Some of my earliest memories in life are cinema-related: I found great joy in sitting before a big screen and experiencing a myriad of emotions, riding the wave along with hundreds of people – known and unknown – in a big dark room. The movie theatre has always been a place of respite and recreation; a place where my worries take a back seat, a place where fervour to experience new stories, visuals and sounds takes precedence over all else; something fondly referred to as ‘theatre moments’.
In that sense, 2024 would be a year I look back upon very fondly, for it gave me some of my best theatre moments as a moviegoer. Needless to say, Malayalam cinema really came into its own this year, offering a level of genre diversity that could probably even make the A24s of the world insecure. The second half of the year also saw the resurgence of Tamil cinema; for the regular movie-watching Malayali, this was a double whammy. Of course, the occasional Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Hollywood releases also struck a chord with the masses here (although the frequency was way below par, in my opinion).
You might also like: 7 Underrated Malayalam Films of 2024
Also, I probably clocked in the most number of theatrical hours this year, owing to the sheer number of films that were worth a community viewing experience – and I watched and rewatched them in all glory LOL. For the record, I watched Aavesham thrice, and Manjummel Boys, Premalu, Kishkindha Kaandam and Rifle Club twice as well. (No regrets at all!)
As the year draws to a close, here’s looking at some of the “Wammaley Ithaanda Cinema!” theatre moments of the year – moments that offered very memorable theatrical highs.
#8 – The Gethu Dinesh comeback in Lubber Pandhu
While there are various ups and downs in the face-off between Anbu and Gethu Dinesh, the film finally boils down to a situation where Anbu (arguably the best performer in the series) is forced to opt out of the final match. And just when it matters most, a hitherto out-of-form Gethu Dinesh transforms into a beast (well, he always was one), scoring the biggies and taking his team to victory. At each six, the theatre turned into a stadium!
#7 – Sachin and Amal Davis taking down Aadhi in Premalu
Premalu effortlessly makes you root for Sachin and his antics; while Naslen’s performance is definitely a factor, it’s also catalysed by the collective annoyance we feel towards the manipulative comic villain, Aadhi. Throughout the film, we see Aadhi get small wins (and Sachin taking the Ls) in the race to Reenu’s heart. But the final showdown at the terrace party has an inebriated Sachin (feat. Amal) lashing out at Aadhi with back-to-back counters: A monologue that was met with insane hooting and an unparalleled sense of satisfaction!
Also read: A Deep Dive Into Girish AD’s Films
#6 – Shots fired by the members of Rifle Club
Rifle Club takes its own sweet time to build its world and dive into the core conflict, but once the ball gets rolling, it’s a blast. Pretty much every character in the ensemble gets at least one ‘theatre moment’ – either through an innovative shot they undertake (the Ricochet shot by Godjo is my favourite) or with an understated punchline (Suresh Krishna and Vani bring the house down with “Ittyanam, Adam’s Apple therikkanam” sequence). It was practically like watching a live action video game, with every kill, every W, being celebrated fervently by the audience!
#5 – Nithin Molly’s drunken rant in Varshangalkku Shesham
Despite all the trolling and mixed reviews that was directed at Varshangalkku Shesham, one area that everyone enjoyed was the Nithin Molly subplot, featuring an in-form Nivin Pauly. Temperamental star Nithin’s life changes one fateful night when he passionately drunk-rants against the audience and the industry, speaking out against the practices of nepotism and bodyshaming – a deliciously meta scene that the audiences lapped up in full spirit at the theatres. (Also a reminder of how much the audiences love Pauly in his element!)
#4 – The Jallikattu sequence in Meiyazhagan (Now a deleted scene)
The conversation between the leads of Meiyazhagan shuttles from playful banter to nostalgic stories to socio-political issues, but one of the highlight portions of the film is when Meiyazhagan talks about the value that Dhoni, his Jallikattu-kaala, brought into his life. He addresses the Jallikattu ban, and how his bringing Dhoni out on the maattu pongal day is met with fervour and adulation from all strata of society. When a police officer comes into the Jalikkattu arena, you first think he’s there to stop play, but as he rolls up his sleeves in preparation to enter and join play, you cheer on! Arguably the best depiction of Jallikattu in Indian films.
#3- The mind-bending revelation sequence of Kishkindha Kaandam (spoiler alert)
As Aparna unravels the layers of the mystery surrounding Chachu’s disappearance and confronts Ajay, we finally get to the truth; as we see montages of Appu Pillai investigating the case, only to burn the evidences each time, we realise how we misconstrued him all along. When Ajay painfully realises his dad’s loyalty, he holds him in a tight embrace, as Mujeeb Majeed’s Endless Odyssey hits a crescendo: A cathartic moment for the ages. I watched the film FDFS, and I remember seeing the faces of those who walked out of the cinema: It was a new rasa outside the navarasas, probably should find a Sanskrit word for mindfuck.
You might also like: How Woke-ism Ruined An Otherwise Solid Bougainvillea
#2 – When Ranga first displays his power at Mayuri Bar in Aavesham
You want to believe Ranga is the answer to the boys’ problems (vehicle of revenge, i.e.). But this man gives immaculate comic relief vibes (he’s watching reels, talking like a pookie). You wonder; does he have what it takes for..violence? Ranga clears that doubt with one brief moment, where he bangs the table (albeit to order the boys a kebab) and the whole bar shifts gears into action mode. The Thurupu Cheettu sequence that follows, with Ranga and gang walking out the bar and speeding off, as the title credits appear – Pure goosebumps!
#1 – The Guna x Manjummel Boys Crossover
In its 2nd act, MB successfully creates an atmosphere of claustrophobia while also touching upon the depth (pun intended) of the boys’ friendship – thereby making viewers root for Subhash’s unlikely survival. When, at the finale, the boys get together to tug Subhash back to life, Kamal Hassan’s voiceover from Guna about divine love plays, followed by a verse from “Kanmani Anbodu..”. I watched the film twice in theatres, and both times, I clapped and whistled, as tears flowed out my eyes. Subhash’s survival – the victory of their brotherhood – hit home, and how!
This is strictly a personal list; a collection of moments that will have a special place in my 2024 Memory Box. I can think of many other instances that may have offered similar theatre moments to the audience: The OldBoy-ish reveal in Maharaja that brought out a collective gasp in theatres, Trisha’s cameo in GOAT (the Matta song) that got people drowning in Appadi Podu nostalgia, the roars of laughter for the Kannaam Thumbi sequence in Guruvayur Ambalanadayil, Maniyan’s action sequences in ARM, Akshay Kumar’s cameo in Stree 2 (adding just for inclusivity lol), Dulquer’s perfectly-timed fourth wall breaks in Lucky Bhaskar, Bramayugam’s prelude scene and of course, the revelation of Najeeb’s shocking physical transformation in Aadujeevitham.
You might also like: 7 Malayalam Movies That Broke The Fourth Wall
Also, if we consider the 2024 re-releases, then it’s all the more difficult to get to a top 10 list. Laila Majnu, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Veer-Zaara, Vaaranam Aayiram, Ghilli, Devadoothan, Manichitrathazhu – all of them classics in their own right delivering multiple memorable theatre moments!
As a movie buff, all I can hope for is that 2024 is a start, and not an exception to the rule. Hoping that next year too, I am blown away many times in different directions by the magical winds of this beautiful, beautiful art form.
What were your favourite theatre moments of 2024?
