By From ‘Premalu’ to ‘Marco’: Redefining Mollywood’s Success in 2024!
The Malayalam film industry continued to face challenges in 2024, with a majority of releases turning into box office flops. However, filmmakers adapted to audience preferences, delivering unique content that occasionally struck gold. Though the success ratio remained low, films like Premalu, Manjummel Boys, Bramayugam, and Aadujeevitham gained critical and commercial acclaim, with Premalu emerging as the most profitable venture of the year.
Director Jithin Laal’s ARM set a benchmark for large-scale films and highlighted the audience’s preference for theatrical experiences. He remarked, “Malayalam audiences now seek genuine entertainment and discern what deserves a theatrical watch.” While large-scale films thrived, smaller productions like Golam, Bharathanatyam, and Aattam also found success due to their strong content, proving that both spectacle and substance have their place in cinema.
Women-centric narratives gained prominence in 2024, as seen in films like Mandakini, Ullozhukku, and Sookshma Darshani. Actress Saritha Kukku noted that such stories have been commercially successful, encouraging more socially relevant content. She lauded her role in Mandakini, where she portrayed a strong single mother, requiring physical transformation and action sequences.
Despite these positives, the “sequel curse” plagued many hits, with films like Turbo and Vaazha ending on unsatisfying cliffhangers. However, Jithin Laal’s ARM stood out with its confident and complete ending, setting a hopeful precedent.
The year concluded on a high note with high-voltage action flicks like Unni Mukundan’s Marco and Aashiq Abu’s Rifle Club. Marco, touted as Malayalam’s most brutal film, marked a significant milestone in Indian cinema, showcasing the industry’s potential for innovative storytelling and bold filmmaking.
