I recently bought a VCD of the new Malayalam movie called North 24 Kaatham and thought of watching it with my parents. Although on the lighter side of the so called "new generation" movies, after watching it for 10 minutes on my computer, I realised that just like other movies of the same genre, it is not something that can be enjoyed with the entire family. Perhaps that would be the best and simplest definition of "new generation" Malayalam movies- movies that would be too embarrassing to watch with the entire family.
Although there are broadly three types "new generation" movies, the common thread could be the depiction of sex, language and lifestyle- use of abusive language, drinking, vulgarity and at least in the silver screen more freedom, low inhibition and liberation for women while taking place in mostly an urban setting. The three types of this genre-
1) A movie that tells a story different from the traditional topics of Malayalam cinema and malayali life while partly describing a new normal of life in Kerala- these include movies like Diamond Necklace, Ritu, Cocktail etc. The difference lies not in the story but in what the story depicts as life, events, language and
lifestyles.
2) In this category lie movies that present a different type of movie making. It is experimentalisation in what a movie is and what it should convey. Here, an obvious beginning, plot and conclusion or usual melodrama and fuss of popular routines are sometimes absent. Examples include Kerala Cafe, Anchu Sundarikal (anthology movies), North 24 Kaatham, Annayum Rasoolum, Traffic, Thirakkadha and Amen.
3) This is perhaps the most extreme or radical version of new generation movies where the themes and style of movie making is new. These include Trivandrum Lodge, Chappa Kurishe, 22 Female Kottayam etc.
They were welcomed because they came at a time when we were fully fed up of the antics of relics who were playing ridiculous roles that were an insult to their previous accomplishments, to Malayalam movies themselves and to us the audience who were used to much better acting, stories and depictions. Things got to such a low that we even cheered for, accepted and made a celebrity out of the totally outrageous and ridiculous creations of Santosh Pandit.
Before "new generation" movies arrived and was accepted as a new genre, there were movies like Thirakkadha, Pakalnakshathrangal, Ritu, Traffic etc that provived much needed relief, quality and was a sign of things to come. It is perhaps with the return of Fahadh Fasil that "new generation" in Malayalam cinema got a clear- cut identity as a genre of movies. Movies like Chappa Kurishe, 22 Female Kottayam and Diamond Necklace being the actor's major successes.
"New generation" movies have not completely replaced regular movies and both of them have had equal measures of good and bad movies, horrible failures and remarkable successes. Even in this era, movies that tell a simple yet lovable family story, comedies, dramas etc are succeeding. These include Celluloid, Beautiful, Ayalum Njanum Thammil, Indian Rupee, Passenger, Grandmaster, Ordinary, Romans, Robinhood, Arabi Ottakam P. Madhavan Nair some of which are obvious recycles of old banal stories and yet can be enjoyed without shame, apprehension about the next embarrassing scene which will make us dread the moment we have to face the elders or kids.
I do not hold a puritanical view of movies and so a change in attitude, openness and liberalism must be welcomed as long it does not become ridiculous and tries to make a mockery of the viewer's intellect like what was in attempted in "Bachelor Party" and "Casanova".
In the end, it does not matter whether it is a new or old generation movie- if it is good, people will watch, appreciate and remember it. But one thing is for certain, "new generation" movies have a connotation about age, they are not for children, middle-aged and the elderly, they cannot understand it since it is not from their time. So watching these movies is an awkward experience for everyone in a family setting. It is more suited for hanging out with friends, a sign of changing times in Kerala.
Although there are broadly three types "new generation" movies, the common thread could be the depiction of sex, language and lifestyle- use of abusive language, drinking, vulgarity and at least in the silver screen more freedom, low inhibition and liberation for women while taking place in mostly an urban setting. The three types of this genre-
1) A movie that tells a story different from the traditional topics of Malayalam cinema and malayali life while partly describing a new normal of life in Kerala- these include movies like Diamond Necklace, Ritu, Cocktail etc. The difference lies not in the story but in what the story depicts as life, events, language and
lifestyles.
2) In this category lie movies that present a different type of movie making. It is experimentalisation in what a movie is and what it should convey. Here, an obvious beginning, plot and conclusion or usual melodrama and fuss of popular routines are sometimes absent. Examples include Kerala Cafe, Anchu Sundarikal (anthology movies), North 24 Kaatham, Annayum Rasoolum, Traffic, Thirakkadha and Amen.
3) This is perhaps the most extreme or radical version of new generation movies where the themes and style of movie making is new. These include Trivandrum Lodge, Chappa Kurishe, 22 Female Kottayam etc.
They were welcomed because they came at a time when we were fully fed up of the antics of relics who were playing ridiculous roles that were an insult to their previous accomplishments, to Malayalam movies themselves and to us the audience who were used to much better acting, stories and depictions. Things got to such a low that we even cheered for, accepted and made a celebrity out of the totally outrageous and ridiculous creations of Santosh Pandit.
Before "new generation" movies arrived and was accepted as a new genre, there were movies like Thirakkadha, Pakalnakshathrangal, Ritu, Traffic etc that provived much needed relief, quality and was a sign of things to come. It is perhaps with the return of Fahadh Fasil that "new generation" in Malayalam cinema got a clear- cut identity as a genre of movies. Movies like Chappa Kurishe, 22 Female Kottayam and Diamond Necklace being the actor's major successes.
"New generation" movies have not completely replaced regular movies and both of them have had equal measures of good and bad movies, horrible failures and remarkable successes. Even in this era, movies that tell a simple yet lovable family story, comedies, dramas etc are succeeding. These include Celluloid, Beautiful, Ayalum Njanum Thammil, Indian Rupee, Passenger, Grandmaster, Ordinary, Romans, Robinhood, Arabi Ottakam P. Madhavan Nair some of which are obvious recycles of old banal stories and yet can be enjoyed without shame, apprehension about the next embarrassing scene which will make us dread the moment we have to face the elders or kids.
I do not hold a puritanical view of movies and so a change in attitude, openness and liberalism must be welcomed as long it does not become ridiculous and tries to make a mockery of the viewer's intellect like what was in attempted in "Bachelor Party" and "Casanova".
In the end, it does not matter whether it is a new or old generation movie- if it is good, people will watch, appreciate and remember it. But one thing is for certain, "new generation" movies have a connotation about age, they are not for children, middle-aged and the elderly, they cannot understand it since it is not from their time. So watching these movies is an awkward experience for everyone in a family setting. It is more suited for hanging out with friends, a sign of changing times in Kerala.
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