The Malayalam industry with Premalu, Bramayugam and Manjummel Boys debuted with force this year.
After a lot of disappointment faced by Malayalam cinema in 2023, the new year has turned as a pleasant surprise for South Indian film producers and directors. Collectively, the producers’ association, as reported by Times of India, said that the industry incurred a loss of about Rs 300 crore.
In a swift change, Malayalam cinema made a great entry into 2024 with Aattam (The Play), which didn’t become a huge success initially but became a focal point of conversation. But as the film was released, it picked up in popularity.
Then just six days after Aattam, Midhun Manuel Thomas’ crime thriller Abraham Ozler came with a bang. The film grossed approximately Rs 40.7 crore worldwide. It only grew stronger for the industry with Lijo Jose Pellissery’s Mohanlal-starrer Malaikottai Vaaliban.
February proved to be crucial for the industry with several releases planned. Not all films made a remarkable difference but Darwin Kuriakose and Tovino Thomas’ Anweshippin Kandethum and Girish AD’s Naslen and Mamitha Baiju-starrer Premalu. With theatrical releases, Premalu received more acclaim for its simple yet impactful storytelling. Also Tovino’s film emerged as a super hit, grossing Rs 40 crore globally against a modest budget of Rs 8 crore.
Premalu became a hit in all over India and it got shoutouts from ace filmmaker SS Rajamouli and Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu. Rajamouli’s son Karthikeya acquired the Telugu distribution rights for Premalu, and it earned Rs 130 crore worldwide. Hence it became the first blockbuster of the year.
The Malayalam industry with Premalu, Bramayugam and Manjummel Boys debuted with force this year. The three films not only caught the attention of movie goers in India but also recorded good numbers in worldwide box office.
Another notable film was Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life), starring Prithviraj Sukumaran. Based on a beloved best-selling novel, the film opened to a domestic collection of Rs 7.6 crore, surpassing recent blockbusters. Aadujeevitham released on March 28 and dominated cinemas and recorded a Week 1 net collection of Rs 47 crore.
Hence three films released in the first quarter of this year — Manjummel Boys, Aadujeevitham and Premalu — made it to the list of highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time.
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