Premium7 game-changing performances of Malayalam cinema in 2024: Unni Mukundan in Marco to Kani Kusruti in All We Imagine As Light
From Unni Mukundan securing the action superstar title with Marco to Cannes’ glory of Kani Kusruti, here are the game-changing performances in Malayalam cinema.
Last Updated: 03.11 PM, Dec 27, 2024
Ever since the glorious 80s, Malayalam cinema has been steadily churning out some of the best films and performances in the country but for the dip during the 2000s. The year 2024 continued with the tradition along with several practices that have both broken barriers, setting new standards. From the villainous avatar of Mammootty in Bramayugam to Cannes’ glory of Kani Kusruti and Unni Mukundan securing the action superstar title with Marco, Malayalam cinema has raised the bar once again. On that note, OTTplay takes a look at some of the game-changing performances in Malayalam cinema of 2024:
7 game-changing performances of Malayalam cinema in 2024
Kani Kusruti - All We Imagine As Light
It is perhaps ironic that the year Malayalam cinema drew flak for not giving enough significant roles for women, two Malayalam actresses walked the red carpet at Cannes. In Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine as Light, Kani Kusruti delivered a nuanced performance as Prabha, a Malayali nurse working in Mumbai while her husband moved to Germany. The film, which also featured Divya Prabha, won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival which was followed by several global accolades.
Zarin Shihab - Aattam
Another film that put the spotlight on a lone woman in a drama troupe. After a night of drunken revelry, Anjali is groped. As the rest of the group gets to know of this, it sparks discussions and debates that slowly expose their prejudices, patriarchal mindset and more. Zarin Shihab stood rooted in her portrayal of Anjali who refused to bow down to men even those who claimed that they were ‘acting for her good’. Director Anand Ekarshi, who has also penned the script, too deserves praise for his unflinching gaze on the patriarchal soceity. The film is available on Prime Video.
Unni Mukundan - Marco
Unni Mukundan has been part of Malayalam cinema for more than a decade. The actor, who had earlier starred in Dulquer Salmaan’s Vikramadithyan and Malikappuram, has seen sporadic success. But the actor, a self-confessed fitness freak, brought out his A-game for Marco, unleashing his savage avatar on screen. With relentless violence and blood-thirsty villains, the film has already been called as the most violent film from Kerala. As Haneef Adeni’s Marco rules over Kerala box office this Christmas season, Unni Mukundan is also entering the realm of action superstars in Mollywood.
Asif Ali - Kishkindha Kaandam
When Asif Ali’s Kishkindha Kaandam debuted in cinemas during Onam 2024, several few would have imagined it would turn out to be highest grosser in the actor’s career. Despite being a slow-burn thriller, the film impressed the audiences in Kerala with its gripping plot and terrific performances of the lead actors including Aparna Balamurali and Vijayaraghavan. The mystery thriller revolves around a newly-married woman, who lives with her husband and her father-in-law, but is curious to find the truth behind the several mysterious happenings around her.
Mammootty - Bramayugam
Megastar of Malayalam Mammootty shed his star image to transform into the villainous Kodumon Potti, an aging patriarch in a dilapidated mansion in this black-and-white period folk horror film. A folklore singer is initially grateful to Kodumon Potti for giving him shelter, but slowly realises that he is trapped inside the mysterious mansion and at the mercy of the patriarch. The final scenes as Kodumon Potti reveals his true colours are a mark of the acting prowess of Mammootty, who has been in the industry for more than four decades. Though Mammootty has played characters with shades of grey in movies such as Vidheyan in the past and in the more recent Puzhu, Bramayugam stands out with his performance.
Surabhi Lakshmi - Ajayante Randam Moshanam
Despite being a National Award-winning actress, Surabhi Lakshmi has rarely gotten meaty roles from Malayalam industry or starred opposite the heroes. But in 2024, Surabhi was paired opposite Tovino Thomas in Ajayante Randam Moshanam, a move that surprised the actress herself the most. This is a welcome change in an industry that is known to pick really young or glamourous actresses to star opposite the lead heroes. Despite her limited screen time, Surabhi was able to prove that director Jithin Laal made the right choice by casting against the type. ARM is available on Hotstar.
Naslen – Premalu
Naslen K. Gafoor is in his early 20s but is already much loved among the Malayali audiences after a handful of films. After impressing audiences with movies such as Home and Super Sharanya, Naslen starred in the lead role in Premalu along with Mamitha Baiju. Set in Hyderabad, the AD Girish directorial was instantly liked by the audiences and collected over Rs 100 crore in worldwide collection with Naslen becoming the first young Malayalam star to break into the coveted club.
The film is available on Hotstar and aha.