Actor-filmmaker Prithviraj Sukumaran recently shared his insights on what sets Malayalam cinema apart from industries like Bollywood during the promotional campaign for his much-anticipated film, Empuraan. Alongside leading man Mohanlal, Prithviraj engaged in an extensive tour ahead of the film’s release, occasionally joined by co-stars Indrajit Sukumaran, Tovino Thomas, and Manju Warrier. However, the primary responsibility for promotional activities rested on Prithviraj and Mohanlal.
In a candid interview, Prithviraj was asked about the differences between Hindi and Malayalam cinema. He acknowledged that while Hindi films often rely on grand spectacles, Malayalam films are deeply rooted in realism. He emphasized that even for big-budget entertainers, success is driven by content that resonates with the audience.
Citing Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan as an example, he noted that its impact came from a strong social message beyond just stunning visuals and production design. “Just having scene-after-scene of good-looking cinematography and production design is not going to make a film work. In Malayalam, we have always thought that content is where everything should start,” he told Bollywood Bubble.
Prithviraj further highlighted a unique aspect of Malayalam cinema—the significant role of writers in the filmmaking process. He remarked that Malayalam cinema remains one of the few industries where projects are initiated by writers rather than producers or directors. “The writer conceives the story and then approaches a director or actor with the idea. From there, the rest of the team, including producers, is decided. Writers being a power center has retained the flavor of our films, which heavily rely on written material,” he explained.
During Empuraan’s promotions, the presence of writer Murali Gopy surprised many in the media, as writers are not typically included in publicity campaigns in other industries. Prithviraj believes there is a lesson to be learned from this, particularly for Bollywood, and wonders why the industry no longer has iconic writing duos like Salim-Javed.
With Empuraan set for release, Prithviraj’s comments reinforce the idea that Malayalam cinema continues to prioritize storytelling, ensuring that writers remain at the heart of the filmmaking process.
