Wooing back viewers
Malayalam films back with a bang The cash strapped film industry celebrates trhe return of audience lured by a host of watchable films-Kasthuriman, Thilakkam, Ente Veedu Appoonteyum, Chronic Bachelor, and Kilichundan Mambazham.

The Christmas releases Nandanam, Kalyanaraman, Nammal and Yatrakkarude Sraddakku continue to draw large crowds. Almost all films released during the five months period are doing a fabulous business.The audience have now realised that only the big screen can bring them real excitement. But this realisation is not the sole reason for the audience flocking back to the theatres after sitting glued to the T V channels for more than two years.

Plagued by a string of spectacular flops, Kerala's dream merchants are struggling to come to terms with the changing tastes of the audience. Indeed after several years of filmmaking, since its inception in 1938 Malayalam filmmakers are yet to find a sure fire success formula.Two years of consecutive croppers have left behind bewildered producers, near empty halls, tattered reputatons and a severe cash crunch.

Faced with acute financial crisis and chronic box office failures(In 2002, despite 109 releases, Meesamadhavan was the only super hit) Malayalam cinema seem to be discovering a new formula. Films with little face value , low on budgets and completed in a given time frame are spearheading back to the commercially viable cinema movement. These are not the usual sparse looking typical art house products. These are mainstream films complete with songs and other promotional strategies. Renjith's Nandanam, Stop Violence(A K Sajan) Kasthuriman (Lohithadas) and Nammal(Kamal) are some movies of this kind. If the formula works, it may provide an alternative to the irritating mega movies like Onnaman, Chathurangam etc.