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The Top Malayalam Films of 2013

An unusually large number of Malayalam films were made in 2013.

Of the 150 odd films that made it to theatres, these are the five best in terms of performance not box office success.

Amen

Director: Lijo Jose Pellissery

Cast: Fahadh Faasil, Indrajith

Few films have made the kind of impact that Lijo Jose Pellissery’s Amen did.

The mix of fantasy and reality held viewers spellbound.

Fahadh Faasil gave ‘subtle acting’ a new meaning as the altar boy.

Indrajith was likeable as a young priest and Joy Mathew was terrific in the role of the senior priest.

With spectacular performances, visuals, music and presentation, Amen was absolute magic on screen.

 

Drishyam

Director: Jeethu Joseph

Cast: Mohanlal, Meena

As the year ended, writer-director Jeethu Joseph made us sit up with Drishyam, one of the most entertaining family thrillers made in Malayalam,

The film gave a fresh lease of life to Mohanlal, who was having a terrible year until then.

The film industry is singing paeans of praise to the wonder boy Jeethu Joseph.

Shutter

Director: Joy Mathew

Cast: Lal, Sajitha Madathil

Joy Mathew was the leading man in John Abraham’s Amma Ariyaan, made in the mid eighties.

As a director, Mathew created a storm with his powerful film Shutter.

The film questioned the pseudo-moralistic stance of Malayalis.

Shutter has done well at several prestigious film festivals. The film was well received by theatre audiences as well. 

Papilio Buddha

Director: Jayan K Cherian

Cast: Sreekumar, Pokkudan

Activist Jayan K Cherian’s Papilio Buddha made a strong statement in support of the marginalised Dalit community.

It also included the controversial incident where a woman auto driver was brutally raped by her fellow drivers.

Papilio Buddha has won several awards and has been screened in international film festivals.

It will soon be presented at the prestigious Berlin International Film festival.

Annayum Rasoolum

Director: Rajeev Ravi

Cast: Fahadh Faasil, Andrea Jeremiah

Cinematographer turned filmmaker Rajeev Ravi’s Annayum Rasoolum is about the romance between a car driver and a salesgirl.  

Fahadh Faasil’s undoubted talents were on show here and he turned in a powerful performance.

The film presented a simple love story in a shockingly realistic way.