Mohanlal’s cameo appearance in Jailer has received overwhelmed reactions. Since then, Malayalis have been posting questions on social media wondering why they can’t watch Mohanlal in such a role in Malayalam. Malayalam rarely produces films of this magnitude. Malayalis must always choose foreign language films to see such larger-than-life performances.
The list of the expensive movies made in India does not include Malayalam in the list. This can be due to a variety of causes, including Malayalam film’s small market size in comparison to other regional industries such as Bollywood or Tamil cinema. Marakkar:Arabikadalinte Simham is the most costly Malayalam film, with a budget of 100 crore. The budget for the second most expensive film is roughly 55 crores. The top ten most expensive movies in Malayalam range from 100 crore to 27 crore, whereas the top ten most expensive movies in India range from 600 crore to 100 crore.
This considerable variation in budget between Malayalam cinema and other regional industries in India can be due to the varying popularity and reach of these industries. Bollywood, for example, has a far larger audience base both domestically and globally, allowing for larger investments in film production. Furthermore, the success and profitability of a film industry play an important part in attracting greater expenditures, as it gives investors with a sense of security and prospective profits.
One explanation for the shortage of big budget movies in Malayalam could be the emphasis on content-driven storytelling and realistic stories, which is a characteristic of Malayalam film. Furthermore, there is a widespread misconception that the Malayali audience wants and requires Malayalam cinema to favor content-driven films over big-budget spectacles.
However, this misconception may not always be accurate, as high budget movies in other languages have performed well at the box office in Kerala, proving that there is a market for such films. Blockbuster films from various industries have done well in Kerala, indicating that the Malayali audience is open to a wide range of genres and styles. High-budget spectacles from the Telugu and Tamil industries, such as Jailer, Baahubali, RRR, and Ponniyin Selvan, for example, gained an enthusiastic reaction in Kerala. While content-driven films may be preferred, there is still a sizable audience for big-budget blockbusters with great visuals and larger-than-life experiences.
When it comes to big-budget films, Malayalam is still in its infancy, but the success of these films in Kerala implies that there is scope for development in this genre. It will be fascinating to see how Malayalam directors incorporate aspects of spectacle and grandeur into their storytelling while keeping the unique flavor of Malayalam cinema as the industry evolves.
Malayalam film producers and filmmakers are gradually realizing the need of spending in big-budget films in order to attract a larger audience and compete with other film industries. As the popularity of such films grows, more resources and skill are brought in to make visually attractive and expensive productions that can compete with those from other regions.
This popular view of Mollywood may make it difficult to get the necessary money for a big-budget film, as investors may be unwilling to take chances in an industry that usually concentrates on smaller-scale projects. Furthermore, the success of big-budget films is strongly dependent on elements such as star power, marketing methods, and audience reception, all of which can be unpredictable and add unpredictability to an investment choice.
The Malayalam cinema industry is packed with great actors, directors, and technicians who have continuously produced critically acclaimed and commercially successful films. However, getting into the big-budget film market necessitates not only a quality script and production crew, but also a solid awareness of audience tastes and industry trends. The objective would be to strategically apply their skills to attract investors and demonstrate the possibility for success in large-budget enterprises. Collaborations with renowned filmmakers and professionals from other film industries could also assist bridge the gap and bring in fresh perspectives, ultimately raising Mollywood films’ quality to compete on a worldwide scale.