Since Malayalam movies started going downhill and people were getting more enthused seeing Jurrasic Park, Titanic and Rajnikanth movies, the film makers were confused. Just having a super star in the movie did not guarantee anything. Apparently people wanted good stories. That required talented writers and committed producers, both of which are listed by the United Nations as endangered species.
Then came a brainwave. Tap into the kids market. Then making a childrens movie is not easy. It should not have violence and should preach some kind of moral. To heck with that, said the film makers. We will make superstars act as clowns and that should provide enough entertainment.
Dileep was one of the first actors who realised the strength of kids as the driving force behind a movie’s success. Dileep together with Johny Antony came out with CID Moosa. Trashed as cartoon movie by the critics had the producers and distributors laughing all the way to the bank. Apparently the dog who acted in the movie is now a major producer himself.
Not to be left behind in the colorful-comedy-action-caper bandwagon, Mammooty soon joined the party with Thommanum Makkalum. That venture tasted success and Mammootty followed it up with Rajamanickyam. This movie created history when it became the biggest grosser in Malayalam movie history.
The already emboldened Mammootty, with a string of hits behind him, decided to follow it up with Thuruppugulan. Director was none other than Johny Antony, who pioneered the cartoon movie idea. This movie is too finding success at the box office and with the success it’s being proved that it doesn’t take much to satisfy the so called “intelligent” Malayalee’s taste and superstars are ready to lower their standards.
Meanwhile the original comic action hero, Dileep, was refining his tactics and came up with Pachakuthira, again aimed solely at kids. Albeit initial reports, the movie is picking up in the box office. Next he’s teaming up with the Johny Antony for the movie, hold your breath, Batman. Not to be outdone, Mammootty has the movie Mayavi in the pipeline with director Shafi.
Other producers are running to copyright the following titles - Kapeesh, Shikari Shambu, and Dopayya. If this trend continues another ten years down the lane we will see I.V.Sasi making Mayavi vs Batman
Mohanlal must be looking at this antics with a sense of dejavu. He’s the one who got his career almost ruined doing the mustache twirling/flexing non existent muscle/ feudal action hero type roles in movie after movie. Initial movies of that genre did well, then such movies faced their inevitable fate. Now , the most pressing question is would he too join this cartoon movie fest?
We are sure the chenda must be asking Jayaram to try wearing a mundu around his shoulders like Superman’s cape and see if this genre works for him.
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May 12, 2006 at 4:58 am
i think its the producers who chase the trend and in the end directors,actors get succumb to it
May 12, 2006 at 9:08 pm
Mayavi vs Batman – brilliant!!!!!!!
Seriously Jonny A should consider going to hollywood and try making some Walt disney movies. Hes had so much experience making cartoon movies..Who knows..he might come up with the Indian version of Tom and Jerry!!!
On another note, muscle/meesha flexing can be tolerated to an extent..but cartoon movies of this kind makes you repulsive of Malayalam movies altogether.