Today (September 8) is the last and main celebration of one of the most important annual cultural festivals for the people of Kerala, Onam. It is a major annual event for Keralites as it is the official festival of the Malayalam speaking people. It includes a spectrum of cultural events and is celebrated in remembrance of the good governance under the rule of Mahabali, a mythical king who ruled over Kerala.
The festival brings together Malayali people from all over the world to celebrate the festival. Speaking of the people who celebrate it, the Malayalam film industry has churned out some A-grade quality movies over the years that have resonated with the Tamil audience. So much so that some of them are embedded deep into our hearts and are still considered favourites for many Tamilians here because of their core emotion. Therefore, in commemoration of Onam, let us look at some such Malayalam films that have made a lasting impact on us.
1) HRIDAYAM:
This coming-of-age romantic drama revolves around Arun, a young man, who enrolls in an engineering college, takes a carefree route, enjoying life. As he grows up, he looks back on life and decides to turn over a new leaf and become a responsible adult. The film has a deep connect with Chennai as the entire first half of the movie takes place in the city. The film effectively captures the emotions of Chennai and its beautiful people. This brings back the nostalgic memories from college for many people.
2) PREMAM:
The plot of this coming-of-age romantic drama follows George and his friends from their teens to adulthood. While George's first love turns out to be a disappointment, Malar, a college lecturer, rekindles his love interest. His romantic journey takes him through several stages, helping him find his purpose. The film gained immense popularity among the Tamil audience because of Malar, a Tamil-speaking lecturer played excellently by Sai Pallavi. Her performance, complimented by the screenplay, made us all fall instantly in love with her due to which both Malar and the film hold a special place in the hearts of the Tamil audience.
3) BANGALORE DAYS:
This coming-of-age romantic drama revolves around three cousins, Divya, Kuttan and Arjun, from Kerala who fulfill their childhood dream of relocating to Bangalore. As they embrace the warmth of the new city, they also face hurdles along the way that transforms their lives. The film represents the tight bond between the three siblings and their exploration of the city. We the Tamil audience cannot help but relate as many of us get together with our respective siblings, explore and chill at different spots in our beloved city.
4) USTAD HOTEL:
This drama tells the story of a young chef, Faizi, who returns from Switzerland to his hometown in India. Being a happy-go-lucky guy who is born with a silver spoon, he begins to notice the reality and discomfort of life around him that he has never seen before. This gives him a new perspective and he decides to help his grandfather, Kareem, run his hotel in Kozhikode (Calicut) by working as a chef there. The struggles, relationship dynamic, and emotional rollercoaster that we experience in the film are something the audience connect with on a very deep level. With parts of the movie shot in Madurai, the film brings us back to our roots.
5) KUMBALANGI NIGHTS:
This drama that is set in the titular fishing village of Kumbalangi in Kochi, Kerala, centres on the strained relationship between four brothers (Saji, Boney, Franky, and Bobby) who share a love-hate relationship with each other living together in a dysfunctional home. We see their relationship with one another when they ultimately stand up for each other as a family. The beautifully captured human emotions and the heartwarming relationships made this an unmissable and favourite watch for the Tamil audience.
6) DRISHYAM:
This crime thriller revolves around Georgekutty who lives a happy life with his wife and daughters. However, things take a turn for the worse as they find themselves under suspicion when Varun Prabhakar, the son of the Inspector-General of Police, goes missing. The film bodes well with the Tamil audience as it shows how close knitted families are, giving the audience a sense of home and bonds. The film also touches upon various social aspects that are not just known subjects for the audience on the home turf but also something that is understood worldwide.
7) CHARLIE:
This adventure drama follows the journey of Tessa who runs away from home in order to avoid getting married and rents a room with the help of her friend. She finds a sketchbook of the previous occupant, a carefree vagabond named Charlie, which reveals an incomplete story. Her expedition to find the artist forms the crux of the story. The Tamil audience has this film close to their heart due to all that Tessa experiences in her campaign to find the mystery man. The situations she finds herself in and all that she does to find her way back is something that is very admirable.
8) TRANCE:
This neo-noir psychological thriller follows the events in the life of Viju Prasad, a Kanyakumari-based atheist motivational speaker, who moves to Mumbai for better opportunities following the suicide of his mentally ill brother. While searching, he gets hired by a fraud agency run by a pseudo-corporate duo to work as a Christian pastor who plans to mint money out of people's blind beliefs to religion. The film deals with the themes of substance dependence, religion, and the commercialization of spirituality. While the storyline is not something that many relate to, its subject matter is another story. Given how much influence there is on Tamil culture on the lines of religion and spirituality, the audiences were able to connect really well with the film, making it an interesting watch. Fahadh Faasil's outstanding performance made him reach big among the Tamil audience, especially during the lockdown.
9) LUCIFER:
This political action thriller tells the story of a political Godfather who suddenly dies with many wishing to take his place and gain his power. Thieves begin to dress up as politicians to claim their stake, while one name gradually emerges to be the true replacement. Tamilians love themselves a mass entertainer that can keep them hooked to the screen and Lucifer is definitely one of them. Also considering Mohanlal, who plays the titular role, and his massive fan following in our region, the film was accepted by the audience without a second thought.
10) MINNAL MURALI:
This superhero film follows the life of a simpleton named Jaison, a young tailor who gains superpowers after being struck by lightning. However, he must thwart the evil intentions of an unexpected adversary to become the superhero that his rural village needs. The film is loved by Tamilians for several reasons including that of the beautifully portrayed relationship between Guru Somasundaram and his love. The face-off between Tovino Thomas and Guru Somasundaram made people engrossed having an exciting appealing factor.
