Malayalam Film Panorama
Malayalam Cinema or Malayalam Film Industry forms the most significant section in the Indian Cinema. Malayalam is a language belongs to a small region called Kerala. But Malayalam films have traveled a long way crossing the boundaries of language and culture, winning honors in International Film Festivals for the contemporary themes and approaches it adopts. Indeed Malayalam film scenario is rich with gifted actors, directors, script writers, cinematographers etc. who compose Malayalam cinema unique from other language films made in .
The era of Malayalam films starts with the release of the silent movie titled Vigathakumaran in 1928. Though the first venture in this regional language left its producer bankrupt, nineteen thirties saw the revival of the film industry with the release of Balan the first talkie in Malayalam. Malayalam movies were produced by Tamil Producers from the neighboring state of Tamilnadu till Udaya Studio, the first studio in Kerala was established. This ignited more Malayalies (people from Kerala) to enter the film field. In 1954 Malayalam film Neelakkuyil captured the whole of nation’s attention by winning silver medal from the president of India . Other noted films released in nineteen sixties where News Paper Boy and Chemmeen. News Paper Boy which had elements of Italian neo realism grabbed the national as well as international attention playing in famous film festivals. Chemmen directed by Ramu Karyat based on a story by Thakazhi Shivashankara Pillai, became immensely popular and won national award for the Best Film.
The emergence of new wave of cinema called Parallel Cinema happened in 1970s with new talented directors and writers stepping into the Malayalam Film with the introduction of the French and Italian approaches in Malayalam films. It was then Swayamvaram, the film directed by today’s veteran director Adoor Gopalakrishnan, bagged the International recognitions. In 1973 M.T Vasudevan Nair a noted writer in Malayalam came up with his debut called Nirmalyam, which won the national award. P.J Antony a novice actor in Malayalam won the national award for best actor for his exceptional job in the Nirmalyam. G. Aravindan, John Abraham, K. R Mohanan and K. G George are other endowed directors who made significant contributions to Malayalam.
The golden epoch of Malayalam films, as viewed by film critiques is between 80s and 90s, with the emergence of another genre called Semi-Parallel movies blending the fine aspects of Parallel and Commercial Cinema. Directors Padmarajan, Bharathan, Sthyan Anthikad and Ajayan who hail from this genre of semi-parallel directors, pictorised beautiful themes with the touch of art and melodrama together. The period was profuse with Films combined creations, comedy and drama. There were directors who stressed more on artistic values than on profitability in this age. Directors like Shaji N. Karun, T. V. Chandran and Shivan belonged to this stratum by giving birth to unforgettable moments and characters through their films.
Malayalam saw the birth of a group of talented actors during this period. Actors like Mohanlal, Mammootti, Thilakan, Shobhana and Jagathi Sreekumar who are still active in Malayalam films were emerged in nineteen eighties. Malayalam is also blessed with a dynamic and sensible audience who will never let forgo with monotony and surrealism. They are neither passive nor exhaust. A vibrant audience also compliments in the healthy development of an art like Cinema. Though it has won recognitions in international film festivals like Cannes, Malayalam has been domineered by other language movies from India
, which are poor in substance and content, when it comes to pioneer festivals like Oscar. This phenomenon happens because of the failure of the Government of India to give Malayalam Cinema the appreciation it deserves. Malayalam Film Industry continues its odyssey towards the summit of accomplishments forming a sensation in the Eastern Film Panorama.
