However, they have survived by evolving. Mammootty (age 72) just delivered Kaathal – The Core , a film where he plays a closeted gay man navigating a divorce. It was a box office hit. Mohanlal, meanwhile, oscillates between the epic Malaikottai Vaaliban (a stylized, slow-burn western) and the visceral action of Neru .
Malayalam popular cinema is no longer a regional product. It is a masterclass in how to make commercial films for intelligent adults. The rest of India is just catching up. malayalam popular movies
That narrative has flipped. In the last five years, “Mollywood” hasn’t just won awards; it has conquered the box office, broken language barriers, and redefined what a “popular movie” can be. However, they have survived by evolving