‘Mollywood Times’ Twitter review: Naslen’s coming-of-age drama wins praise for its honest take on cinema

The latest Malayalam release, ‘Mollywood Times’ starring Naslen has hit the big screens on June 5. As the coming-of-age comedy drama opened today, the film has been receiving positive response on its first day.Viewers have been sharing different opinions about the film on the internet. Some praised the performances and emotional moments, while others discussed the storytelling and overall presentation. A reviewer on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, “#MollywoodTimes is a brutally honest take on the realities of the cinema industry, and #AbhinavSunderNayak unapologetically voices them out in his second outing.”Another added, “The first half was really good — thrilling, engaging, and packed with surprise elements. Waiting for the second half!”Another reviewer called the film a “warning manual for aspiring filmmakers and actors,” they added, it exposes the politics and power dynamics of the film industry. They further added, “#Naslen was good, though the role wasn’t particularly challenging. He was backed by a strong supporting cast. I also liked the way the filmmaker took a subtle dig at caste politics in society.” One added, “The film is very interesting and keeps us curious throughout the first half, but it gradually strays away and loses some of its focus in the second half. It wanders a bit too much into self-realization and occasionally gets stuck in the loop of ‘Ente Vidhi Ente Theerumanangal Aanu.’ The idea and the message are clear, but they get somewhat muddled amidst cinema politics and power plays.”Another reviewer wrote, “#MollywoodTimes is a refreshing cinematic gem that blends dark humor with smart storytelling. #Naslen shines in a career-best performance, backed by Abhinav’s inventive direction, Jakes Bejoy’s terrific score. Even with a slower second half, it remains a compelling watch.”Speaking about the film, directed by Abhinav Sunder Nayak, it tells the story of Vineeth Madhavan, a teenager from Kuttikkanam who dreams of becoming a film director. The story follows his journey as he chases his ambition and faces various challenges along the way. Naslen plays the lead role and carries the film with his energetic performance. The movie explores friendship, dreams, struggles and the love for cinema through the eyes of a young aspiring filmmaker.The supporting cast includes Sharaf U Dheen, Sangeeth Prathap, Roshan Shanavas, Mohammed Saalim KM, Vineeth Sreenivasan and Basil Joseph, all of whom play important roles in the story.The music is composed by Jakes Bejoy.