It maybe the age of new generation movies in Mollywood; where experimentation is the key word. However, cash registers seem to tell a different story. When it comes to box office collections, Mollywood seems to stick to tradition — if the top grossers in the recent past are any indication.
Dileep-starrers My Boss and Sound Thoma, and Kuchacko Boban-Biju Menon-starrers Romans, which were box office hits, fall under the comedy genre. While films like Da Thadiya, Immanuel and Bavuttiyude Namathil just managed to break it even, Rajeev Ravi's Annayum Rasoolum and the award-winning Celluloid do not feature in the top grossing list, though they did not run on losses. The only exception is Lijo Jose Pellissery's Amen, which fetched record collections. However, Amen could not be slotted as a typical new-gen film, say experts, and it had its share of comedy as well.
"The reality is that the majority of new gen films is running at huge losses. Nearly 50 such films are on hold because there are no takers for their satellite rights. You can't blame the channels because these films were box office duds. The channel authorities reason that people stop watching them after breaks and they lose TRPs," says Sabu Cherian, producer. He further adds that, too many movies are getting released now and it is also adversely affecting box office collections.
Sleeba, an ad film maker, says comedy has always been an integral part of the Malayali psyche. "It is films like In Harihar Nagar which we watch over and over again on TV. Earlier, serious films too used to be a hit with the audience along with comedy but now people prefer entertainment over everything else," says Sleeba.
However, according to an industry insider, who doesn't wish to be named, the real reason is that people don't have much choice now. "Humour in most of these films is not classy or really entertaining. But people still love them!" According to him, a major chunk of movie goers, who used to enjoy watching emotional dramas of Mohanlal and Mammmotty in the past, now don't have a substitute for these films. "This is one of the main reasons why Mayamohini was the highest grosser last year," he says.
"It could also have to do with the fact that nobody wants to see a disturbing film with violence, bloodshed and stunts these days," says Prashanth R, a movie buff. "If I want to watch action, I'll watch Iron Man3 or some other Hollywood film. And if I want to see a rom-com, I prefer a Bollywood film with pretty actresses. But when it comes to comedy, nothing can beat Malayalam," he points out. So does that mean that the new wave of experimentation and going against the formula are just a hype?
"People today prefer pure entertainment, and it doesn't have to be a good film per se; as long as it is entertaining they will watch it. That doesn't mean that all the so called new generation films are of a lesser quality," adds Sleeba.
Dileep-starrers My Boss and Sound Thoma, and Kuchacko Boban-Biju Menon-starrers Romans, which were box office hits, fall under the comedy genre. While films like Da Thadiya, Immanuel and Bavuttiyude Namathil just managed to break it even, Rajeev Ravi's Annayum Rasoolum and the award-winning Celluloid do not feature in the top grossing list, though they did not run on losses. The only exception is Lijo Jose Pellissery's Amen, which fetched record collections. However, Amen could not be slotted as a typical new-gen film, say experts, and it had its share of comedy as well.
"The reality is that the majority of new gen films is running at huge losses. Nearly 50 such films are on hold because there are no takers for their satellite rights. You can't blame the channels because these films were box office duds. The channel authorities reason that people stop watching them after breaks and they lose TRPs," says Sabu Cherian, producer. He further adds that, too many movies are getting released now and it is also adversely affecting box office collections.
Sleeba, an ad film maker, says comedy has always been an integral part of the Malayali psyche. "It is films like In Harihar Nagar which we watch over and over again on TV. Earlier, serious films too used to be a hit with the audience along with comedy but now people prefer entertainment over everything else," says Sleeba.
However, according to an industry insider, who doesn't wish to be named, the real reason is that people don't have much choice now. "Humour in most of these films is not classy or really entertaining. But people still love them!" According to him, a major chunk of movie goers, who used to enjoy watching emotional dramas of Mohanlal and Mammmotty in the past, now don't have a substitute for these films. "This is one of the main reasons why Mayamohini was the highest grosser last year," he says.
"It could also have to do with the fact that nobody wants to see a disturbing film with violence, bloodshed and stunts these days," says Prashanth R, a movie buff. "If I want to watch action, I'll watch Iron Man3 or some other Hollywood film. And if I want to see a rom-com, I prefer a Bollywood film with pretty actresses. But when it comes to comedy, nothing can beat Malayalam," he points out. So does that mean that the new wave of experimentation and going against the formula are just a hype?
"People today prefer pure entertainment, and it doesn't have to be a good film per se; as long as it is entertaining they will watch it. That doesn't mean that all the so called new generation films are of a lesser quality," adds Sleeba.
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