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Social MediaTovino Thomas, Kunchacko Boban, Asif Ali, Vineeth Sreenivasan, and Aparna Balamurali appear in prominent roles in the film, which is based on the stories of unity that Kerala had witnessed at the time of the 2018 floods.Malayalam film 2018, telling the story of that year’s devastating Kerala floods, came out the same day as The Kerala Story, a Hindi movie that many have dubbed as propaganda against the state. People watching the Malayalam film began posting about the stories of unity that Kerala had celebrated at the time of the flood. Several people shared real life instances adapted to the movie, asserting that this is the ‘real Kerala story’. On Monday, May 8, four days after the movie came out, hashtags celebrating the film are trending on social media. “This movie will show you how entire Kerala and its people fought against a disaster. This will show you how we faced that disaster with courage,...

Mollywood'Eesho' is directed by Nadhirshah, who has also composed the songs for the film.Tnm StaffThe makers of the upcoming Malayalam movie Eesho, starring actors Jayasurya and Namitha Pramod in the lead, released the first-look motion poster from the movie on Friday. Sporting a mysterious look with a beard and hoodie, Jayasurya is seen in an intriguing avatar in the motion poster. With a stormy backdrop, the first-look motion poster sets the tone right for a thriller. The tagline reads ‘Not From the Bible’. The motion poster was unveiled by Mollywood star Mammootty. Sharing it on Friday, May 14 he wrote, “Unveiling the motion poster of Eesho ! Best wishes to Nadhirshah , Jayasurya , Arun Narayan & the entire team.” The thriller is spearheaded by filmmaker Nadirshah, who is also on board as the composer for the movie. Actor Jafer Idduki will be seen in an important role in the film. Sujesh Hari has...

CinemaThough this may be a gloomy period owing to the pandemic, people can find some cheer with entertainment options online.Tnm StaffEven as Covid-19 cases are going up across the country and many states have once again reduced the occupancy in theatres, quite a few new films have come out on Over-the-Top (Ott) platforms this festive season. April marks the New Year in many states, including south India. Though this may be a gloomy period owing to the pandemic, people can find some cheer with entertainment options online. Here is a list of new south Indian releases on Ott platforms: Jathi Ratnalu Starring Naveen Polishetty, Rahul Ramakrishna and Priyadarshi, this Telugu comedy was a blockbuster theatrical release. Directed by Anudeep, the film follows the story of three young men who go from a small town to Hyderabad. It is streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Joji A crime drama directed by Dileesh Pothan,...

Flix FlashbackLohithadas’s debut directorial takes on two of his favourite themes—emotional and mental instability, and love that is deep, intricate, and often unrequited.Neelima MenonLohithadas’s debut directorial is a key moment in Malayalam cinema in many ways. The movie, a beautifully nuanced love letter to the complexities of the human mind, is a typical example of avant-garde Malayalam cinema of the ‘90s. It also gave Mammootty another chance to show audiences why he is more than just a superstar, with the actor raking up several awards for his performance. But beyond all this, Bhoothakkannadi (1997) is simply a poignant, intimate examination of humanity. Vidhyadharan (Mammootty) operates a tiny watch repair shop, his careful eye looking at the world through a cylindrical magnifying glass with which he examines damaged watches. That magnifying glass or bhoothakkannadi is a metaphor for his confounded state of mind—his impaired relationship with reality.

Mollywood'c U Soon' has Fahadh playing the lead role with Roshan Mathew and Darshana Rajendran in pivotal roles.Digital NativeRecently, Fahadh Faasil’s screen-based film C U Soon had an over-the-top (Ott) release with many positive reviews pouring in. The film, directed by Mahesh Narayanan, was released on the Ott platform Amazon Prime. Dulquer Salmaan, Fahadh’s contemporary in the film industry, said that it is amazing that the team got together at a time like this – implying the Covid-19 pandemic and the restricted environment people move in. C U Soon has Fahadh playing the lead role with Roshan Mathew and Darshana Rajendran in pivotal roles and Saiju Kurup and Maala Parvathi forming the supporting cast. It is about an online romance that goes wrong and reveals a deeper story behind one of the characters. Read: 'C U Soon': Mahesh-Fahadh film is a reminder of what the Malayalam...

MollywoodLohithadas wrote some of Malayalam cinema's finest scripts, but his treatment of women characters fell short.Neelima MenonWith a long and glorious career spanning two decades, including six State Awards and a National Award, Lohithadas is one of the doyens of realistic dramas in Malayalam cinema. In this piece, however, we focus on his treatment of the female subject. Does realism in cinema sufficiently cover the biases of the human mind? Does his treatment of women in his cinema hold a candle to the likes of Kg George? Does the rich tapestry of the characters make up for the stereotyping? Read on to find out. Taming of the shrew Bhanu (Manju Warrier) in Kanmadam (1998) is in her 20s, her eyes glaring out of a face caked in sweat and dust, and with a scowl. Dressed in a skirt, half sari, and a coarse bandana, Bhanu seems to be in a tearing hurry all the time,...

MollywoodLohithadas wrote some of Malayalam cinema's finest scripts, but his treatment of women characters fell short.Neelima MenonWith a long and glorious career spanning two decades, including six State Awards and a National Award, Lohithadas is one of the doyens of realistic dramas in Malayalam cinema. In this piece, however, we focus on his treatment of the female subject. Does realism in cinema sufficiently cover the biases of the human mind? Does his treatment of women in his cinema hold a candle to the likes of Kg George? Does the rich tapestry of the characters make up for the stereotyping? Read on to find out. Taming of the shrew Bhanu (Manju Warrier) in Kanmadam (1998) is in her 20s, her eyes glaring out of a face caked in sweat and dust, and with a scowl. Dressed in a skirt, half sari, and a coarse bandana, Bhanu seems to be in a tearing hurry all the time,...

MollywoodAparna Das, playing the heroine, easily portrays the role of a regular-struggling-youngster.CrisIf you have always wondered how Photoshop worked and looked dreamily at the big plastic flexes on the road, then Manoharam might just be the two-hour long tutorial you need. The film takes you through everything from Photoshop classes to setting up a printing unit and finally tips you off on the need to switch to cloth and be environment friendly! But somewhere along the way it also tries to tell the story of a struggling artist called Manu – played very aptly by Vineeth Sreenivasan. The movie, directed by Anvar Sadik, starts with Manu growing up with an inferiority complex but then appears to change tack and delves into the technicalities of running a printing unit. It does fall into the ‘feel-good’ genre of movies, but goes through a very rocky path, losing the viewer at many places.