How Malayalam cinema is witnessing a dream run in Telugu

Telugu audiences embrace Malayalam cinema with recent hits sparking curiosity and breaking language barriers. Films such as Premalu, Manjummel Boys, Aavesham, Varshangallku Shesham, Aadujeevitham and Bramayugam sparked interest.

On a Saturday morning at a multiplex in Hyderabad, a group of Telugu-speaking film goers check with the usher if Aavesham, the Malayalam film starring Fahadh Faasil, is being screened with English subtitles. Inside the hall, the banter among the audience is in both Malayalam and Telugu. Language barriers are broken when the title card reads ‘Re-introducing Fahadh Faasil’. Collective cheering takes over. 

Director Jitu Madhavan’s gangster spoof comedy Aavesham and director Vineeth Sreenivasan’s Varshangallku Shesham, which was also released last week, are the latest in the line of Malayalam films that have sparked curiosity among Telugu film buffs. 

Malayalam cinema has been in focus in recent months, with at least one film generating interest every fortnight, if not week. Premalu and Manjummel Boys, which became blockbusters in Malayalam and Telugu-dubbed versions, are the icing on the cake. 

Manjummel Boys, a survival drama by director Chidamabaram, has reportedly collected more than ₹225 crore worldwide. Its Telugu version, presented by Mythri Movie Makers, is said to have earned more than ₹10 crore since its release on April 5 and is still in theatres. The Telugu version of director Girish AD’s romantic comedy Premalu, presented by SS Karthikeya, has earned nearly ₹17 crore.

Earlier, Sithara Entertainments released the Telugu version of the Mammootty starrer Bramayugam and Mythri Movie Makers backed director Blessy’s recent film Aadujeevitham starring Prithviraj Sukumaran.

The reasons for the spurt in audience interest in Malayalam cinema and leading Telugu film production houses coming forward to release the dubbed versions are manifold. Telugu film audiences had warmed up to films in other languages during the pandemic. This year, Malayalam cinema has been delivering hits in diverse genres while Telugu cinema has been going through a lean patch, barring the rare massive hits Hanu-Man and Tillu Square.

To be fair, not all recent Malayalam films have captured the box office attention in the Telugu States. The emphatic gender-sensitive narrative in Aattam and the brooding crime dramas Abraham Ozler and Anweshippin Kandethum found more takers in the digital space, weeks after their theatrical runs. The much anticipated Malaikottai Vaaliban, director Lijo Jose Pellissery’s film starring Mohanlal, also fizzled out at the ticket counters. However, these films became points of discussion among cinephiles.