It’s that time of the year when Kerala is spruced up to usher in the festival of Onam.
Pookalams (floral carpet) adorning courtyards and the aroma of different flavours of the sadhya (traditional feast) warms up every home as families bond together. A good film at the neighbouring theatre together would be an ideal way to wrap up the day.
So what’s brewing at the box office for Onam?
Mohanlal’s Velipadinte Pusthakam opens the way with its release on August 31, followed by Mammooty’s Pullikkaran Starra, Prithviraj’s Adam Joan and Nivin Pauly’s Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela.
‘Velipadinte Pusthakam’: A college campus tale
In his 19 years of career, Lal Jose, noted Malayalam director of films such as Classmates, Diamond Necklace and Achcanurangathu Veedu, has finally directed Mohanlal with this college campus story, written by Benny P Narayambalam. Mohanlal plays Professor Michael Edikula.
Jose said, “This college located in a coastal region is witness to clashes between two factions of students; one group of students belonging to the coastal region are always at loggerheads with students from the city. Professor Michael Edikula is brought in to control the students.”
Supporting cast: Anna Rajan (of Angamalee Diaries fame), Priyanka Nair, Salim Kumar, Siddique, Anoop Menon and Annu Kurien.
Music composer: Shaan Rahman
Cinematographer: Vishnu Sharma
‘Pullikkaran Staraa’: Mammootty plays a schoolteacher
Syam Dhar who debuted with the interesting thriller 7th Day, is back with his second film, Pullikaran Staraa, with Mammootty in the lead.
Supporting cast: Asha Sharath, Deepti Sati, Innocent and Dileesh Pothan.
Music composer: M Jeyachandran
Cinematographer: Vinod Ilampally
‘Adam Joan’: A romantic thriller
Script-writer Jinu Abraham who wrote Malayalam films, Masters and London Bridge, turns director with Adam Joan.
This romantic-thriller, shot extensively in Scotland, has Prithviraj in the lead. Prithviraj has also given vocals for a song, titled Arikil Ini Nyan Varaam.
Supporting cast: Mishti Chakraborty, Bhavana, Rahul Madhav and Lena.
Music composer: Deepak Dev
Cinematographer: Jithu Damodar
‘Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela’: A family entertainer that brings back Shanti Krishna
Director Althaf Salim is not new to cinema having acted in two successful films, Premam and Sakhavu. However, Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela, featuring Nivin Pauly in the lead, is his first at direction.
Salim said, ‘It’s a family drama centred around the Chacko family who are faced with an issue and how they adapt to it. What makes the story an entertainer is a humorous treatment to the narration.”
Supporting cast: Lal Sr, Shanthi Krishna, Aahana Krishna and Srinda.
Music composer: Justin Verghese
Cinematographer: Mukesh Muralidharan
