Roby Varghese Raj to Jithu Madhavan: Debut directors shaping the cinematic landscape of 2023

In 2023, the Mollywood film industry welcomed numerous first-time directors whose debut projects received commendable reviews, signaling the emergence of promising talents in Mollywood. From their unique execution style to crafting new techniques in filmmaking, these young talents have captivated the audiences. Here, let's take a look at some of the promising debut directors in Mollywood this year.

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Gaining experience as a co-director for Tharun Moorthy’s thriller ‘Operation Java’, Sudhi Maddison made his directorial debut with the comedy entertainer ‘Neymar’. The debutant director has shown how to perfectly mix mass elements into a comedy-drama movie. While the first half of the film cemented a base for the characters played by Naslen and Mathew Thomas along with the dog character ‘Neymar’, the second half is where the real thrill begins. ‘Neymar’ turned out to be a surprise hit in Mollywood 2023.

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‘Valatty’ director Devan Jayakumar showed that one should not be pulled back from trying experimental films as their debut venture. ‘Valatty’ is the first Indian film that uses real dogs and animals as actors without the use of VFX. Even though the movie didn’t make a huge impact at the box office, the central characters Tomy and Amalu stay in the hearts of the viewers.

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With ‘RDX’, Nahas Hidayath proved that the Mollywood audiences will surely welcome a complete action-packed thriller that is filled with exact emotions. Even after getting huge competition from Dulquer Salmaan’s ‘King of Kotha’, coupled with trolls for the first look poster, Nahas Hidayath’s ‘RDX’ turned out to be the Onam winner. The movie had the actors Shane Nigam, Antony Varghese, and Neeraj Madhav in the lead roles.

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Debutant Roby Varghese Raj’s crime drama ‘Kannur Squad’ is surely one of the best films of 2023. Along with Mammootty’s strong performance as ASI George Martin, Roby Varghese Raj’s technical brilliance also stands out in the movie. Adding commercial elements to a realistic crime thriller, ‘Kannur Squad’ did a magnificent performance at the box office, crossing Rs 100 crores within three weeks of its release. Reportedly, Roby Varghese Raj is planning for a sequel to the film.

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With a perfect blend of horror and comedy, ‘Romancham’ was the first winner during the second half of 2023. Even though the movie didn’t work for the majority after the OTT release, ‘Romancham’ surely captivated the audiences when it hit the big screens. Jithu Madhavan turned a simple story based on some real events and stretched it with the help of an engaging screenplay backed by magnificent performances of the lead actors. Sushin Shyam’s terrific musical composition also has a big role to play in enhancing the theatrical experience of this horror comedy film.

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