Films to check out during Onam
Here’s what’s cooking at the cinemas as distributors prepare for the Kerala festival season
It’s that time of the year when Kerala is spruced up to usher in the festival of Onam.
Pookalams (floral carpet) adorning courtyards and the aroma of different flavours of the sadhya (traditional feast) warms up every home as families bond together. A good film at the neighbouring theatre together would be an ideal way to wrap up the day.
So what’s brewing at the box office for Onam?
Mohanlal’s Velipadinte Pusthakam opens the way with its release today, followed by Mammooty’s Pullikkaran
Starra, Prithviraj’s Adam Joan and Nivin Pauly’s Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela.
‘VELIPADINTE PUSTHAKAM’: A COLLEGE CAMPUS TALE
In his 19-year career, Lal Jose has finally directed Mohanlal with this college campus story, written by Benny P Narayambalam. Mohanlal plays Professor Michael Edikula.
Jose said: “This college located in a coastal region is witness to clashes between two factions of students; one group of students belonging to the coastal region are always at loggerheads with students from the city. Professor Michael Edikula is brought in to control the students.”
Supporting cast: Anna Rajan (of Angamalee Diaries fame), Priyanka Nair, Salim Kumar, Siddique, Anoop Menon and Annu Kurien.
‘PULLIKKARAN STARAA’: MAMMOOTTY PLAYS A TEACHER
Syam Dhar, who debuted with the interesting thriller 7th
Day, is back with his second film, Pullikaran Staraa,
with Mammootty in the lead. Supporting cast: Asha Sharath, Deepti Sati, Innocent and Dileesh Pothan.
‘ADAM JOAN’: A ROMANTIC THRILLER
Scriptwriter Jinu Abraham, who wrote Malayalam films Masters and London Bridge, turns director with Adam Joan.
This romantic-thriller, shot extensively in Scotland, has Prithviraj in the lead.
Supporting cast: Mishti Chakraborty, Bhavana, Rahul Madhav and Lena.
‘NJANDUKALUDE NATTIL ORIDAVELA’: A FAMILY ENTERTAINER
Althaf Salim is not new to cinema, having acted in two successful films, Premam and Sakhavu. However, Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela, featuring Nivin Pauly in the lead, is his first at direction.
Salim said: ‘It’s a family drama centred around the Chacko family who are faced with an issue and how they adapt to it.”
Supporting cast: Lal Sr, Shanthi Krishna, Aahana Krishna and Srinda.