Today’s malayalam cinema industry is completely different from the early times when Mohanlal and Mammootty started their career. That time the industry was not doing crores’ business based on one or two stars. Business was happening in some lakhs based on number of films. Eventhough Sathyan, Nazeer were big stars, lot more others’ films were also getting made there in the last days of their era and after that. Even after the debut of Mohanlal and Mammooty, the business was not surrounding them completely.
In the initial stages of their career, Mammooty and Mohanlal got the chance to act continuously in master film makers like Bharathan, Padmarajan, IV Sasi, MT, Priyadarshan etc. Both of them were getting films about 34-36 each per year, and majority of these films were from the above mentioned talented film makers. This has helped a lot to shape up their acting skills and star value way better than any other actors in malayalam cinema history. No current or upcoming new comers wont get that chance. They get atmost 3 or 4 films per year may be 1 or 2 will be from good directors.
Today’s industry is doing business of crores based on two stars. Big caucuses exist surrounding the stars who utilize their market value for their profit. They control all the business regarding the satellite, over seas, video rights etc. These people make hurdles for small films in all the way. Banning the paper ads is the latest move from them which adversely affect the small films.
The above mentioned situation makes even the very few good film makers of today to write stories and make films based on the big stars. They may not get much needed support from the business controlling producers for making films based on youngsters and newcomers. And it automatically affect the number films based on youngsters. When a new comer like Prithviraj criticise this situation, the fans read it as against their stars and stamp him as arrogant. When majority of the scripts were getting written for stars, youngsters lack films. Recently Naren and Jayasurya mentioned about the lack of films for them and the existence of the caucuses against new comers.
Two films were planned with Naren last year named “Orange” and “Venal” which were dropped on the caucus’s play. Naren told this to many media but majority of his words were cut down when the interviews were published. The heading of Naren’s interview in oneindia.com was “Naren against super stars”. But the content didnt have even single word “super star”. Young talents are not getting the chances behind the camera, as the associations’ “terms and conditions” are hard for them to overcome. For a new writer or editor, the membership is reserved only for the “favored” people. Without membership one cannot do anything.
How long can our industry survive depending only on Mammooty and Mohanlal? If youngsters are not supported here, will there be malayalam cinema after Mammooty and Mohanlal?
10 comments ↓
It wouldnt be wrong if I say that these super stars have a major role in the blocking the growth of malayalam industry
true.. very true.. we need an influx of fresh thinking in the industry.. else we’ll be doomed like the Bengali film industry
yeahh me too think so!!!,,,new faces should be found here!!amal neerad wrote some thing in mathrubhoomi aazchapatippu..wot happened with othr small industries in india..samething gonna happen in kerala..after these 2 ‘M’s!!
but..never we could say..these 2 completely..reigns and dont let d others to come in ! ONEWAY TICKET received an excellent reception in kannur…!!mammootty shud be thanked is it??
after all if CLASSMATES could be more often..what can these 2 could do??so i think…films with better quality could change the picture & only that will!!
reminds me of saroj kumar in udhayanannu thaarum…’for the time-being we need only one superstar’..
When a new comer like Prithviraj criticise this situation, the fans read it as against their stars and stamp him as arrogant
Very true.. First of all I don’t understand why these superstars have to do so many films in one year. They can concentrate on 1 or 2 good projects. All these idiots are still acting only for money, not for any interest to take the quality of films to a higher level.
Really sad that film lovers in Kerala have to be satisifed with films like ‘Annan Thampi’ and ‘Ali Bhai’ . A far cry from the days of Bharathan and Padmarajan.
Sreejesh,
As you told, films with better quality like Classmates come atleast two per year, the situation will change drastically.
Karthik,
The superstars are doing 6 films per year. They are trying to make maximum money before their market go out. No responsibility is shown towards the viewers who made them stars in last 30 years. Otherwise, Alibhais and Annan Thampis would not have come from them.
If superstars should be remembered by the coming generations, they should stop acting movies like Alibhai and Annanthampi. They made enough money and popularity. Now they should think themselves as artists who have responsibility to the viewers and the society.
Agree with Anjana….with madambi and parunthu, I hereby declare that I will not watch another malayalam movie for a loooong time to come. Fricking waste of time. I am better off being at home and watching roadtrip and eurotrips…heck even american pie 100 times !!!
Hey guys and gals,
Arent u people overreacting a bit about mamooty and mohanlal.why do u think they are still in the market.if a movie like ‘oneway ticket’ becomes a big hit,one can easily see the standard of the people watching it.u cannot blame mamooty for acting in it ,coz end of the day,its their job and they make money out of it.and no one can replace mamooty and mohanlal.they are Gods in the work they do.if possible give me a name of one actor now,who is better than them.more alibhais and ananthampis will be made coz they are paid to be made
Manju Dominic,
One Way ticket is not a hit and it should not be. Actors upto M’s range cannot be created in a single day. As long as malayalis keep comparing each and every upcoming newcomers with the Ms, our industry will not survive.
Let Alibhais and Annanthapis come again and lets expect malayalam cinema’s death as soon as it can…
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