[Asish_VK]

2024 will be remembered as Malayalam Cinema's year!

Though they have been producing great movies most of the years, 2024 saw a huge surge in attention from larger audience.
This has been an year where malayalam movie industry produced back to back blockbusters in almost every genre.

Here are my list of recommendations (from the movies I have watched). Not in any particular order.

1. Bhramayugam - Folk / Horror [What's good - Mammootty's performance, unique B&W experience, Great visuals & sound effects
2. Manjummel Boys - Survival Thriller / Friendship drama [What's good - Superb art work, gripping storyline, music, cast performance]
3. Golam - Investigation Thriller [What's good - Nice script, gripping storyline]
4. A R.M - Fantacy/ Adventure [What's good - Superb visuals, Tovino's & Surabhi's performance, nice songs, good action sequences]
5. Premalu - Romantic Comedy - [What's good - simple but engaging story and screenplay, good performance from everyone, nice songs, soothing visuals]
6. Aavesham - Action Comedy - [What's good - Fahad's performance, festive mood, songs]
7. Kishkinda Kandam - Mystery Drama [What's good - Asif & Vijayaraghavan's performances, slowburn but gripping story telling, cinematography]
8. Aadujeevitham - Survival drama [What's good - Prithviraj's performance, stunning visuals, songs& bgm ]
9. Aattam - Drama [What's good - Great story& screenplay, performances from everyone]
10. Sookshmadarshini - Mystery thriller/comedy [What's good - Nazriya , Basil , Sidharth performance, gripping storyline]
11. Gaganachari - Sci-fi Mockumentary [What's good - performances from lead cast, fresh concept, visual effects considering the budget]
12. Bharatha Natyam - Comedy [What's good - Saikumar's performance, genuinely funny situational comedies]
13. Anweshippin Kandethum - Investigation Thriller / Crime drama [What's good - gripping storyline , Tovino's performance]
14. Vishesham - Feel good drama [What's good - lead cast performance, simple storyline]
15. C.I.D Ramachandran retd. SI - Crime thriller [What's good - gripping storyline, good performance from leads]
16. Thalavan - Crime Drama [What's good - Asif & Biju Menon performance, story]
17. Marco - Action [What's good - Terrific action choreography, spectacular cinematography]
18. Rifle club - Action Thriller - [What's good - performances from all leads, cinematography, making & direction]
19. Pallotty - Feelgood drama [What's good - performances of leading kids , 90's nostalgia, simple storyline]
20. Bougainville - Mystery thriller [What's good - Kunchako & Jyotirmayi's performances, cinematography]

Special mentions

1. Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil - Comedy
2. Turbo - Action Comedy
3. Malaikkottai Valiban - Fantacy Drama
4. Pani - Action
5. E.D - Black Comedy
6. Hello Mummy - Horror Comedy
7. Mura - Action
8. Level cross - Mystery Drama
9. Abraham Ozler - Investigation Thriller
10. Anchakkallakokkan - Action
11. Gumastan - Crime Thriller
12. Ullozhukk - Drama
13. Vaazha - Comedy

[Rajeevraj]

Barroz-Mohanlal-Directorial

This was a strange one. After 40 years as an actor, the first directorial from Mohanlal came with no hype and a pretty much unknown star cast. Been long in the making and had been through a lot of issues. The promotions were also mild with only Mohanlal promoting it.

Unfortunately all of this shows in the end product. The idea was good- A fantasy film for children. The story was a standard genie who protects a treasure until he can hand it over to a rightful heir. It needs a great execution to make this standard story interesting. Parts if it are there- The 3D is very good, frames are rich, sound and music is decent- but that's about it. The story telling remains flat, the story drags, the non fantasy modern day staging looks very artificial and above all the acting is average all across-Including Mohanlal. Looks like he had some international level film in mind but just could not execute to it.

Most reviews are super critical- I would not say it is an extremely bad movie. Seeing it in a good screen with Atmos sound (like I did) makes it somewhat tolerable, but still far from being a good film.

Rating: 2/5

Extra Decent- Suraj: Kind of a dark comedy about happenings in a family led by Suraj who does a great job. The core plot point is a flimsy one and there are a lot of loopholes. But still a decent watch. Would not say it has to be watched in theater, would be good watch on OTT