2012 seems to be the best time for debutant directors to enter the scene as Mollywood saw 50 newcomers calling the shots in the last ten months, a maximum in the history. And if every thing goes well without any twist like surprise strikes from any of the unions in Mollywood for eight more weeks, 2012 will see the maximum number of Malayalam film releases in the last quarter of a century.
As a clear indication, the number has crossed 100 in October, the tenth month. The total number of Malayalam films reached theatres during this period including 10 dubbed versions is 116.
Many directors could make more than one film this year with Lal Jose topping the chart with three, the maximum number in an year’s time in his career. Two films each by V K Prakash, Johny Antony, Saji Surendran and Shaji Kailas hit the screens, during the last ten months. The reaction in the market was so positive that even a film, ‘Karpooradeepam’, which was in can for 14 years came out this year.
“There was a time when the director and writer had to yield to the market’s pressure and ending up in making bad films. That’s why we started our own company,” says Lal Jose, who turned a successful producer and distributor with ‘Diamond Necklace’ and ‘Thattathin Marayath’.
Experts in the industry point out various reasons for the influx of films this year. “The major reasons for this is the digital film making, success of small and medium films and decline in stardom.
Digital film making has reduced the cost to a certain extent and it can be cited as a reason for the sprouting of medium budget films. New producers enter the scene as they could recover fairly good amount through various sources including the satellite rate. Definitely Mollywood has grown into a 300 crore plus market as an average film costs one crore,” says Milan Jaleel, president of Kerala Film Producers’ Association.
Sabu Cherian, Chairman of Kerala State Film Development Corporation, also cites similar reasons for the sudden increase in the number of films.
“This is the result of the stringent action on video piracy which almost killed the industry. The strict action taken by the cinema minister who is also a member of the fraternity is making results. The number of medium budget films increased as many of them did well in the market compared to star studded ones”, Sabu says.
When going by the average release per week, at least 20 films will reach theatres in the coming weeks and the Christmas season will take the number to 136-140.