Until 2005, Malayalam cinema had witnessed many political thrillers that dealt with contemporary political issues. With a strong legacy inherited from vintage plays like ‘Ningalenne Communist Aakki,’ ‘Mooladhanam’ and ‘Ente Makananu Shery,’ a lot of movies dealing with both past and contemporary political issues were made in Malayalam.
After the year 2010, however, the number of political thrillers declined and the only successful movie in this genre was political satire ‘Vellimoonga,’ which was released in 2014.
Unnikrishnan B, writer-director
It is a fact that of late, Malayalam cinema has not been producing notable political thrillers. Considering the fact that we have made some of the best political thrillers in the country, and that some of our great popular directors and screenplay writers are specialised in the genre, the absence of such films these days can’t simply be explained as a ‘natural change in sensibilities’ shorn off socio-political reasons.
How do you account for this ‘change in sensibilities?’ My take on the issue is that contemporary popular Malayalam Cinema’s relegation of politics - as a theme, leitmotif, backdrop or reference - to the oblivion marks the shift of entertainment value to a ‘politics-free’ zone.
Popular cinema no longer raises disturbing questions or touches upon unsettling ideological issues. Family has become the only paradigm that matters in the contemporary popular cinema. Romance in films has become apolitical to the core - there is hardly any articulation of differences in today’s romance. ‘Annayum Rasoolum’ is the only possible exception that I can remember.
But, the purported ‘apoliticism’ of contemporary films in fact masks a retrogressive ideology that upholds ‘the uncaring, unconcerned , politically neutral individual’ as the idol, and an urbanised nuclear family as the only paradise one can aspire for. Politics is dry, digressive and it is something that has to be kept away from our immediate existence.
It does not mean that the high-voltage political dramas of yesteryear were, by definition, politically emancipating. But, they recognised politics as one of the most significant discourses that defined our existence, as a social practice that could transform our lives.
Shaji Kailas, Director
The political situation in the State is the worst now-a-days. Corruption is increasing and some of the recent political scams and allegations have crossed the limits of vulgarity. See, in the past, every political development in the State was discussed among family members during get-together.
But now, no such discussions take place. Moreover, the impact of electronic media is very high now-a-days. people are watching every political development either live or in a satirical format through programmes aired by TV channels. So, if we present similar incidents in movies, people would get a feeling of ‘repetitiveness.’
But, I think people still want to watch political thrillers. I have been eagerly following up the political developments in the State. Once the clouds are cleared, we will explore the possibility of coming up with a political thriller.
I think people still want to watch political thrillers.
I have been eagerly following up the political developments in the State. Once the clouds are cleared, we will explore the possibility of coming up with a political thriller.
Renji Panicker Writer, Director
I cannot spot an exact reason why political thrillers are disappearing from our mainstream cinema. As far as I am concerned, from ‘Thalasthanam’ (1992) onwards, I have been including contemporary political issues in almost all my films.
It was not a deliberate attempt, but because politics is my passion. I keenly follow up the happenings in the political arena. But, following the success of movies like ‘Ekalavyan,’ ‘Commissioner’ and ‘The King,’ politics-related topics started to get counted as a successful box-office formula. This overdose may have created a revulsion among the audience.
However, I cannot agree with the arguments raised by a section that political thrillers are disappearing from Malayalam cinema because of the politics-based programmes (especially satires) aired by TV channels
Following the success of movies like ‘Ekalavyan,’ ‘Commissioner’ and ‘The King,’ politics-related topics started to get counted as a successful box-office formula. This overdose may have created a revulsion among the audience.