Malayalam cinema has always turned to family relationships to tell some of its most memorable stories to the audience. The father-son bond remains one of the most explored themes in the industry. From classics like ‘Spadikam’ and ‘Kireedam’ to newer films like ‘Falimy’ and ‘Vaazha’ Malayalam cinema has always shown its ability to portray the emotional complexities that exist between fathers and sons.
‘Kireedam’ remains the benchmark
‘Ninte achan aada parayunnath.. Kathi Thaazhe ideda.’Directed by: Said Malayil and written by AK Lohithadas, the film follows Sethumadhavan, a young man whose dreams are shattered after an unexpected incident changes his future. The emotional core of the film lies in the relationship between Sethumadhavan and his father Achuthan Nair.
The casting story behind ‘Kireedam’
The film also carries an interesting story behind its casting. As reported by Maathrubhumi, according to director Sibi Malayil, Mohanlal initially postponed hearing the script due to his busy schedule. However, when Lohithadas narrates the story, the actor invests heavily in it. At the end of the session, he reportedly asked, “When do we start this film?”
‘Pappayude Swantham Appoos’
Father and son relationships have been shown in many forms over the years. Fazil and Mammootty’s ‘Pappayude Swantham Appoos’ offers one of the most poignant examples. The film follows Balachandran, a father who struggles to reconcile with his son after a personal tragedy changes their lives.Mammootty’s performance and Ilaiyaraaja’s music also heighten the emotional element of the film.Decades later ‘Falimy’ approaches a similar theme from a more contemporary perspective. Directed by: Nithish Sadevthe film stars Basil Joseph and Jagadish as son and father who often fight because of their different personalities.There is a memorable scene in the film where Basil Joseph’s character makes several attempts to call his father from behind. The moment carries emotional weight, as he shares a strained relationship with his father. Family travel has become the main event for change. Although ‘Falimy’ is a fun film, there are some moments that show a strong father and son bond.
‘Spadikam’ defines the father-son conflict genre
Few Malayalam films explore the father-son conflict as forcefully as ‘Spadikam’. Directed by Bhadran, the 1995 classic remains one of the most popular films in the industry. No one can forget the iconic ‘Chacko Maash’ and ‘Aadu Thoma’ and their bond with this iconic actioner. Even decades after its release, ‘Spadikam’ continues to be talked about when there are discussions about father-son relationship in cinema.
‘Vaazha’ and its sequel connected with a new generation
Haashir’s ‘Vaazha 2’ introduced a younger generation of viewers to another relatable father-son story. While the sequel that released recently, focused on friendship and youth culture, the relationship between Bijukuttan’s character and Vinayak’s character emerged as one of its emotional strengths.Bijukuttan in his father’s role in ‘Vaazha 2’Speaking about his role in ‘Vaazha 2’, Bijukuttan told On Manorama, “It’s not whether I can do it, but whether I can do it well with others.”Referring to the resemblance between her and Vinayak, she added, “When I first saw his photos, I didn’t see the resemblance at all,” before noting, “They kept telling me there wasn’t any issue, which made me think they had it in mind from the beginning.”‘Drishyam: 3′ actor Dinesh Prabhakar in: Georgekutty:The change of filmOne of the most recent depictions of a father’s intense love for his family is definitely in Mohanlal’s ‘Drishyam’. Jeethu Joseph’s thriller is about Georgekutty who goes to any extent to protect his family. In the second and third part, actor Dinesh Prabhakar played an important role.In an exclusive chat with ETimes, Dinesh opened up about the second part of the film, “I didn’t know how important the role was. I just approached it as another character and did my part. It was only after watching the finished film that I realized the light behind the character and its place in the story.Opening the third part, he added, “Later, when Drishyam 3 was announced, I had no idea whether my character would return or there would be any continuation of the story.”Towards the end, Georgekutty goes beyond the limit, showing immense love for his daughter. Opening up on this character shift, Dinesh told us, “Drishyam 3 is a movie with a lot of surprises. There are a lot of character developments in Drishyam 3. That’s a perfect choice by the writer and director.”From ‘Kireedam’ and ‘Pappayude Swantham Appoos’ to ‘Spadikam’, ‘Falimy’ and ‘Vaazha’, Malayalam cinema continues to present father-son relationships and this is also a theme that connects with the audience easily.