Vineeth Sreenivasan on Malikappuram: ‘Films that get response beyond social media will also be made now’ | Exclusive

The success of Unni Mukundan’s Malikappuram has already got a lot of filmmakers and producers reevaluating their theories of the kind of movies that work in the box office post-pandemic. The film is already on its way to earning Rs 50 crore from Kerala box office and still going strong even a month after its release, defying all expectations.

Malayalam star Vineeth Sreenivasan, whose film Thankam hit theatres on January 27, is all praise of Malikappuram. While it was Vineeth’s directorial Hridayam that ignited hopes for the industry in 2022, it was Malikappuram that kicked off 2023 with a bang in Mollywood.

Also read: Unni Mukundan on Malikappuram: ‘When I said it would be a bigger hit than Meppadiyan, people laughed me off’ | Exclusive 

“I think the start this year for Malayalam cinema has been magnificent. Malikappuram has been houseful in a lot of places and a section of the audience, who were hesitant about watching films in theatres, are now coming to cinema halls. That’s a hugely positive aspect. What we must understand is that, there will be movies that get a wider response from the audience, beyond social media. We shouldn’t make movies overlooking this large section of the audience,” he said, in an exclusive interview with OTTplay.

Ask Vineeth about his upcoming directorial plans and he says that he hopes to begin writing the script this year. The actor also dismisses rumours that he will be teaming up with Dulquer for his next project.

“I go to actors with a bound script. I have never bounced off just an idea to an actor. Only when I have written the script, I have enough material to convince them. As of now, I haven’t had any discussions with Dulquer,” Vineeth says.

Meanwhile, Vineeth’s latest movie Thankam has been getting positive reviews. The film, which is helmed by Saheed Arafath and scripted by Syam Pushkaran, has Vineeth essaying the role of a ‘rider’ who delivers jewellery crafted by goldsmiths and goes missing during one such delivery. The movie, which also has Biju Menon, Aparna Balamurali and Girish Kulkarni, revolves around the investigation of what happened to him.