Opinion: Despite great and big-budget films like ARM, why is Malayalam cinema yet to make a big impact like KGF?

Malayalam cinema is often regarded as the epitome of unique storytelling and experimentation in regional cinema. Since the post-Covid era of cinema, there has certainly been an increase in viewership of Malayalam films, which are often praised for their quality in filmmaking with limited budgets.

However, the praiseworthy words usually come late, mostly when they are released on OTT. Why is it that while films from other regional languages ​​like Telugu, Tamil and Kannada have managed to attract audiences, Mollywood still finds it difficult to maintain a stronghold like them?

Most attribute this to the lack of marketing techniques used by film makers in Malayalam, which reduces the potential reach of films in other languages. Lack of awareness about the films leads to people being reluctant to go to theatres.

While this may be a strong reason why films are slow to find their way to audiences, it is certainly not the only responsible factor. Looking at the matter from a business point of view, distributors in other languages ​​will also be reluctant to release films due to audience aversion, even if the films have dubbed versions.

The general lack of production companies does not create a sense of expectation for the films, thereby limiting the market for these films. However, if we recall the situation during the initial weeks of release of films like Baahubali and KGF: Chapter 1, we will once again ponder over how they were able to reach a large audience with little marketing.

This is where the characterisation of the stories helps people find a common ground among the audience that can transcend the horizon of regional space. While the above-mentioned films were able to connect with the audience at a level that was right for them.

However, despite Malayalam films having the ability to explore such characters and unique stories, the stories are limited in one way or the other. Keeping this in mind, it should also be noted that casting several actors from across the country and stuffing them into a half-baked script does not make it a pan-Indian film.

A film that has the ability to attract audiences everywhere without losing its true soul is what makes it a pan-India film. Considering the many opinions on this, don’t Malayalam films have a chance to achieve great success in the future?

Does Malayalam cinema still have a chance to create a pan-India impact?

When talking about pan-India movies, it is always safe to remember that one of the earliest films to create a sensation across India was a fantasy film called My Dear Kuttichathan, which released in 1984. The film, which was also India’s first 3D film, is still a classic that was enjoyed by many in their childhood.

So, the question of whether Malayalam cinema can have a pan-India impact can be answered easily. Now, it is only a matter of time when a potentially great film will achieve this status.

With some of the most anticipated Malayalam movies like Mohanlal starrer L2: Empuraan, Kathanar and Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Tyson under production, it will be interesting to see what the industry brings to the audience in the coming years.