But more than the stars, it is the writer who is the hero here. As long as Kerala remains a land of endless political debates, fish curry, and existential angst, Malayalam cinema will continue to produce masterpieces.

Kerala, God’s Own Country, is a paradox. It is one of the most literate places on earth, yet deeply superstitious. It is a land of communist politics and capitalist dreams, of traditional tharavads (ancestral homes) and hyper-modern tech parks. Capturing this nuance is nearly impossible—unless you are the Malayalam film industry.

October 26, 2023