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The Malayalam film industry is known for its rich and diverse content, ranging from realistic dramas to comedy capers. However, in recent times, the industry has also ventured into the genre of action thrillers, with films like Lucifer, Ayyappanum Koshiyum, and Drishyam 2 making a mark at the box office. Now, two more films are set to join this list, with their trailers creating a buzz among the audience. These are Garudan and Bandra, starring Suresh Gopi and Dileep respectively.

Garudan, directed by debutant Arun Varma and written by Midhun Manuel Thomas, features Suresh Gopi as a cop who is investigating a rape case that leads him to a confrontation with Biju Menon’s character, a former convict who has a personal vendetta against him. The trailer of the film, which was released on October 171, showcases the intense cat-and-mouse game between the two actors, with some high-octane action sequences and dialogues.

Lijo Jose Pellissery seems to have created a school of cinema in Malayalam cinema, and who better to continue his legacy than his former assistant, Tinu Pappachan, who presented his debut with “Freedom at Midnight”, a movie his mentor co-produced alongside Chemban Vinod Jose.

The story follows the same labyrinth paths movies “Jallikattu” does, but the main premise revolves around Jacob, a manager at a big financial firm, who finds himself behind bars when he tries to save the woman he loves from the clutches of a corrupt police force. His efforts, however, end up with him in jail and Betty beaten up and in a hospital. While in prison, the whole truth about his situation is revealed, while he desperately tries to survive the guard’s brutality and the inmates who want him dead, in order to survive and save Betty.

There are three key elements in Pellissery’s cinematic style,...

Movie ReviewBeautiful performances by Chemban Vinod and Vinay Forrt, humour, fantasy and mystery make ‘Churuli’ a charming film.CrisIf Churuli had a map, it’d be spiral-shaped, you imagine, a maze where you keep coming back to the same paths. There is a story that the people of Churuli like to recount to new visitors. A Namboothiri (dominant caste Malayali) had once gone in search of a perumadan – a phantom – that was leading everyone astray. Unknown to the Namboothiri, the perumadan was in a basket on his head, misleading him to take the wrong routes over and over again. Churuli, the newest film from Lijo Jose Pellissery, begins with this tale, setting the ground for the longer one ahead – of two policemen going in search of a slippery criminal. The film was screened at the International Film Festival of Kerala (Iffk). It’s going to be a bit dark and quite mysterious,...

Mollywood The 4th edition of the awards ceremony will take place on February 16 at the Ima hall in Kochi. Tnm StaffThe 4th edition of the Cinema Paradiso Club Awards ceremony is around the corner and the online fraternity of movie buffs has announced the winners of the 2019 awards in Malayalam cinema. While Aashiq Abu won Best Director for Virus, Kumbalangi Nights which released to packed houses and went on to become a blockbuster, won Best Film. For films Vikruthi, Android Kunjappan Version 5.25 and Driving License, actor Suraj Venjaramoodu won Best Actor in a Lead Role. Anna Ben, who made her acting debut in Kumbalangi Nights, won Best Female Actor in Lead Role for her first film as well as Helen. For Best Actors in Character Roles, Roshan Mathew and Grace Antony won for Moothon and Kumbalangi Nights respectively. Writer Syam Pushkaran bagged the award for Best Script for Kumbalangi Nights.

Get ready to be gored by cinema’s horns, trampled under a stampede of deliciously grotesque, fleshy imagery and tossed aloft on a buffalo-snort of bravado because Lijo Jose Pellissery’s utterly bonkers “Jallikattu” is here to pummel a Midnight Madness slot near you into submission. A fever-pitch, adrenaline-soaked vortex of social issues drama, deconstruction of the male id, and hokey, hubristic descent into hell, . Consider the idiom “bull in a china shop” put on notice, while “buffalo in an Indian village” waits, hoofs stomping, in the wings.

The comparison is apt, because while plot revolves around a buffalo narrowly escaping slaughter and running amok through a rural Kerala community, causing extensive property destruction and livelihood decimation, it is social convention, class structure and masculine insecurity — all fragile as porcelain — that shatter most irreversibly in its wake. “Jallikattu” pounds on its themes with as much subtlety as a mallet tenderizing a tough cut of meat,...

MollywoodIn both 'Aadhi' and 'Irupathiyonnaam Noottaandu', he was seen doing the less common stunts in Malayalam cinema such as parkour and surfing.Digital NativeThe two films that Pranav Mohanlal has acted in, as a grownup, appear to have branded him as an action hero. In both Aadhi and Irupathiyonnaam Noottaandu, he was seen doing the less common stunts in Malayalam cinema such as parkour and surfing. It seems now the young actor is looking forward to move out of this label and is keen on working on a different genre. Sources say that Pranav is in talks with some leading directors and an announcement regarding his next film will be out soon. Pranav made his debut as hero with the Jeethu Joseph directorial Aadhi last year and the film did well at the box office. It was an action thriller in which Pranav paired up with Aditi Ravi. Actors Anusree,...

MollywoodThe film, directed by debutant Jithu Ashraf, will be scripted by Shahi Kabir of ‘Joseph’ fame.Digital NativeMalayalam star Tovino Thomas has a number of films in different stages of production needing his attention and the latest to join this list is Aaravam. To be directed by debutant Jithu Ashraf, the film will be scripted by Shahi Kabir of Joseph fame. Aaravam is touted to be a sports drama and will be based on the popular snake boat race in Kerala. Reports are that the film will be revolving on the lives of the boat race community. The technical crew of Aaravam is highly impressive with Abhinandan Ramanjunam roped in to crank the camera, Jyothish Shankar for art direction and Renganaath Ravee for sound designing. Haseeb Haneef, Aji Medayil and Noushad Alathur are producing the movie under their respective banners Malayalam Movie Makers and Achicha Films. The prep work to...

MollywoodDirector Arun Gopy brings together Pranav and Gokul for the film 'Irupathiyonnaam Noottaandu', more than three decades after Mohanlal and Suresh Gopi worked together for 'Irupathaam Noottandu'.Digital NativeMohanlal and Suresh Gopi’s strong onscreen presence in Irupatham Noottandu remains unforgettable in the minds of Malayalam film buffs even after several years of its release. Recalling it, filmmaker Arun Gopy, who is directing the film Irupathiyonnaam Noottaandu with Pranav Mohanlal in the lead role and Gokul Suresh in a small but pivotal role - sons of Mohanlal and Suresh Gopi - has said in an interview to the Times of India, “No one can forget the on-screen magic created by the legendary pairing of Mohanlal - Suresh Gopi in Irupatham Noottandu. History is about to repeat itself! It was a great experience to have dear Gokul Suresh playing a guest role in Irupathiyonnaam Noottaandu. Looking forward to see...

MollywoodThe actor plays a surfer in the film and has undergone basic surfing training in Bali.Digital NativeArun Gopy and Pranav Mohanlal; Courtesy: Facebook.comPranav Mohanlal’s second film Irupathiyonnam Noottandu is progressing at a brisk pace. The shooting of this flick which commenced earlier this year, has been wrapped up. Currently in the post production stage, the team is busy with the dubbing process. Confirming this, the film’s director Arun Gopy has posted a picture with Pranav Mohanlal at the dubbing studio. The first look of the Pranav Mohanlal starrer Irupathiyonnaam Noottaandu was released a few weeks ago and went viral among the netizens. It was released online on Facebook by actor Tovino Thomas. The poster featured Pranav in a stylish look, sporting a suit. The film is set for release on January 25. In Irupathiyonnaam Noottaandu, Pranav Mohanlal plays a surfer and he underwent basic surfing training in...

Mollywood‘Lucifer’ marks the debut of actor Prithviraj as director while ‘Irupathiyonnam Noottandu’ is directed by Arun Gopy.Digital NativeDigital NativeMarking an important day for all Mohanlal’s fans, the teasers of two highly anticipated films – Lucifer and Irupathiyonnam Noottandu – will be out on Thursday. While Lucifer has Mohanlal playing the lead role, in Irupathiyonnam Noottandu it will be his son Pranav in the lead. According to reports, the teaser of Lucifer will be out in the morning and Irupathiyonnam Noottandu’s teaser will be out in the evening. Mohanlal’s fans are no doubt waiting for the teaser of Lucifer, but more significant is the release of Odiyan which has the star playing the title role. This film will be out on December 14. Interestingly, both the teasers will be attached to Odiyan on its theatrical release. Odiyan marks the directorial debut of ad filmmaker Va Shreekumar Menon in the Malayalam film industry.

MollywoodPranav Mohanlal looks stylish in the poster that was released on Facebook by actor Tovino Thomas.Digital NativeThe first look of the Pranav Mohanlal starrer Irupathiyonnaam Noottaandu is out and is going viral among netizens. The poster features the lead star and he looks stylish, sporting a suit. The film is set for release next year. Incidentally, the first look poster was released online on the Facebook page by actor Tovino Thomas. The shooting of Irupathiyonnaam Noottaandu has been wrapped up and all that remains now is the post production which is happening in full swing. In Irupathiyonnaam Noottaandu, Pranav Mohanlal plays a surfer and he has undergone basic training in Bali to get into the skin of the character. It has Rachel David making her debut as heroine. Incidentally, the title looks like a sequel to the 1987 movie Irupatham Nootandu in which Pranav’s dad Mohanlal had played the lead.

MollywoodArun Gopy had just wrapped up the shooting of 'Iruthpathiyonnam Noottaandu', which has Pranav Mohanlal in the lead.Digital NativeSpeculations were rife that Mohanlal would be teaming up with director Arun Gopy for a film and this has been confirmed. The star will be collaborating with the director for a new project and it will be bankrolled by Tomichan Mulakupadam under his banner. Incidentally, Mohanlal had associated with the producer for the hit movie Pulimurugan. The director’s debut venture Ram Leela and the yet-to-be-released Iruthpathiyonnam Noottaandu is being bankrolled by the same producer. Arun Gopy had just wrapped up the shooting of Iruthpathiyonnam Noottaandu, which has Pranav Mohanlal in the lead. This is Pranav Mohanlal’s second film as well. Touted to be a travel-based romance, Pranav Mohanlal plays a surfer in the film and underwent basic surfing training in Bali to get into the skin of the character he plays.

MollywoodThe actor apparently plays a surfer in the film.Digital NativePranav Mohanlal is just a few films old if you count the couple of movies that he had acted as a child artiste. The youngster made his debut as hero with Aadhi earlier this year and then inked a deal to star in Irupathiyonnaam Noottaandu. The shooting of the upcoming film is progressing at a brisk pace. The team had been shooting in Kerala over the past few weeks and has now flown down to Bali to shoot some surfing scenes with the lead star. Apparently, the star plays a surfer in the film which the first look poster had also made evident. Apart from that, there are no other major details available about Irupathiyonnaam Noottaandu till date. It may be mentioned here that Pranav was in Bali a couple of months ago to undergo some basic training in surfing.

MollywoodThe actor visited director Arun Gopy on the occasion of the first anniversary of the film ‘Ramaleela’ that they did together.Digital NativeOn the first anniversary of Ramaleela, a film that featured Dileep in the lead role, director Arun Gopy had a surprise visitor on the sets of his new movie – Irupathiyonnam Noottaandu, with Pranav Mohanlal in the lead. The visitor was Dileep himself, visiting the sets of Arun’s films on September 28. It was perhaps a reunion for the director and actor. Interestingly, Ramaleela was produced and distributed by Tomichan Mulakuppadam under the banner Mulakuppadam Films. The same producer is bankrolling Irupathiyonnaam Noottaandu as well. This visit has also sparked of rumors that Dileep may be teaming up with director Arun Gopy and Tomichan Mulakuppadam. In Irupathiyonnaam Noottaandu, Pranav plays a surfer and he underwent basic surfing training in Bali to get into the skin of the character. The...

Mollywood Touted to be a romantic flick, the film has Pranav playing its lead star with a newbie paired opposite him to play his love interest.Digital NativePranav Mohanlal is just a few films old if you count the couple of movies that he had acted as a child artiste. The youngster made his debut as hero with Aadhi earlier this year and has inked the deal to star in Irupathiyonnaam Noottaandu, which is being directed by Arun Gopy of Ramaleela fame. Touted to be a romantic flick, the film has Pranav playing its lead star with a newbie paired opposite him to play his love interest. The supporting cast of the film includes Kalabhavan Shajon, Manoj K Jayan, Shaju Sreedhar, Dharmajan and Suresh Kumar. While Pranav underwent training in Parkour, a form of acrobatics, for his debut film, he was in Bali for a month-long training course in surfing...

MollywoodThe title of the movie was announced through Mohanlal’s official Facebook page.Digital NativeMohanlal’s son Pranav made his debut as hero with Aadhi earlier this year and the film went on to become a blockbuster hit. The young star went on to sign a new deal with the Ramaleela director Arun Gopy and the film went on the floors on July 9 with the official pooja happening at a temple in Kochi. The event was attended by Pranav’s parents, Mohanlal and Suchitra, among a host of others. On the commencement of his new film, director Arun Gopy wrote on a social networking page: “Thank you for all the love and support you showered on Ramaleela. As I start a new chapter, a new page, a new story, I’ll need your love and wishes throughout this journey. #pranavmohanlal #productionno07.” The title of the movie was revealed through Mohanlal’s official Facebook page and it is Irupathiyonnaam Noottaandu. While Arun Gopy is directing the film, it is being bankrolled by Tomichan Mulakkupadam under his banner Mulakkupadam Films. The technical crew of Irupathiyonnaam Noottaandu includes Gopi Sunder for music, Vivek Harshan for editing, Peter Hein for stunt choreography, Renganaath Ravee for sound designing, Hari Narayanan for lyrics and Joseph Nellickal for art. Expectations are high on Irupathiyonnaam Noottaandu as it happens to be the second film for both director Arun Gopy and hero Pranav Mohanlal. With their respective debut films turning out to be blockbuster hits, film buffs are eager to see how they fare with their next. It may be mentioned here that Pranav, before donning the greasepaint, was an assistant director. Bitten by the acting bug after director Jeethu Joseph came up with Aadhi, he decided to follow in the footsteps of his father, the legendary Mohanlal. It was recently announced that Pranav will make a special appearance in his dad’s upcoming film Marakkar – Arabikadalinte Simham, directed by Priyadarshan. Also read: 'Dr Ram': Is this Malayalam TV's answer to 'House MD'? (Content provided by Digital Native)...