Malayalam Films

Saw a movie today. 'Arjunan Sakshi'. Starring Prithviraj, Anne Augustine among others. No, I'm not a so-called Prithviraj fan. Rather, i now choose the films i watch by directors or script writers. It's much better that way.

I think every Malayalam movie watching individual is starting to realize that you can't depend on the actor to do a sensible, good film. Not Mohanlal, not Mammootty, not Dileep, not Prithviraj, not Sureshgopi, not Jayaram. No, they are doing films that satisfy their 'FANS.' I see only one reason for this. They are blinded by their stardom. They believe, it is what keeps them at the top.

They can't be more wrong. They can't be more stupid. If they take time to sit and analyze, they will see that the so called fans constitute only a very small percentage of the moviegoers. Yes, fans may cheer for you at the first day of the release. They may throw garlands, flowers, paper bits, coins and god-knows-what-not, to the screen when their hero appears first on the screen or delivers a superb dialogue. They may deliver the initial collection. But, will the films sustain in box office? Will other people come to watch it?? Or will the same fans watch the films over and over, every day, every show till the film completes at least 50 days so that it can be declared a 'mega' hit?

The family audience stay away from theatres till the films has completed one month and all the pandemonium in theatres have died down. They want to see films peacefully. But alas, the films that doesn't stick on, doesn't get watched. So who are to blame? The fans? The theater owners? The common moviegoers? Or the stars?

What has bought this to Malayalam Films? I've heard youth complaining there aren't good stories. I've heard families complaining there aren't good movies which could be watched in the presence of family members without any embarrassment. I've heard even hard-core fans complaining about the declining standards of films. All of these people who come to watch movies, are not getting what they expect. And it is this - A good story told in an entertaining way. They don't care who acts in it as long as it is good. That is the lesson the Super Stars, the directors and the producers should learn. If you are not gonna select good films to act in audience will just stop watching your films. If you are not gonna direct good films that captivates the audience your films are gonna be flops. If you are not gonna produce good films, you are gonna lose.

Always remember the past. No one is gonna give you roles, no one is gonna act in your films and you can't continue to produce films, if you have not delivered GOOD films. The audience won't stick on. Even the fans will drop out. And nothing is permanent. The big stars will fail, the big banners will come down. Even Amithabh Bachchan has lost out his race with the audience.

Hopefully, things will turn around. New actors and new directors are coming. They are starting to deliver the much needed change the audience have been missing. 'Passenger', 'Best Actor', 'Traffic' are examples. And veterans are trying out different subjects - Lal, Renjith, Sathyan Anthikad are experimenting. Hopefully, Malayalam Films would change for better.