Mollywood Masterpieces and The Bads of Bollywood

Cine review

Yesterday, the veteran Malayalam actor, Mohanlal, was conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the country’s highest honour in cinema. In his acceptance speech, he humbly dedicated it to Malayalam cinema and its discerning audiences, reminding us that this industry’s strength lies not just in its stars, but in its stories.

Malayalam Cinema

I’ll admit, I’m a fairly recent convert to Malayalam films. The credit goes partly to my better half, but also to friends, acquaintances, and even Instagram recommendations that nudged me into this world. Over the past three years, I’ve devoured Mollywood movies - sometimes with subtitles and sometimes dubbed - and many of them have left a permanent mark on me.

The movies below blew my mind-

1. The Great Indian Kitchen: A newlywed woman’s struggle against patriarchal domestic oppression exposes the silent injustices of tradition.

2. Jana Gana Mana: A gripping courtroom drama that questions systemic injustice, media manipulation, and the politics of power.

3. Mumbai Police: A cop with amnesia re-investigates his best friend’s murder after his recuperation.

4. Manjummel Boys: Based on a true life story, a survival thriller on the rescue of a youth trapped in the deadly Guna Caves.

5. Kishkindha Kaandam: A mystery thriller set in a monkey‑infested forest where a retired soldier and his son uncover dark secrets.

6. Rekhachitram: A police officer’s probe into a suicide confession unravels a decades‑old crime.

7. Sookshmadarshini: A homemaker’s suspicions about her new neighbour spiral into a darkly comic mystery of secrets and lies.

8. Thudaram: A former stuntman turned taxi driver is dragged into a harrowing conspiracy after unknowingly helping cover up a crime.

And of course, Bollywood has borrowed liberally from Mollywood. Blockbusters such as Drishyam, Hera Pheri, and Bhool Bhulaiyya trace their roots back to Malayalam originals.

What impresses me about their cinema is the power of content and innovative storytelling techniques. Their film directors experiment with different genres and narrative styles. The screenplay and characters take the centre stage, not the star cast. The story starts at one point but takes us into totally unexpected territory, and the climax inevitably lands a punch to the gut. The movies are made on smaller budgets and do not focus too much on glamour or aesthetics. I believe this is achievable because Kerala is blessed with scenic landscapes and natural beauty, and more importantly, the Malayalam audience demands quality over fluff. The diaspora of Malayalis around the world contributes to the tremendous popularity of Malayalam cinema.

The Ba***ds of Bollywood

I watched the recently released series by Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. This is his debut directorial venture. Though he got a powerful launchpad through his mother’s production house and his father’s vast network, this nepo-kid certainly deserves all the kudos coming his way. Being an SRK fan, I am so happy for the proud father. I hope this is the beginning of his son’s illustrious innings.

The series is an elaborate spoof, spanning seven episodes, on various scandals of Bollywood. Aryan hasn’t spared himself either. It is a boldly satirical take on Bollywood glamour and grime. It’s a sardonic take on the Hindi film world. The idiosyncrasies, the murky politics of nepotism, paid media, fragile egos, as well as the price of fame, are all woven into an entertaining tale. It draws audacious parallels with real-life Bollywood members, and covers pretty much every trick in the trade - elaborate fight sequences, intimacy workshop, mesmerising car chases, a breath-stopping plot twist, and lucrative endorsements. It follows the story of the protagonist, Asmaan Singh, who becomes a one-film wonder overnight. He has to navigate the tumultuous tide of a constraining contract, underworld connection, as well as win over the love of his life from the clutches of her rich fiancé and powerful father.

The cameos by some well-known Bollywood celebrities (Ranveer Singh, Ranbir Kapoor, Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Emraan Hashmi, Arshad Warsi, Badshah, Rajkumar Rao, Arjun Kapoor, SRK and a few others), as well as Aryan’s insider perspective, lend authenticity to the series. Lakshya Lalwani as the protagonist, Raghav Juyal as his loyal sidekick, Sahher Bambba as his love, Mona Singh as his mother, and Bobby Deol as the superstar antagonist - all have delivered unforgettable performances. Manoj Pahwa and Manish Chaudhari are solid in their roles. Karan Johar plays himself, and Rajat Bedi plays an interesting side character. Of these, Raghav Juyal is the hidden jewel, with his excellent comic timing. He doesn’t need a lead role to shine; his presence is enough.

The series can only be enjoyed by Bollywood enthusiasts, who keep up with the industry gossip diligently. Only they can appreciate the biting industry jabs and daring comparisons. I would not say it’s extraordinary, but it is unique among all the shows on OTT today. The plot may not be original, but the treatment certainly is. It is targeted for a Gen Z audience and is aptly irreverent. Aryan Khan chose a behind-the-camera path, unlike his dad, and has written part of the screenplay and dialogues along with Bilal Siddiqui and Manav Chauhan. Together, they expose Bollywood’s hypocrisies and yet manage to create characters that bring out strong emotions like love, hate, pity, envy, revenge, and parental protection.

Not bad at all.