‘Manjurukum Kaalam’, a series running on Mazhavil Manorama is one of the most popular serials on Malayalam television at present. The serial is based on the novel written by Joycee which was serialised in a Malayalam weekly.
Suresh Unnithan (better known as Sreemovies Unnithan), who helms the production of ‘Manjurukum Kaalam’, says that children are the biggest fans of the series. “Kids and elderly people are our biggest fans. May be because a young girl plays an important character. A six-year-old girl called us and told she is a die-hard fan of the serial and has never missed a show. She even send us pictures of her dressed up as the lead character,” he says. After the show was made available on Youtube, the producer says, many viewers watch it outside Kerala. “We have viewers in the UK and the US.”
Another reason for the popularity of the serial, Unnithan says, is the difference in the tone and style of its making. “Unlike other serials on Malayalam television, ‘Manjurukum Kaalam’, is not overly melodramatic and there is a genuineness to the way the story is presented. The style is also very non-dramatic, which gives it a distinct identity from the other serials,” he adds.
As the story has already finished its print run, there is a direction and an end to the story, which usually is not the case with most TV serials.
“When we embarked on the project, the fans of the novel overwhelmingly demanded that the storyline be kept intact, which we have done.” Unnithan says that such passions are aroused due to the poignant writing of Joycee, who has written the screenplay for the serial as well.
‘Manjurukum Kaalam’ is on its 360th episode and is one of the top-rated shows in all Malayalam television.