The filmography in the first half of 2024 has been an experience of average to mixed reactions and responses. Along with this, a trend of re-releasing old classics is continued from its effect of the previous year. As per credible reports, some ten films were reported to be the highest grosser which is comparatively a very low value to the number of flicks it produces. Is the box office impact moving slowly in the industry?
There were great theatre-driven movies like ‘The Goat Life’, ‘Manjummel Boys’, and ‘Bramayugam’, and entertainers like ‘Aavesham’ and ‘Premalu’ along with high wins like ‘Turbo’, ‘Varshangalku Shesham’, and ‘Abraham Ozler’ respectively. However, there was a failure of the year’s blockbuster prediction as there were few more movies like ‘Malaikotte Vaaliban’ which were expected to be.
Furthermore, the OTT platforms have also presented several content-driven flicks that received high critical acclaim. But at the same time, the Malayalam industry didn’t happen to perform at its expected level.
Subsequently, the re-releases of the most wanted classics like ‘Devadoothan’ and ‘Manichitrathazhu’ despite having positive responses, there is no shake occurring at the present box office level unlike re-releases in Bollywood like Tumbaad.
The latest update of postponing the re-release of actor Mammootty’s Paleri Manickyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte katha in October doesn’t have much impact on the box office figure. The director of this movie has been alleged for sexual harassment after the Hema Committee report. Is this update a director’s ‘sorrow’ or ‘strategy’?
On the contrary, the September releases like ‘A.R.M’ and ‘Kishkindha Kaandam’ are going well on the big screens which can resurrect the box office albeit the prognosis for the second half of the year is not anticipatory.