One of the most popular movies that comes to the minds of non-Malayalis when someone says horror in Malayalam films is the cult -classic ‘Manichitrathazhu’. Well, here we are going to introduce you to another movie that many are yet to discover. A truly well-made movie in all aspects, we are talking about the 2005 Prithviraj starrer ‘Ananthabhadram’
The story revolves around Ananthan(Prithviraj Sukumaran) who travels back to his hometown to fulfill his mother’s last wish. The town, away from the mainland of Kerala, is a place where people still believe in ghosts, spirits, and black magic. A non-believer, Ananthan quickly is intrigued by the traditions and practices he sees there. But his encounter with the black magician Digambaran( Manoj K Jayan) ends up turning his life upside down.
The Santhosh Sivan directorial was inspired by the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, Theyyam, and Kathakali dance movements, and Kalaripayattu martial art forms. The movie boasts of a well-written screenplay with great performances, especially by Manoj K Jayan whose portrayal of the black magician was critically acclaimed. With great songs and breathtaking cinematography, the look of the female lead Kavya Madhavan in the film is still held as the gold standard for female Malayali beauty and grace by many. Aptly supporting the story is the lore around the movie. The movie is based on a novel of the same name by Sunil Parameshwaran.
What makes ‘Ananthabhadram’ such an engaging watch is that the movie, besides being in the dark fantasy genre, still keeps things grounded for the most part. The movie may have magical aspects but it never ends up being so alien to the audience feels disengaged. The characters, even supporting characters, are written such that they are people who we have seen and say things we may have heard someone we know say.
The movie is available to watch on Disney+ Hotstar with English subtitles. A movie that was underrated upon release, ‘Ananthabhadram’ has over the years found its deserving appreciation from the audience. If you are a horror genre fan, do give this movie a try. Don’t let the small issue of having to read subtitles stop you from enjoying his movie.
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