Entertainment
Mollywood’s 2024 Rewind: An exciting year filled with daring tales and outstanding directing debuts.
Mollywood’s 2024 Rewind: A year of bold stories and stellar directorial debuts
Malayalam cinema shone in 2024 with bold themes, stellar debuts, ₹100 crore hits, and legends like Mammootty and Mohanlal redefining storytelling.
When Mammootty decided to star and produce director Joe Baby’s film, Kaathal – The Core, in 2023, most people didn’t think too much about it – till it released in December. After his superbly written film, The Great Indian Kitchen, Joe Baby (his fourth film) came back with a story around a couple where the husband was gay and the wife wants a divorce so he can be free to live his life and vice versa. Kaathal – The Core was highly praised for its theme and the fact that one of Malayalam industry’s legends, Mammukka aka Mammootty, 73, would accept to play the role of the gay husband. However, this film showed that Malayalam cinema continues to evolve and be the harbinger of change in Indian cinema and that this voyage would continue in 2024. (Also read: Best acting performances of 2024: From Fahadh Faasil in Aavesham to Kani Kusruti in All We Imagine As Light)
Great beginnings
This year saw several new Malayalam directors emerge with some brilliantly crafted films that captivated the audience’s imagination. Debutant director Anand Ekarshi’s Aattam (The Play) set the tone for the year with its January release. A film revolving around 12 men and a sole woman who are part of a theatre group, the story explores how an incident of sexual harassment brings to light the strains and differences in the group’s relationships. Given his theatre background, Ekarshi seamlessly combines elements of theatre and cinema in the film. This highly thought-provoking and nuanced film saw Ekarshi win the National Award for Best Film in 2024.
Cut to February and we saw a thrilling black and white horror movie that is still being talked about. Director Rahul Sadasivan is not a debutant filmmaker but his third film, Brahmayugam, stunned audiences across India. He has a penchant for horror flicks and in Brahmayugam combined period folklore with horror and presented it in monochrome! The combination of these elements, along with splendid performances by Mammootty, Arjun Asokan and Siddharth Bharathan, saw this film collect nearly ₹85 crore at the box office. Sadasivan’s horror stories flex simplicity, yet depth and this is what makes them compelling.
A win in every genre
Police procedural dramas are a successful genre across all regional film industries and director Darwin Kuriakose chose to take the trodden path with his first film, Anweshippin Kandethum. Starring Tovino Thomas the movie was a hit and made Kuriakose one of the directors to watch out for in the coming years.
Now, it is not easy to get into the ₹100 crore club in Malayalam cinema and particularly with your directorial debut. However, Jithin Lal managed to do just that with Ajayante Randam Moshanam, again starring Tovino Thomas. Released for Onam this year, this visual spectacle combined elements of folklore and the 1990s to present a unique love story-cum-adventure. The success of this film, which saw Tovino Thomas play a dual role, proved that Jithin Lal’s flair for spectacles was loved by the audience.
Who doesn’t know Malayalam actor Joju George? Given that he is now working in Tamil and Telugu cinema as well, Joju George has become a popular and well-loved figure among the south audience. This year Joju George made his directorial debut with Pani, a film around Thrissur mobster gang when its life is situated by two petty criminals. The gangster drama story may not be new but Joju George’s localised presentation was engaging and showed that he was talented as a director too. And in this film, he played the lead role as well to boot.
What’s next?
Children’s films are hardly ever given much thought when it comes to Indian cinema but Malayalam cinema has always strived to make movies for kids. Does anyone remember the super hit 1984 film, My Dear Kuttichathan?
And Malayalam acting legend Mohanal is all set to release his magnum opus Barroz on December 25 and this is the stalwart’s directorial debut! Touted as a film for both adults and kids, the fantasy movie has been shot in 3D and presents Mohanlal as Barroz, the guardian of treasure. There is a lot of anticipation for this film not just because it is Mohanlal’s directorial debut but the fact that it is set to be never-seen-before large-scale visual spectacle in 3D from Malayalam cinema.
While we wait for December 25 to catch Barroz, another children’s film, Pallotty’s 90s Kids, made headlines this year for winning several honours at the Kerala State Awards. Jithin Raj made his directorial debut with Pallotty’s 90s Kids and given the accolades it garnered, it shows that the he has a good future in Malayalam cinema.
Mollywood may have had its share of controversies this year thanks to the Hema Committee Report but its cinema is thriving as always.
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Maruti Suzuki India Limited, the country’s leading automobile manufacturer, announced its financial results for the third quarter of the fiscal year 2024-2025, ending December 31, 2024. The company reported a 12.6% year-on-year increase in standalone net profit, reaching ₹3,525 crore, up from ₹3,130 crore in the same quarter the previous year.
Revenue for the quarter rose by 15.6% to ₹38,492.1 crore, compared to ₹33,308.7 crore in Q3 FY24. This growth was primarily driven by robust sales in the utility vehicles segment, which includes high-margin SUVs. The utility vehicle segment experienced a 20.2% increase in sales during the quarter.
Despite the positive growth in revenue and profit, the company’s performance fell slightly short of market expectations. Analysts had projected a net profit of ₹3,662 crore, but the actual figure was ₹3,525 crore. This shortfall is attributed to higher sales promotion expenses and increased costs related to clearing inventory, which amounted to ₹680 crore.
The small car segment, encompassing popular models like the WagonR and Swift, faced a 3.7% decline in sales. This downturn reflects a broader market trend favoring SUVs over smaller vehicles. In the third quarter, small cars accounted for approximately 30% of Maruti’s sales, while utility vehicles comprised about 67%.
In response to rising costs, Maruti Suzuki has announced plans to increase car prices across its range. This move aims to mitigate the impact of higher expenses and maintain profitability.
Overall, Maruti Suzuki’s Q3 FY25 results highlight the company’s resilience in a competitive market, with significant growth in revenue and net profit driven by strong performance in the utility vehicle segment. However, challenges such as increased promotional expenses and shifting consumer preferences towards SUVs have impacted the company’s traditional small car segment.
Vivo is gearing up to launch its latest addition to the V-series, the Vivo V50, in India in February 2025. According to industry sources, the anticipated launch date is around the third week of February, possibly on February 18.
Design and Display
The Vivo V50 is expected to feature a 6.67-inch AMOLED display, offering vibrant colors and deep contrasts. The design is reminiscent of the Vivo S20, which was released exclusively in China in December 2024.
Performance
Under the hood, the Vivo V50 is rumored to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset, ensuring efficient performance for multitasking and demanding applications. The device is expected to come in multiple configurations:
- 8GB RAM with 128GB storage
- 8GB RAM with 256GB storage
- 12GB RAM with 256GB storage
Camera System
Photography enthusiasts can look forward to a versatile camera setup. While specific details are still under wraps, Vivo’s V-series has historically emphasized strong camera performance, suggesting that the V50 will continue this trend.
Battery and Charging
The Vivo V50 is expected to house a substantial 6,000mAh battery, supporting 90W fast charging. This combination ensures prolonged usage and quick recharge times, catering to users with active lifestyles.
Operating System
The smartphone is anticipated to run on Android 15, providing users with the latest features and security updates.
Color Variants
According to recent certifications, the Vivo V50 will be available in multiple color options, allowing users to choose a variant that best suits their style.
Pricing and Availability
While official pricing details are yet to be announced, industry estimates suggest that the Vivo V50 will be priced around ₹39,990 in India.
The device is expected to be available through Vivo’s official channels and major retail outlets across the country.
Conclusion
The Vivo V50 is shaping up to be a compelling option in the mid-range smartphone segment, offering a blend of performance, design, and innovative features. As the launch approaches, more detailed information is expected to emerge, providing a clearer picture of what this device will offer to consumers.
Sports
Lionel Messi’s final jab at Cristiano in a million-dollar text message for Lyon’s Argentina player: “Don’t listen to Ronaldo”
French club Lyon stoked the flames of the Ronaldo-Messi rivalry in their announcement video for Argentine midfielder Thiago Almada.
With the January football transfer window currently open and clubs across Europe looking to add talent to their rosters for the run-in in the second half of the season, French team Olympique Lyonnais have made the exciting signing of Argentine midfielder Thiago Almada. Almada joins on an initial loan from Brazilian club Botafogo, but his announcement was made in style in the latest in a long line of iconic transfer videos.
The 23-year-old midfielder’s signing was announced through a video shared by Lyon in which he receives a text message from ‘Lionel’ along with a goat emoji, clearly meant to be the legendary Lionel Messi, Almada’s compatriot and teammate in the Argentine national team. The text sent to Almada in this video reads “Don’t listen to Cristiano, Ligue 1 is incredible.”
Lyon’s retribution for Ronaldo’s comments
The text provides a sneaky tongue-in-cheek remark from the seven-time French champions, who are referencing Cristiano Ronaldo’s past comment regarding Ligue 1 being a weaker competition than the Saudi Pro League, where he currently plies his trade for Al Nassr. Ronaldo had claimed there was a better standard of football in Saudi Arabia, with the French league considered the weakest of the ‘top five’ leagues in Europe.
Messi, meanwhile, spent two years playing in France, having spent a period in the capital with Paris Saint-Germain after leaving Barcelona. Messi was the latest star at PSG, playing alongside Neymar Jr and Kylian Mbappe, before the trio was broken up as they left France with Messi heading to Inter Miami, Neymar to Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, and Mbappe finally getting his marquee move to Real Madrid.
Almada was part of the Argentina squad that lifted the World Cup trophy in Qatar in 2022, helping Messi finally get his hands on the coveted trophy and firmly setting his status as the greatest of all time in stone. Almada has represented Argentina six times, scoring twice, and finally earned a move to Europe after playing for Atlanta United in the MLS and a brief spell in the Brazilian Serie A at Botafogo. Almada will be joining fellow Argentine Nicolas Tagliafico, who also made a cameo appearance in the announcement video.
Lyon currently sit in sixth place in the Ligue 1 table with half the season concluded, but will have intentions of fighting for spots in next year’s UEFA Champions League with a strong end to the season, in which Almada could play an important role.
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