PremiumPrithviraj cautious Malayalam filmmakers on newfound success: 'I hope we stick to...'
As Malayalam movies break new ground and find new audiences, Prithviraj cautioned filmmakers about the importance of staying rooted and original in their storytelling.
Prithviraj as Najeeb in Aadujeevitham
Last Updated: 10.38 AM, Apr 10, 2024
Malayalam filmmaker-actor Prithviraj Sukumaran is basking in the success of his latest movie, Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life). Written and directed by Blessy, the film has raked in more than Rs 110 crore from its worldwide ticket sales, making it the third Malayalam film to join the coveted Rs 100 crore club within the first three months of 2024.
Not long ago, a Malayalam film selling Rs 100 crore worth of tickets was touted as a rarity. But things have drastically changed, as the industry achieves this box office milestone with a sense of ease and great frequency .
"I hope we don’t lose sight of the fact that what originally made us so good is that we stuck to our strengths of telling original, real stories within our own aesthetics, even when you look at the mainstream commercial cinema of Malayalam," Prithviraj said in an interview with Variety.
Malayalam cinema's rise
One of the main reasons behind the exceptional performances of Malayalam films this year was their ability to strike a chord with non-Malayali audiences. For instance, while Manjummel Boys took the box office in Tamil Nadu by storm and earned more than Rs 50 crore, Premalu became the highest-ever grossing Telugu dubbed Malayalam film in the Telugu states.
Aadujeevitham was also well-received by discerning audiences across the country, with the film grossing more than Rs 100 crore by the end of its first week.
As Malayalam movies break new ground and find new audiences, Prithviraj cautioned filmmakers about the importance of staying rooted and original in their storytelling, traits that made Malayalam cinema stand out from its neighbours.
“I hope this newfound success across territories does not put filmmakers in a zone of thinking ‘now we have to make cinema that will also cater to them,’ because the films that started catering to them in the first place are still Malayalam cinema. So, I hope we stick to what we know best and not let money affect our thinking," he added.