry, it resulted in the culmination of a spectacle known as Karikku. They brought fresh concepts styles and presentation to the sitcom genre of malayalam entertainment industry- the same that had been given an initial boost by Flowers'' Uppum Mulakum, became more than an over the night sensation, making a strong presence in the hearts of the Malayalis all over the world.

Cliches in modern horror flicks

Horror movies have gone as far as becoming a laboratory jar, filled with the same old formulae, that may have once fostered the genre to its peak, like never before. In the new cinema era , where seemingly every movie is a sequel, prequel or remake of an idea that was fresh decades ago, people are force fed in cinema halls with such recurring repetitive concepts, leading to the birth of bunch of horror cliches that have influenced many of today's horror flicks. Sadly, movie makers always try to use the ideas that have worked box office wonders in the near future, ultimately giving no promotion to movies that defy this usual procedure. So without further delay, lets look at some of the modern horror movie cliches:

1. Jump scare is the new horror

There were times when horror classics like The Exorcist, Halloween or Birds made commercial and critical acclaim for the kind of impact it brought to the genre of horror. Unfortunately today, most of us don't have the patience or interest in watching horror movies in cinema halls, that speak of fresh concepts and remarkable film making, wherein the genre has become a  mere "ghost chasing people in the dark" kind of thing. However, one horror movie that made its way to the cinema halls, having brought a different style of presentation to the entire genre in the recent past, was Ari Aster directorial "Hereditary". It managed to eliminate jump scares for much of its run time, unlike the movies that we see nowadays, and made us realise that horror doesn't necessarily mean mere pumping of adrenaline 24/7, and giving viewers unhealthy scare shocks from blind spots. However, James Wan, the man behind the horror franchise "Saw", also managed to create a movie by the name of Conjuring, which  had the unfortunate fate of bringing back tremendous power and fame to the jump scare bandwagon, by becoming one of the word's highest grossing horror movies of all time. 

2. Characters keep everything to themselves

Well unlike malayalam cinema, the characters in foreign cinema annoys the viewers by keeping everything to themselves. No matter how many times they get to feel or see the demonic presence, they don't even feel like sharing any of their nightmarish experiences to their family or friends, until the film reaches the interval mark. However, if they happen to go out of this usual cliche, then 9 out of 10 times, the rest of the characters will label them delusional.

3. "Bravest of the brave "children

The most exceptional aspect of western horror flicks are the child characters. They are braver than the heroes of our commercial flicks.Whenever they feel the presence of the evil spirit, they even give a try at confronting it, but never bother to wake their parents or relatives in any possible manner until their confrontation goes horribly wrong . In addition to keeping everything to themselves, they are not scared to sleep alone at night; although, they happen to be the primary target of the so called demonic entity. Kudos to the brave kids.

4. The "Electrifying" aura

Much like the white saree wearing "Yakshis" of malayalam cinema, a visual treat in most Vinayan movies, the Western horror movie directors have a thing for electricity. In modern horror flicks, the flickering of lights and bulbs is easily the trigger that alarms the audience, indicating that the ghost is on the run. If the movie ever deals with horror of the pre-electricity era, then usually a thump on the door is the warning sign.

5. The evil spirit is addicted to mind games

Evil spirit plays mind games with the characters for most of the time. They force you to undergo the scare tactics procedure for three-fourth of the movie. However, once the movie reaches the climax they change their stance; they appear even in day light, changing all their guerrilla warfare style of chase and make themselves ready to confront the characters face to face.  

The Crash TV culture is still a hot topic in Kerala !!!

The first time I ever came across the word Crash TV is when I got to learn of a man named Vince Russo,former head writer of the pro wrestling giant World Wrestling Entertainment, who is given the credit for introducing this concept in the late 90s to the world of Sports Entertainment. The concept included content that dealt with real life situations and emotions, either allowed or "added" for the benefit of gaining huge audience and better TRP (Television Rating Point). As a result, the shows got a lot edgier and darker, receiving lukewarm reception by the youth of yesterday, attaining wide stream popularity that led to movies,music albums, reality shows and soap operas to embrace controversial themes and contents, suitable only for ages 14+, bearing the message: "Viewer discretion advised". Though the concept is facing backlash today thanks to the growing social media, our casual malayali audience has started to think otherwise at least taking into consideration the support we show towards TV reality shows where their Unique Selling Proposition itself is attributed to the same. 

Nowadays, promos of entertainment shows involve artists often engaged in a war of words, that could either be real,or made realistic, highlighted in black and white, giving it a grey shade and shown in a very tense format, thereby creating a turmoil in the minds of the ordinary viewer who stays tuned to watch the program later. Most reality shows stresses more on the tears of talented artists who face the edge of elimination rather than the sheer brilliance they produce through their performances. Though, the producers of the same realise that people are bold enough to understand and disapprove the sometimes staged and scripted events, they are happy with the ratings/ TRP they receive, and are least concerned about the backlash they might receive for the kind of presentation they put out. 

Once an idea that we got inspired by, is now almost customary as we have started to remake foreign reality shows that changed the way we did and enjoyed entertainment. Channels have understood the importance of celebrity endorsements, that can help normalise concepts that once alarmed our society. In some unfortunate situations, some media outlets have participated in negative publicity stunts to attain viewers, often leading to personal attacks. Mr Santhosh Pandit was one person, who was ill treated by some of those media outlets in recent history for higher viewership. Though he is heavily condemned for his efforts in the entertainment scene, the negative publicity attack by the media might have done wonders for him as a person who lacked any cine-godfather or entertainment background, to develop mass viewership and mainstream popularity; a task deemed impossible for anyone that had to walk in his shoes. 

With this article I don't wish to criticise any medium or person that has ever used this phenomenon, but just to point out how "real is turned to reel" as a means of promotion; and as we progress on with the latest trends that affect our thought process, there will always be a target in mind, achieved via tactics of viral sensationalism that has no place for sincere and valued efforts. It is safe to say that no matter how cringe worthy we feel upon watching it, we still have shown some interest in giving it a look in the first place. This interest factor could be the very reason that has prompted channels to make use of this concept,drawing a huge audience with the aim of increasing ad slots, thereby finally progressing in the TRP competition. Perhaps it is not just the media but us viewers who have nurtured this concept and made it a success for eternity.

Why Michael Jackson's Dangerous deserves the "classic album" recognition?

Michael Joseph Jackson, the quintessential pop icon  revolutionized the music industry like no other as he made the most global albums and singles, breaking barriers and setting the gold standard of pop culture  for the future. Dubbed the "King of pop" by fans worldwide, he had made tremendous contributions to the cultural fabric and went as far on becoming the most successful entertainer of all time, an honour officially bestowed upon him by the Guinness world records back in 2006.  As an entertainer who began his dominance in the pre-internet era and despite, all the controversies that still haunt his legacy, he is more global and influential than any other modern day entertainer, which is definitely mind blowing to say the least, however not surprising. In his collaboration with the legendary Quincy Jones, Jackson had produced some of the greatest pop albums of all time, with their second collaboration "Thriller", becoming the world's best selling album of all time. However, by the dawn of the 90s, the media started to focus more on his personal issues, ignoring all the professional contributions he made at that time, with its primary target being his album "Dangerous" receiving lesser recognition compared to its predecessors.

Unlike his earlier works Dangerous was more of an album that emphasized on themes applicable to  folks all around the world; dealing with issues that called for international attention such as race, colour, peace,love, relationships and personal empowerment. The album had 14 tracks, 12 of those penned by Mr Jackson himself, and the single "Black or white"- a blend of pop and rock added with elements of early hip hop was both a critical and commercial hit, reaching number one wherever it got released as a single. The song was promoted using one of the most innovative music videos ever made, that drew a worldwide audience of roughly 500 million during its original airing. The song had infectious beats and popular drum sounds that seemingly had put the New Jack swing genre on the map.  Likewise, Grammy nominated single "Jam" could be praised as the song that gave confidence to music companies to promote songs that belonged to the rap or hip hop categories in later years, taking the same to mainstream popularity. The songs were more raw & energetic and the album's profound influence can be seen in the works of artists like Usher, Timberlake and Chris Brown who consider Jackson their biggest influence. The hits like "Remember the time" and "In the closet" saw Soul-R&B being given a rejuvenation and taken to higher platforms, that became club anthems that rocked the dance floors. He even did a follow up to his hard rock anthems "Beat it" and "Dirty Diana" through "Give into me" where he collaborated with former Guns n Roses guitarist Slash to make Dangerous an electric powerhouse, but kept the sounds and beats that influenced his vision.  To sum it up, he wanted to create an album of songs that related to all aspects of life, people of all demographics, backgrounds and taste; songs that appealed to all audiences, especially outside the native markets, to which the song "Heal the world", that peaked #2 in UK billboard charts, could be attributed as the song that most served this purpose, as it became kindergarten poetry all around the globe."Heal the word", often recognised as an unofficial sequel to "We are the world",co-written by Jackson, has the status of being the song that paved him the vision to create global anthems  like "Earth song" and "They don't care about us" in his album History:Past, Present and Future Book I, that possess a very powerful message, relevant to today's political economical and social scenario.

The one thing that we should embark on while discussing the Dangerous album is the fact that Jackson had complete artistic freedom while he worked on it, as he got to free himself from the powerful clutches of master musician and record producer Quincy Jones, who always took the major credit for the massive success of their previous efforts. So, with Dangerous, he had a chance to prove to the world, that he possessed the mastery to create an album that transcended across generations along with the  confidence to take up sounds that were once considered urban music; however, the talent he had showcased in writing and composing the aforementioned hits along with his use of the gritty vocal style and ability to create riffs using his beat boxing skills are criminally underrated.  

With Teddy Riley on his side, serving as a producer for the album, Jackson brought a drastic change with this album, when compared to everything that he has released prior to it. The album became a game changer to the new jack swing genre, infusing pop and rock music with funk-hip hop elements and street sounds. Though,the album was criticised for experimenting with fresh sounds, that led to its relatively lower album sales in the US, compared to his previous efforts, the album turned out to be Jackson's most famous album outside of the US and UK. With Dangerous, Jackson was able to tap into the fresh Asian Markets; where people began to play Jackson's songs on their music playlists. The number one single "Black or white" and its accompanying music video attained house hold level popularity across the globe, similar to what Thriller achieved in the US back in the 80s. Jackson in every sense became the world's biggest entertainer having huge massive fan base outside the native English speaking market, where his fans duplicated his famous Dangerous dance routine in stage programs, local festivals and talent shows, a phenomenon ever so present . Much like his performances, his songs had profound influence on world renowned musicians, like for instance, the Oscar winning Indian film composer A.R. Rahman who had sampled the intro bits of the song 'Who is it" for the musical score/theme song he created, played in flute, for his debut film project Yodha, a Malayalam language movie, released months after the release of Jackson's Dangerous album. What makes Jackson different from other artists is that unlike most other artists, Jackson had the ability to produce music of the future, creating sounds and styles that were unheard of in the past. The same can be said about his least commercially successful album "Invincible", which is perhaps one of the first albums that brought Dubstep music to the world.

Now, it is safe to say that he did music for common people to enjoy and dance to, rather than to boast of the lyrical complexity that most critics find solace in. The album was a victim of the media's attention towards his public image,which ultimately took away the credit he deserved for bringing a genre to the mainstream audience.The album sold about 30 million copies worldwide, and was a landmark album in the international market. The album that turns 30 next year may be ignored by most fans in the contest involving Off the wall and Thriller that decides his masterpiece album, however, just like its three predecessors,it should rightfully be given the "classic album" recognition that it truly deserve.

10 Acting Performances of Malayalam Megastar Mammootty that demands further appreciation !!!

A few days ago I wrote a similar article on superstar Mohanlal, see here, to which some of my friends, who read the same, happened to ask me to do a similar one on the ever young Malayalam Megastar Mammooty. In Mr Mohanlal's own words, Mr Mammooty is a "a disciplined  actor having a very high level of versatility along with the desire to do justice to his roles ". Infact, every malayali would agree to this, in addition to the fact that he doesn't age. When you see him on screen, you don't see him as a person but as a personality; his ability to bring out superlative performances along with his majestic voice modulation and the envious ability to do multiple dialects of the malayalam language is simply brilliant. So, its totally unfair that some of his masterclass performances are under appreciated which made up my mind to write an article on ten such performances which I feel demands further appreciation by critics and fans alike. As a matter of fact, you won't necessarily find any of the movies he did with the great Adoor Gopalakrishan nor movies like Soorya Manasam or Bhoothakannadi or any of his modern classics like Pathemari or Peranbu in this list. So without further adieu, lets get into the topic.

PS: The movies are not ranked in any order

1. Dany aka Daniel Thompson in Dany (2001)

Story and Direction: T.V. Chandran

The lead character Dany played by Mammootty is a multitude- the plot, the witness, and the victim of the ever changing political and social reforms of our state. This character portrays the life of an ordinary being who finds relief only in his better half- a saxophone. The movie introduces Dany as a good man's spirit who has no aims or ambitions, need or wants other than the companion of his musical instrument which he uses as the medium to connect to his emotions. Though, he initially gets caught in the changes that occupy his life, especially the one that comes in the form of a marriage to a rich man's daughter, he realises the old saying that "Not everything that shines is gold" as he becomes another victim of the upper class chauvinism , where his self esteem is crushed, wishes ignored, and emotions often undervalued. Director TV Chandran made a wonderful effort in drawing a strong contrast between the character Dany and the changing Keralian landscape, that faced similar highs and lows, showcasing Dany as a perfect representative for the same. Mammooty  has easily managed to dwell into the enigma of the society's ignored section; by enacting his role of a person who lived a life of silence and solitude; a person who relied on his saxophone for chewing up all his emotions and frustrations.In the final scene of the movie, a young girl on seeing his mortal remains would enquire who he is, to which his undying spirit would respond " Dany, Daniel Thompson"-A  nobody, perhaps a gentle soul, but a witness of the corrupted humanity, who loved the comfort of a saxophone that expected nothing in return. Though the movie was a masterpiece, Mammooty's performance as Daniel Thompson did not receive the applause it deserved; the movie itself was a victim of the larger than life movies and characters that stole the attention of the local folks. 

2. Ravishankar in Sukrutham (1994)

Story: M.T. Vasudevan Nair

Direction: Hari Kumar

Much like Mohanlal's Kireedom/Chenkol , this is one of those movies that viewers find it a bit uneasy to watch .With that being said, there is nothing wrong with the movie nor any of the performances, but people generally avoid movies having highly upsetting content. Mammootty amazes the viewer in the role of Ravishankar, a blood cancer patient who is survived by his wife and close relatives. In the movie, hope acts as a fictitious character that carries both positive and negative shades.  The movie depicts just how life can turn into a series of nightmares, based on how we value hope, and that giving up on life and dreams can create irreparable damages to one's existence. The mere  thought of nothing's gonna stay the same prompts Ravishankar to ask his loved ones to 'get over him' forever, a step that costs him his life. However, when he regains his composure and save himself from the clutches of the deadly disease, he is taught the hardest lesson that life may sometimes deprive you of a second chance and that its always important to not lose the one that mattered the most-hope. 

3. Murugan in Karutha Pakshikal(2006)

Story and Direction: Kamal                                                                                                                                                                  Mammootty plays the role of Murugan, a tamil migrant worker who struggles to earn a living for his three kids. He is a character who tries to shift the negative attitude of the society towards the down trodden, by being a positive role model to his peers; showing them the importance of self esteem and hard earned labour. Mammootty projects carefully constructed  balanced emotions while playing Murugan as he develops a very innocent bond with Suvarna, a dying  rich woman , who promises to donate her eyes, thereby providing a meaning to his blind daughter's life.  However things take an ugly turn, when her widower husband rejects the idea; as he stares away the poor daily wager. Though, the backlash makes him feel empty and cold inside, he hides his emotions from his children, smiling away his sorrow and despair,; but, proud of his blind daughter, who is unaffected by the entire episode; teaching Murugan that sometimes you don't have to see but feel all the good things that make up your life.

4. Bala Gopalan in Thaniyavarthanam(1987)

Story: A. K. Lohithadas

Direction: Sibi Malayil

Thaniyavarthanam talks about the tragedy of Bala Gopan, a simple school teacher, who becomes the victim of the evil superstitious beliefs and ignorant mindset of our society. A normal man who is pressurized and forced into becoming this new unstable person, only for committing the sin of being born as the nephew to a mentally disturbed being. Mammootty treats the character to a mix of emotions ranging from anguish to annoyance and finally grief as the world around him put him under the microscope deeming his every word, actions and reactions. Morever, the actor has effortlessly made the viewer ponder whether Bala Gopan indeed has really transformed into this new delusional being. The prejudice of the people, that once loved Bala Gopalan;  takes him to a new reality, where relationships didn't exist, truth never mattered and insanity took its toll on him. The feeling of being a burden for himself leads his depressed mother to decide his final curtain call. A must watch for malayalam movie fans. 

5. Chandradas in Paadheyam(1993)

Story: A.K. Lohithadas

Direction: Bharathan

Mammootty plays the character of a famous poet, Chandradas, who once, a man too salty and arrogant  wouldn't forgive Anita, the woman of his life who had committed a mistake that would tarnish his professional esteem. His conceit gets the best of him as he would put her and their daughter's life in line to satisfy his ego, as he deserts them to their agony. However, later on his conscience feels the remorse of his past actions and this becomes evident when the the movie takes a turn towards the phrase "Blood is thicker than water", as Chandradas becomes restless on seeing his grown up daughter years later during her performance of one of his works. This unplanned meeting puts him out of his usual self; prompting him to bond with his own flesh, blood and bones. When his daughter Haritha, played by veteren actress Chippy, learns of Chandradas' motives, she tries to walk away from the sad reality;however ,the more she does that, the more she longs for his fatherly presence. Not long could she contain the reality of leaving Harikumara Menon, the man who stepped into her life when it had hit rock bottom; a man who was more than a step father and a loving partner to his mother. Chandradas, initially hesitant towards the thought of leaving her daughter, realises the unsettled fire that spoke of the affection she had with her step father. Chandradas learn his lessons and for the better, evolves from being the arrogant, egoistic and selfish person, he once was  to a person who valued human emotions, as he would happily return his daughter to her "real" father. 

6. Balachandran in Sagaram Sakshi (1994)

Story : A.K. Lohithadas

Direction: Sibi Malayil

Balachandran, a self made businessman gets to marry the daughter of another rich tycoon, as he was the most sought after bachelor in the entrepreneur circle. Once he is blessed with the aforementioned, and after having accomplished the good life status thanks to his immediate family, he is mercilessly tested by the sadistic circumstances that leads to the death of his reputation & professional status. Mammootty has done a marvel of a performance as a man, whose complex negates his acceptance of failure, thus falling into a state of galloping despair that eats him alive. He succumbs to his inhibitions, and embraces the destructive path, for which he pays the price with his personal life. The uncontainable emotions expressed by Balanchandran during the scene where he is thrown on his face the 'thali' that his wife once proudly wore is quite possibly the one that stands out the most in this movie, prompting the filmmakers to make a movie poster out of the same. Further, when loneliness clings on his inner self, and his efforts to reclaim his life gone to dust, he is forced to confine to the learned helplessness. However, when he succumbs to his fate and starts a life of solitude and self respect, he gets haunted by the love, which was always kept intact by the woman of his life. He gets his only chance to make things right, as he finally relieves himself of the diseases that caught him off guard in his past life.   

7. A.S. Johny Varghese in Johnnie Walker (1992)

Story: Renjith

Direction: Jayaraj

Many would be surprised to find this movie in this very list. The movie has achieved a cult status years after its original release, but unfortunately did share the fate of movies that failed to connect with its audience at the time of release. The movie was a trailblazer, inspired by Hollywood themes, and Mammootty played the title character, A.S. Johny Varghese, a man who hid his true self and emotions to the enjoyment of his only family that was left, his brother. Jayaraj introduced malayalis to fresh concepts as he made a character whose swag was off the charts, a personality so cool and confident. However, the actor didn't fail to present a visual treat to the viewers as he shined in the segment, where Johnnie Walker loses the one person that ever mattered to him, and  as the latter is tragically put to rest by the evil cult, the  former displays a perfect 10 performance, as Johny weeps onto his brother's cold body. 

8. Captain Thomas in  Koodevide(1983)

Story and Direction: Padmarajan

Mammootty has a special talent when it comes to playing the shrewd, evil, and the egoistical being. In Koodevide, Captain Thomas,a military personnel is disturbed by a school student, who happens to develop an innocent relationship with his teacher, the lady love of the agitated soldier. His narrow mindedness turns away the sincerity of his lady love, as he cannot comprehend with the moral bond she shared with her student. The director impressed  the viewers by creating a character who turns from a restricted person to a cold individual; who proceeds to mark the X spot on the innocent student to let off his frustrations. However, when his evil side gets the best of him, he forgets the humane, embracing the madness that fed on his ego, and proceeds to do the unthinkable. 

9. V. Sukumaran in Nayam Vekthamakunu(1991)

Story and Direction: Balachandra Menon

One of the most underrated and less talked about movies of Mammootty, where he played the role of a politician who leads a simple life with his wife and their only son. a man devoid of greed and the desire to rule the ordinary. Mammootty, as V. Sukumaran ,did a wonderful job in being a person who gets immersed in the glory of attaining the unexpected where he becomes a new form, other than what he really is. He has managed to enact a person who becomes a little less stable as he is not able to function in his life, where he falls into a void, that steers his life into depression until he lets himself of the new found power and puts him back to his true self in the company of  his wife and son. A good family classic by Mr Balachandra Menon.

10.Murikkinkunnath Ahmed Haaji, Haridas Ahmed and Khalid Ahmed in Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathira Kolapathakathinte Kadha(2009)

Story: T.P. Rajeevan

Direction: Ranjith

As mentioned in his recent blockbuster "Madhura Raja", he has actually pulled off a 'triple strong' performance in Paleri Manikyan, where he has nailed not one but all three of his characters. As Murikkinkunnath Ahmed Haaji, he has  played the role of a sinister feudal lord devoid of any remorse, selfish and having no boundaries for his desires. Mammootty made a mockery of all the negative performances that we have seen in most movies through his portrayal of Ahmed haji, as the unrivaled sadistic and power hungry dictator. The second  character, Haris Ahmed, his forgotten son-  the polar opposite of his father , investigates the death of a girl named Manikyam, rumoured to be murdered  by his own predecessor. Haridas, a man of honour, but possessed by the staggering desire and determination of his biological father finds the authenticity of  the aforementioned rumour. This leads him to the royal heir of Ahmed Haaji, a man that shares all the traits of his father, but a man who always maintained a status so clean before everyone; yet couldn't hide the same before his own conscience. When Haridas proves to Khalid that the latter is indeed the true evil heir of their sinister father, he runs away from the truth that resurfaced on his him, thus giving up on his own life.

Do you agree with this list. Drop your comments below.

Malayalam movie experiments that added fuel to the New Generation Cinema movement of the 21st century

Malayalam cinema had done its share of experiments since the previous century with the introduction of fresh concepts and unconventional film making techniques by master craftsmen like Padmarajan, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Bharathan, and John Abraham, where they created opportunities for regional cinema to reach a  global audience. With realistic plots, subtle performances and unique storytelling, malayalam cinema travelled through the 80s golden age with ease. However by late 90s, the momentum changed as cinema became more mainstream and the medium started to get attention as mere business rather than a work of art. The audience lauded the larger than life characters that overshadowed realism until some filmmakers and fans realized that a change was inevitable, and therefore rushed to create a second wave of experiments that fortunately directed Malayalam cinema back on track. With that being said, I shall take you through some of the movies that added fuel to the 21st century New Generation wave in malayalam cinema.

1. 4 the people (2004)

Released in 2004, the Jayaraj directorial is a trendsetter, that emphasized on a new breed of filmmaking by demonstrating unusual camera angles, editing techniques, fresh faces and unheard musical styles. The movie pulled of a great run at the box office on the shoulders of its soundtrack composed by then debutant music director Jassie Gift. The track "Lajjavathi" sparked a festive mood in cinema halls across the state that became the anthem of the flash mob culture, which stated to gain fame by the end of the decade. The movie's Cinematography played a huge influence on the action flicks created by directors like Shaji Kailas and Joshiy in the later years.

2. Salt n Pepper (2011)

Salt n Pepper ,directed by Aashiq Abu, is arguably the first malayalam movie to introduce food as an emotional fictitious character. The movie that drew a contrast between human emotions to the sensitivity of our taste buds treats its characters to a blend of both, to which they respond naturally to the circumstances-be it sweet, sour or bitter. This movie could have started the relatively new cliché of the "five minute candid scene culture" often shown at the beginning of most movies that we see today, where random people are shown enjoying their favourite snack, to the music of their preference. Film companion's Anupama Chopra may admit that Lijo Jose Pellisery's use of meat in his movies these days could be attributed to the success of Salt n Pepper.

3. Traffic (2011)

A movie that appreciated the efforts of real life people and made it 'reel'. Traffic created a new dimension to the malayalam cinema culture by proving that  great film making is so much engaging and changes the entire mood and contrast of the movie and further goes on to prove that plot is sometimes secondary to the former. Movies that talked about 'a day in the life' should give credits to this wonderfully orchestrated gem of a movie. A must watch for all movie fans, irrespective of language or culture.

4. Double Barrel (2015)

Perhaps, the most underappreciated project in recent times. Prithviraj Sukumaran himself, who served as both actor and producer to the movie, has dubbed this movie an "experiment" for the ages. The comic infused spoof genre and its associated plot and humour elements were indigestible, especially for the viewers who approached the movie with realism. However, retrospective reviews , have started to shower praise on the movie for its impressive use of the movie camera, lighting, colour tone & graphics, one of a kind characters, and for being well ahead of its time. The movie that could have  brought the idea of a Marvel and DC culture in malayalam cinema had obviously shown the courage in introducing an alien concept to our viewers. Enter....Tovino Thomas as Minnal Murali.

5. Premam (2015)

The movie that made Nivin Pauly, a superstar, was indeed experimental, given the kind of treatment done by its director, Alphonse Puthren. Every element that played a a part in the usual teenage fantasy/ romance genre of our movie culture was presented with full honesty. All exaggerations were kept aside, chocolatish vibes were washed off, and over the top scenes fully erased . The former statement holds true and that is why the youth are still able to relate to all the elements of this movie, including the ones in Tamil movie 96 starring Vijay Sethupathi and Trisha, eventually earning them both blockbuster status.

Do you agree with this list. What other movies do you think should have been included in this list. Kindly drop your comments.

How foreign music shaped the Kerala pop culture !!!!

With the K-pop band BTS having the time of their life,having reached #1 on the Billboard US hot 100 singles chart with their hit single Dynamite, folks all over the world are spreading messages of positivity that the song carry; especially during the ongoing pandemic. It is truly remarkable,especially for a band having neither US nor UK origin, to achieve such a glorious feat in the shark tank we call the entertainment industry. Recently, I heard my brother say that he got to see some malayalis sharing their opinion on the boy band in a private malayalam channel,talking about how their music add value to their lives-t'was a bit overwhelming at times to say the least but definitely inspiring.Well, this ain't something new ;we have always welcomed a global phenomenon that sets the gold standard-a force that modifies our taste and our culture.

Now, if you go to anyone in their 50s or 60s and ask them about foreign music, it is likely that you get to hear these two names: Boney M and Abba. The 70s disco era certainly did its share in the ears of the casual Malayli listener in the form of some all time hits like "Rasputin", "Daddy Cool",and "Dancing queen".

This is pretty much the artistry pulled off by the legendary malayalam actor Jayan-the malayali flagbearer of the disco revolution, setting the trend of disco infused swag,suits,shades and bell bottoms.The hippie movement ever so present in the Woodstock concerts of the late 60s headlined by acts like Jimi Hendrix became a thing of beauty,where people jammed to the relatively new world of psychedelic music. Much like the music,the intellectuals of our society embraced the hippie lifestyle-the same being hilariously portrayed by Maniyanpilla Raju in the movie Sarvakalashala. 

The withdrawal of the disco era saw the emergence of the powerful 80s pop headlined by the likes of  Michael Jackson, Madonna and Prince Nelson Rogers. If you search "Indian thriller" (see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x81iip6psks)  in Youtube, you get to see Telugu Mega star Chiranjeevi dressed up as Michael Jackson doing the Indian version of the thriller dance .Such was his impact that you could find Mohanlal jamming to "Beat It" (see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkHvgf-DxPE) after winning a confrontation with Nadia Moidu in the movie Nokketha Doorath Kannumnattu. Legendary musician A.R. Rahman adapted to the changing musical taste and developed hits such as Chikku Bukku Raile and Mukkala Mukkabula;both songs having their videos influenced by Jackson's music videos for "Bad" and "Smooth criminal". The songs became more faster,beats more emphatic,the funk got even louder and the entire groove and feel of our music evolved.

Tamil actor-director and choreographer Prabhu deva owes his entire career to the Michael Jackson phenomenon; as he became the quintessential Indian version of the King of Popular music. B-boying/break dancing became the next gen stuff. Fun fact:There is even a song Break Break dance (see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAwfcCG_uhY) in the malayalam movie "Mookilla Rajyathu" where we can see the great actor Thilakan shaking his leg quite possibly for the very first and only time in front of a movie camera alongside actors Mukesh,Jagathy,Siddique and Suchitra. With the release of Jackson's album Dangerous in 1991, it became a common sight among teens and adolescents to include a dance performance of the Michael Jackson song of the same title in almost all cultural festivals and TV shows across Kerala.If you haven't forgotten Nivin Pauly's second intro in the movie "Premam", you might dig what I am saying. Jackson changed the entire fabric of the entertainment industry as people still do remember his persona in every way possible. Just ask Malayalam movie director Aashiq Abu who gave a moving tribute to Mr Jackson during the opening of his movie "Daddy Cool", which I myself had seen in Cinemas.; and then later would go onto refer the latter's musical beginnings in one particular scene of the movie Idukki Gold. Though, a bit alarming and controversial it is for portraying him in white face paint, ie. at least in today's perspective, who could ever forget Michael alias Jackson alias Vikram alias phu phu phu in the malayalam movie Chathikatha Chandu.  However in reality, keeping aside the music, the iconic pop figure is still indeed a topic of controversy, especially in the west.

 

With the late 90s , boy bands like Backstreet Boys and Westlife became a sensation much like One Direction and BTS today. If you had done your schooling in an English medium institution towards the dawn of the 2nd millenium, then you probably would have seen your colleagues singing songs like "Everybody" "I want it that away","My love" in the corridors. The same applied to the music scene in movies starring Kunjacko Boban, where the songs got a bit slower,but more romantic and catchy.Songs like Oru Rajamalli poley, Mizhi ariyathey vannu nee and Walking in the moonlight garnered heavy rotations.However, haters labelled his movies "chocolatish" at the time only cause it may have been well ahead in terms of the kind of presentation it brought.The electronic music layered with the cream of bubble gum pop took over with artists like Vengaboys and  Fat boy slim. "Darude" by Sandstorm passed the test of time;often played in any kind of a public gathering like office parties,celebrations, cinema halls,super markets,auto expo, and fashion events,,etc just to name a few, with exceptions to religious gatherings and funerals.

Just like the saying "the only thing that never change was change itself", once it was time for the boy bands to got out of the lime light,alternative rock music started to gain popularity in the form of a band called Linkin Park. Their debut album, Hybrid theory captured the pulse of the youth in Kerala.Almost everyone who ever listened to Western music at the time knew them. Alternate rock mainstreamed its way into the hearts of malayalis prompting bands like Avial and Thaikkudam Bridge to take the center stage. They became such a  household name that even  Malayalam film director Vinayan casually took their song "A place for my head" and used it in his movie "Krithyam"where actor Salim Kumar lip synched the Chester Bennington vocals,while Prithviraj did the air drumming or whatever you call it . Linkin Park's use of graffiti in their album titles prompted many of  the teengeers at the time to duplicate the same on their class note books,writing their names alongside their crush's in Graffiti during class hours.On a personal note; I had Linkin Park album "Meteora" gifted to me by one of my close friends on my birthday back in the mid 2000s. However, by late 2000s ,hip hop music became the next big thing with artists like Eminem,50 cent and Jay Z getting huge international attention.We could still see some local folks carpooling  to some of these rap hits,jerking their heads until they reach the signal stop.I am sure by this time most people have made dance tributes to the malayalam hip hop song Panipaali by actor Neeraj Madhav.  All credits to the Godfather of soul "James Brown" for developing rap-hip hop music as we know today.

The 2010-2020 era is the most unique one in every aspect, be it music,movies,fashion,technology and what not.The inception of social media resulted in the discovery of the new generation pop star Justin Bieber. He became a worldwide phenomenon thanks to his manager Scooter Braun who at the time came across Bieber and found interest in his home made cover performances while talent scouting on Youtube. This story was shared worldwide and his song Baby became a world anthem; and was played in almost every music player throughout the world until people finally got enough of it.Yes,we keralites thought no differently,following the same trend,pulling all the efforts to become viral sensations  using social media platforms such as Youtube, Facebook,Tik tok,etc.Some folks got huge recognition, turned out to be vlogers and reality stars.,while some others still struggle to find ways that could potentially make them a social media icon.  Just like Mr Jackson once sang ih his album "Off the wall", we all must" keep on the with the force don't stop, don't stop til you get enough".

Now, as we finally get to the end of 2020,we can honestly say that besides a few exceptions, we got to witness some good, quality content being shared in such platforms most of the times.The foreign music will keep on evolving and so do we. Its influence can never be taken out of the context. Fortunately, our pace in progressing to the changing demographic of the western music industry has reached a whooping high. However, the only thing that has gone out of the window is the astonishment or the awe factor that we once had while trying to adjust to the latest trends brought by globalization..

PS:Credits to all the people who own the images, gif and the youtube video links used in this post.

Let me know what you think about this article. Drop your comments in the comment section below.

10 acting performances of Malayalam superstar Mohanlal that demands further appreciation!!!!

Mohanlal Viswanathan Nair,fondly called Lalettan, by malayalis all around the world has continuously mesmerised us through some of his stellar acting performances.In his own words "Cinema is  make belief" and thats exactly what he has done to the average viewer, be it a commercical entertainer, art house movie or a blend of the two. Here, I have stressed only on the acting performances of Mohanlal,rather than the movie,that requires attention from malayali movie lovers all around the world.The following is a list of such often under looked movies where the actor Mohanlal has effortlessly "lived" in his roles.

PS: The performances are not ranked in any order.

1.Sethumadhavan in Chenkol(1993):

Story: Lohithadas

Direction: Sibi Malayil

Anyone who has ever watched Mohanlal movies in their lifetime will make sure that his classic Kireedom(1989) and the pivotal character Sethumadhavan is included in almost every all time top 10 movie list. However, not much love is shown to its sequel "Chenkol" which got released in 1993,and  this is something that has become unfortunate in his long spanning 40 year career. The major difference between Kireedom and Chenkol is in the "Make belief" element.In short, Kireedom make the viewer feel sympathy towards Sethumadhavan whereas in Chenkol the viewer develops empathy for the character. Though debatable,one can argue that Mohanlal has performed better in Chenkol;however, the empathy factor could be one of the reasons for the low box office success of the movie as the casual viewer at that time couldn't bear to watch the movie with watery eyes at the cinema.

2.Sidharthan in  Pakal Nakshathrangal (2008):

Story: Anoop menon

Direction: Rajeevnath

Pakal Nakshatrangal  is a movie that treats death as another phase of human life and describes how life and death are just two sides of  the same coin. The central character Sidharthan played by Mohanlal in this movie is loosely based on the legendary writer-director Late John Abraham.Though the movie has some drag and flaws escpecially in engaging the viewer,this movie has one of the most underrated performances by Mr Mohanlal. Through his captivating screen presence and minor facial expressions, he has managed to produce a one of a kind experience for the viewer. In one scene where Sidharthan details how he had helped in the suicide of Raji's husband,one can see the sheer brilliance of acting in the eyes of Mohanlal while he asks Raji "Do you understand what I am saying". This is one of those Mohanlal movies that is often underappreciated and is somehow missed in the midst of his movies like Thanmatra,Bhramaram etc.

3. Jayarajan in Uyarangalil(1984):

Story: M.T. Vasudevan Nair

Direction: I.V. Sasi

The movie Uyarangalil is one of the highlights of his early film career. In this movie Mohanlal plays the main character "Jayarajan"- a twisted individual,shaped by all the negative events experienced from his childhood;Mohanlal plays the role of an estate manager who is greedy and cold enough to lure and even murder people for money. Mohanlal has excelled in his character of Jayarajan-a man who seeks  to thrive in abnormal essence.Released in 1984,this movie shows that one does not need to be the protagonist to be the best performer in any movie.

4.Jeevan in Season (1989)

Story and Direction: Padmarajan

Season released in 1989 is often credited as a movie released way beyond its time by the new age cinegoers. Mohanlal's role as Jeevan is extremely subtle. One can go on to describe his character as emotionless;however Mohanlal has managed to enact what the director had in his imagination-a character that does not express anything-a person full of mysteries;locking up all his thoughts and emotions to the point that no one truly understands what he has in his mind or what he is capable of doing. The movie which deals with the widely talked about smuggling and drug cartels that most believe once existed in the Kovalam beach of Kerala's own Trivandrum is packed with a storytelling that was so unusual at the time of its release.This movie is a cult classic and lal fans still youtube the climax scene of this movie just to see his killer smile;the only emotion that mattered;the one thing that gives a glimpse of the character Jeevan. A must see for all  Mohanlal fans.

5.Sidharthan in Aham (1992)

Story and Direction: Rajeevnath

Before Fahad Faasil started surprising the Malayali audience with his hit movies like Kumbalangi nights, Trance and North 24 Kaadham that discussed the topic of mental instability, there were quite a few movies in malayalam that had dealt with such issues in the past like Manichithrathazhu, Sadayam, Thalavattom, Thaniyavarthanam,Thanmatra and the recently released Mammooty starrer Munnariyipu. However, one movie that failed to reach the masses was Mohanlal starrer Aham in which he nailed the role of a person that suffered from various mental disorders,as a result of the unimaginable pain and trauma he had suffered in his childhood. Mohanlal pulled off this character with finesse as he brought minute advancements in the character,thereby showing the transformation from mere mental distress to complete clinical insanity. The movie,however, went unnoticed due to the various  commercial family entertainers that got released in the same year.

6.Veerapalli Sreenivasan in Company (2002)

Story: Jaideep Sahini

Direction: Ram Gopal Varma

Quite possibly the movie that made Mohanlal a popular figure in the northern parts of India was Ram Gopal Varma directorial Company released in 2002. Mohanlal played the role of Veerappalli Sreenivasan, donning the role of the  Police Commissioner of Mumbai. Unlike all the other stints as a Police officer, Mohanlal showed a very unconventional acting style for this role that garnered lauds from critics and viewers alike. Ram Gopal Varma was highly impressed by  Mohanlal's performance to the point where he even cast him in his movie Aag.

7.Shambu in Rajashilpi(1992)

Story and Direction: R Sukumaran

This movie depicts the story of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi in a unique way. Mohanlal had effortlessly embraced the aura of Lord Shiva, wherein he showed the majestic Shiva Thandava with respect to the plot of the movie. The role of Shambu had the perfect composure, and all the varying emotions that he expressed from anger to love to sadness shared similar vibes to that of the real legend of Lord Shiva. Rajashilpi is most noticeable for the Shiva Thandava dance, performed by Mohanlal's character. However, unfortunately it is safe to say that his performances in Kamaladalam and Vanaprastham overshadowed this one. 

8. Dr P.K Haridas in Amrutham Gamaya (1987)

Story: M.T. Vasudevan Nair

Direction: Hariharan

Mohanlal as Dr P.K Haridas is surely an unforgettable experience. The story revolves around the life long guilt that he had to experience as a result of an immature act of bullying that he once committed on a junior student. Mohanlal's character had a great character arc,starting from being a student bully who celebrated ragging on his junior students, to a doctor who becomes psychologically affected by the death of a junior student as result of his ill actions in the past.He is spot on in being this merciless bully as well as the vulnerable soft spoken doctor in the later phase. Mohanlal performs brilliantly in the final character transition as a drug addict where he has not at all gone"over" by doing any cliched "drug addict screaming and throwing stuff" performances.

9. Valiyakathu Moosa in Paradesi(2007)

Story: P.T. Kunju Muhammed

Director: P.T. Kunju Muhammed

Paradesi, released in 2007, Mohanlal plays the character of Valiyakathu Moosa ,an Indian Muslim who at the time of the post partition tries to return from Karachi to settle in Malappuram. The movie reflects on the three different phases of Moosa's life. Mohanlal showed excellent acting performances for each of these three phases-from being a normal adult to an old timer. Though he won Kerala state best actor for his performance in Paradesi, the movie got unnoticed in the era of the Mass entertainers.

10. Soap kuttapan and Maathu Pandaram in Padhamudhra(1988)

Story: R Sukumaran

Director: R Sukumaran

Most movies where an actor plays multiple roles can take the disastrous route. Only a few movies have stood apart from this phenomenon-the most recent being Mammootty starrer- Paleri manikyam oru Pathira Kolapathakathinte Katha. Padhamudhra released in 1988 starring Mohanlal in dual roles belong to the latter category. In this movie, Mohanlal plays the role of both the father-Soap kuttapan and son-Maathu Pandaram. Soap kuttapan is a womanizer character who goes on to have an illicit relationship with a married woman. Pandaram becomes the one to pay the sins of this affair,facing ruthless remarks,tease and taunts from the society. Mohanlal has done a tremendous job in performing both the role of the womanizer drug junkie Soap Kutappan  as well as the frustrated character- Pandaram in this often forgotten movie.

Do you agree with this list. Kindly mention your opinion in the comment section.