Malayalam cinema is enriched by actors and technicians turning producers

Leading stars and technicians such as Mammootty, Mohanlal, Fahadh Faasil, Lijo Jose Pellissery and Rajeev Ravi have made movies that do not tread the beaten path

Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam, Lijo Jose Pellissery’s award-winning movie, has been produced by Mammootty and Lijo. It was featured in the New York Times list of top five international movies to watch.

Thankam, streaming on Netflix, has been produced by scenarist and scriptwriter Syam Pushkaran, director-actor Dileesh Pothan and actor Fahadh Faasil under their, Bhavana Studios banner. Iratta, trending on Netflix, has actor Joju George and director Martin Prakkat as co-producers.

The list of Malayalam movies produced by actors and reputed technicians is long and impressive. With thespians and technicians, including the youth brigade, producing Malayalam movies, many of which have gone on to do well at the box office or been experimental movies, there is no dearth of creativity in the Malayalam film industry.

Director-cinematographer Rajeev Ravi says that it is a healthy trend since these professionals are aware of the ups and downs of the film industry and are not fly-by-night operators who make a movie or two to bask in reflected glory or see movies as a means to make a quick buck. “I would call the people behind Bhavana Studios — Syam-Dileesh-Fahadh — creative producers. Creative producers, a Hollywood by-product, has found some space in the Hindi film industry, especially among those who follow or believe in studio systems,” says Rajeev.

Broadly agreeing with Rajeev is editor-director Mahesh Narayanan, whose latest film Ariyippupremiered in the competition section of the Locarno Film Festival. Incidentally, the film’s co-producers include its lead actor Kunchacko Boban and Mahesh.

Mahesh feels it helps the film if the producer also helps in mounting the film. “Aamir Khan is the best creative producer I can think of. Lagaan would not have been produced this way but for him. It required a producer like him to market the film and convince people that it was a film to support. It helps the director to have a producer like that,” says Mahesh.

In Malayalam cinema, veteran Madhu was perhaps one of the first among actors to begin his own production house and studio, Uma Studio, and direct 12 films, most of which were produced by him. He also produced about 15 films and also acted in many of them. A pioneer, Madhu took the path less travelled and proved that actor-director could be able producers too.