Adayalangal
Director: M G Sasi
Cast: Govind Padmasurya, Jyothirmayee
Adayalangal, based on the life and literature of Nandanar, won quite a few Kerala State film awards including the best film, director and best cinematographer. Govind Padmasuryaplayed Gopi, a young man leading a tough life. Jyothirmayee played the heroine, Meenakshikkutty, who understands him well.
Adayalangal also takes a look on the futility of war and as director M G Sasi puts it 'the leitmotif of the film is hunger, of both body and mind.'
Thirakkadha
Director: Ranjith
Cast: Priyamani, Prithviraj
Whether the film was inspired by the real life affair between Sreevidya and Kamal Haasan, we don't know. ButThirakkadha had style.
Prithviraj played Akbar, a young director, in search of his next subject. He decides to look at the tragic life of yesteryear heroine, Malavika, who had a torrid but tragic affair with reigning superstar Ajaychandran. Akbar finds Malavika in a secluded room, away from the arc lights, fighting for her life from cancer.
Thirakkadha had a definite charm and attracted audiences to some extent. Hats off to the director Ranjith also, for getting a scintillating performance from Priyamani.
Veruthe Oru Bharya
Director: Akku Akbar
Cast: Jayaram, Gopika
Even the makers would not have anticipated the rousing welcome Veruthe Oru Bharya received at the cash registers, making it the biggest hit of 2008. A small budget film with a hero going through his lowest phase in his career didn't come in the way of the film's success.
Jayaram played a nagging husband, who believed that his wife had an easier life managing household duties. Things came crumbling down when she walked out of the house one fine day.
K Gireeshkumar's well written script and Akku Akbar's direction added to its brilliance. Veruthe Oru Bharya succeeded in bringing families back to the theatres.
Thalappavu
Director: Madhupal
Cast: Prithviraj, Lal
Thalappavu was inspired by the encounter of Naxalite leader Varghese. The incident made news when ageing cop Ramachandran Nair announced that he had shot the revolutionary leader to death, at the behest of his superiors.
The story was told from the perspective of a cop called Ravindran Pillai, played by Lal. The memories of Joseph, whom he had shot, nagged him and tragically, he hit the bottle. His family soon deserted him.
Actor Madhupal made his directorial debut with this film.
Twenty: 20
Director: Joshiy
Cast: The Malayalam film industry
The Malayalam film industry made history, as the whole acting community joined hands to make Twenty 20. The film was a success as soon as it released.
The film was originally made for the welfare of the ailing members of AMMA and was the first of its kind, when nearly 90 actors lined up to act in it. The film took several months in the making but the hard work finally paid off for its producer Dileep. Siby-Udayan duo's script is regarded as the key to its success. Twenty 20 may be Malayalam's biggest grosser ever and it's still going strong.
Mammootty, Mohanlal and Suresh Gopi donned the main roles in the film. There were no dearth of controversies during its making, but eventually, everyone involved had reason enough to smile.
Aakashagopuram
Director: K P Kumaran
Cast: Mohanlal, Nitya
Based on Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen's The Master Builder, veteran director K P Kumaran's Aakashagopuramwas particularly noted as it took Malayalam cinema to an international level with John Altman, who composed the music for Titanic, joining its crew.
Mohanlal made a highly impressive performance as a ruthless and ambitious architect Albert Samson. The film was shot in picturesque locations in London, including at the Stonehenge.
Aakashagopuram found its way to several prestigious film festivals.
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