Malayalam Cinema - Landmark Films

Landmark Films

The films in this list are those which have influenced the growth, trends, fame and acclaim of Malayalam cinema through its 80-year-long history.

1967 Cochin Express Direcor-M. Krishnan Nair The film launched the genre of professional crime detection movies with Prem Nazir acting as the detective, popularly called, CID, a term wrongly attributed to the detective, but actually standing for Criminal Investigation Department. It laumched Pre Nazir as a 'CID hero' and he virtually lent his name to three movies, CID Nazir, Taxi Car and Prem Nazirine Kaananilla.

Year Film Director Major cast Note(s)
1928 Vigathakumaran J. C. Daniel J. C. Daniel, Rosy First Malayalam film. The first Indian film, Raja Harishchandra, was produced in 1912.
1933 Marthanda Varma P. V. Rao Jaidev, Devaki, Padmini Second and last silent film. First historical drama film and novel to film adaptation.
1938 Balan S. Nottani Kamalan, Laxmikutty First sound film (talkie).
1948 Nirmala P. J. Cherian Joseph Cherian, Baby Joseph First film produced by a Malayali. Also the first film with songs. Lyrics were by G. Shankara Kurup.
1951 Jeevitha Nauka K. Vembu Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair First superhit. Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair became the first Malayalam superstar.
1954 Neelakkuyil Ramu Karyat, P. Bhaskaran Sathyan, Miss_Kumari Considered the first mature film in Malayalam. The film excelled in direction, screenplay, acting and music.
1955 Newspaper Boy P. Ramadas Master Moni Considered India's first neorealistic film.
1961 Kandam Bacha Coat T. R. Sundaram Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair, Prem Nawaz, Ambika First colour film.
1964 Bhargavi Nilayam A. Vincent Prem Nazir, Madhu, Vijaya Nirmala, P.J. Antony First horror film. Story and screenplay were by Vaikom Muhammed Bashir.
1965 Chemmeen Ramu Karyat Madhu, Sathyan, Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair, Sheela First film to participate in an international film festival. First South Indian film to win the National Film Award for Best Feature Film.
1965 Murappennu A. Vincent Prem Nazir, P.J. Antony, Adoor Bhasi, Sharada First film to shoot extensively outdoors. It was the first film venture of writer M.T. Vasudevan Nair.
1966 Iruttinte Athmavu P. Bhaskaran Prem Nazir, Santha Devi Noted for being the first serious attempt at sensitive storytelling. Considered to be the masterpiece work of P. Bhaskaran and Prem Nazir.
1967 Chithramela T .S. Muthiah Prem Nazir, Sharada, Sheela, K. P. Ummer Noted for being the first anthology film.
1967 Karutha Rathrikal Mahesh Madhu, Gemini Ganesan, S. P. Pillai Noted for being the first science fiction film.
1972 Swayamvaram Adoor Gopalakrishnan Madhu, Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair, Sharada Pinoeered "new-wave cinema movement" in India. It was the director's debut film and it was also the first Malayalam film to win the National Film Award for Best Direction.
1974 Kanchana Sita G. Aravindan Rama Chenchu tribal people Pinoeered independent filmmaking in South India.
1975 Prayanam Bharathan Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair Considered the starting point of middle-stream cinema, a mix of serious themes and mass appeal. It was the debut of director Bharathan and screenwriter Padmarajan.
1978 Avalude Ravukal I.V. Sasi Soman, Sukumaran, Seema One of the bolder movies of Kerala cinema, this I. V. Sasi experimental film highlighted a theme (teenage prostitution) which most mainstream directors were reluctant to tackle.
1978 Thacholi Ambu Appachan Prem Nazir, Jayan South India's first CinemaScope film
1982 Padayottam Jijo Punnoose Prem Nazir, Madhu, Mohanlal, Mammootty, Lakshmi India's first indigenously produced 70 mm film.
1984 My Dear Kuttichathan Jijo Punnoose Arvind, Sonia India's first 3-D film and the first film in Malayalam recorded with DTS sound in the second version released in 1997.
1986 Amma Ariyan John Abraham Joy Mathew Considered as one of the most complex Malayalam cinema. This is the first time in the history of Indian cinema, that a film was made entirely on the basis of public funds.
1987 Piravi Shaji N Karun Premji This film received more international awards than any other film in the history of Malayalam cinema. It participated over 100 International film festivals abroad India and became a great success at theatrical releases in France, Switzerland, Germany etc.
1988 Chithram Priyadarshan Mohanlal, Ranjini, Nedumudi Venu This is the first film which run continuously as regular show for 1 year in a single theater.
1988 Oru CBI Diary Kurippu K. Madhu Mammootty, Suresh Gopi, Jagathy This film is the first in the series of the CBI investigative thrillers featuring Mammootty as CBI officer Sethurama Iyer. It was produced by M. Mani under the banner Sunitha Productions. Sequels to the film are Jagratha (1989), Sethurama Iyer CBI (2004), and Nerariyan CBI (2005). A fifth sequel in the franchise has been announced and is now in the pre-production stage.
1988 Adipapam P. Chandrakumar Abhilasha This was the first superhit theatrical softporn film and it inspired a series of similar productions in the next few years.
1989 Mathilukal Adoor Gopalakrishnan Mammootty This film has been screened at more international film festivals (76) than any other Malayalam film.
1991 Godfather Siddique-Lal N. N. Pillai, Mukesh, Thilakan, The Film ran continuously for 405 days in theaters.
1994 Swaham Shaji N.Karun Kalamandalam Haridas, Ashwani The first Malayalam film selected for the COMPETITION- the Official section of 1994 Cannes International Film Festival
1997 Guru Rajiv Anchal Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi Movie was chosen as India's official entry to the Oscars to be considered for nomination in the Best Foreign Film category for the year 1997, making it the first Malayalam film to be chosen for the same.
1998 Harikrishnans Fazil Mohanlal, Mammootty, Juhi Chawla First Indian film to have multiple climaxes.
1999 Vanaprastham Shaji N Karun Mohanlal, Suhasini is an Indian-French-German produced feature film directed by Shaji N. Karun. It stars Mohanlal, Suhasini Mani Ratnam, Mattannur Sankarankutty Marar, Kalamandalam Gopi and Venmani Haridas. The film's music is composed by Zakir Hussain.The film was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival (AFI Fest) in 1999.It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival.
2000 Kinnara Thumbikal R. J. Prasad Shakeela This superhit low-budget theatrical softporn film inspired a series of similar productions in the next few years.
2001 The Guard Hakkim Rawther Kalabhavan Mani The world's first film with a single actor in the star cast.
2006 Moonnamathoral V. K. Prakash Jayaram, Samvrutha Sunil, Jyothirmayi, Sherin, Vineeth The first Indian film to be shot and distributed in digital format.
2008 Twenty:20 Joshy Mohanlal, Mammootty, Suresh Gopi, Dileep, Jayaram First film to feature almost all the stars in the Malayalam film industry. The film was produced to raise funds for the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists.Highest grossing Malayalam film till date.
2009 Pazhassi Raja Hariharan Mammootty, Sarath Kumar, Manoj K. Jayan, Kanika, Padmapriya The most expensive Malayalam film, with a reported budget of 27 crores. It was also the first Malayalam film to get a home video release in Blu-ray format.This is also the highest grossing Malayalam film in 2009.

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