Best Films Nominations For Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2025
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Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
Arun Cherukavil on 25 years in Mollywood: I've never done anything to ‘survive' in cinema, and maybe that's exactly why I'm still here
Arun Cherukavil reflects on his 25-year journey in Malayalam cinema. He recalls his debut in 'Life Is Beautiful' with Mohanlal. Arun remembers the impact of '4 The People' and his diverse roles. He appreciates the influence of industry legends. Arun expresses concern about revealing behind-the-scenes details, preferring to preserve cinema's magic. He values discipline and sincerity in his work. From the charming school heartthrob Sooraj Kishor in 'Life Is Beautiful', to the righteous Aravindan in '4 The People', the rebellious Dineshan in Amritham, the chilling portrayal of Fr. Bennette Franko in Anjaam Pathira, and now the complex DYSP Jacob in Ronth, Arun Cherukavil's career has been a remarkable journey through diverse, unforgettable characters. Spanning over 25 years, his performances have left an indelible mark on Malayalam cinema and earned him a special place in the hearts of every Malayali, especially the 90s kids who still remember him as their beloved chocolate boy. In an exclusive conversation with ETimes, Arun opens up about his cinematic journey, the evolution of his craft, and the roles that shaped his career, taking us on a nostalgic walk down memory lane. That dreamy welcome to Malayalam cinema Arun couldn't have asked for a better start to his acting career, a dream debut in Life Is Beautiful (2000), directed by the legendary Fazil and starring none other than Mohanlal. For any aspiring actor, it doesn't get more iconic than that, and Arun's entry into cinema is as cinematic as the films he would go on to star in. 'Back then, getting into movies felt like chasing the impossible. We were from a generation where even meeting someone from the film industry, not stars or directors, just people who'd made it on screen, even in a small role, was a big deal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like L&T - The Gateway: Sewri's Tallest Landmark L&T_The Gateway Learn More Undo I had given my portfolio, you know, the ones with the epic floral background, to assistant directors and production executives,' he laughs. Then came the turning point: a telegram inviting him to an audition. 'When I reached, there was a sea of people. It was packed. I somehow made it to the final 30 or so who were shortlisted to play school students taught by Mohanlal's character in the film,' he says. But Arun's big break wasn't over just yet. His real test came when he was asked to perform a scene from Aniyathipravu in front of the director himself. 'Fazil sir's associate told me he wanted to see me. I was nervous but thrilled. Fazil sir asked me to enact the breakup scene from Aniyathipravu, and I did it. Then I was called into another room, and there he was, Mohanlal, getting his makeup done. Fazil sir introduced me and told me to perform the same scene in front of him. I was stunned,' he narrates With shaking nerves but sheer determination, Arun pulled off the performance. 'I had no hope after that. I just wanted to run out of the room,' he laughs. But what came next changed his life. 'Fazil sir walked up to me and said, 'Welcome to Malayalam cinema. You are doing this character.' That was my true entry into the film world.' 'It was a celebration for, by, and of the youth' One iconic line — 'Aravindanu Achane Pole Rashtreeyamokke Undo?' 'Illa sir, rashtrabodham und.' - is all it takes for Malayalam cinema lovers to instantly recognize Arun. As the fearless, fiery Aravindan in 4 The People, Arun became the voice of a daring, disillusioned youth. The character wasn't just a role, it became a symbol. Reflecting on that unforgettable chapter, Arun says, 'It's a blessing to have been part of a film like that. Even today, I still receive messages asking if 4 The People will ever get a re-release. I don't think I'll ever experience that kind of instant fame again in my career. At the premiere, I walked into the theatre like any regular guy. But by the time the film ended, people were cheering, lifting me on their shoulders, celebrating. It was surreal — almost dreamlike. It wasn't just a film. It was a movement. Branded as a 'new generation' movie at the time, it truly felt like a celebration by, for, and of the youth,' Arun shares, his voice tinged with nostalgia. 'I owe it to the stalwarts of this industry who shaped me' Over the past two decades, the actor has fearlessly explored a wide spectrum of roles in Malayalam cinema. From playing a disturbing pedophile in the psychological thriller Anjaam Pathira to tickling audiences as a humorous priest in Hello Mummy, Arun has shown that he's not one to be boxed into a single mold. 'It's quite ironic that I've played two priest characters with almost the same physique and makeover, yet with completely contrasting personalities. Being able to do such diverse and distinct roles is truly a blessing. I owe it to the stalwarts of this industry who shaped me. We were blessed, and still are, with icons like Nedumudi Venu, Bahadur, Jagathy Sreekumar, Thilakan, Mammootty, Mohanlal, Siddique and Sai Kumar. I've had the privilege of sharing the screen with many of them. Just being around them was a masterclass in itself. They silently teach you so much, about craft, presence, and discipline. It's their influence and those invaluable experiences that have molded me into the actor I am today,' Arun shared. 'Now you have to fire the gun and make the 'boom' sound yourself' Despite a powerful debut and a string of memorable roles, Arun is often described by cinephiles as one of Malayalam cinema's most underrated actors. While his talent has never been in question, his on-and-off presence in the limelight has sparked curiosity over the years. 'I've always been here, giving my best to every film. But not every movie becomes a box office hit or reaches the masses. That's just how this industry works. I've always believed that cinema is a powerful medium, it speaks for you. You don't need to shout to get noticed. For me, being a good actor means being disciplined, showing up on set, doing your job sincerely, and not being a burden to anyone. That's my idea of professionalism,' the actor shares. However, he admits the dynamics of the industry have shifted. 'Today, it feels like you have to fire the gun and make the 'boom' sound yourself to get noticed,' he says with a wry smile. 'Maybe I'll get there too. I've never done anything to 'survive' in cinema, and maybe that's exactly why I'm still here. I've always trusted the magic of cinema, and in return, I've always been taken care of,' he added. ' Not everyone needs to know what happens behind the scenes' Change is inevitable, especially in an industry as dynamic as cinema. Having spent over two decades in front of the camera, Arun has witnessed the evolution of Malayalam cinema up close. But when asked about one change he finds hard to embrace, he doesn't hesitate. 'I'm not too comfortable with the whole trend of BTS and the 'spilling the beans' culture around filmmaking. Call me old school, but you know what we've lost because of it? Magic. Remember how we used to marvel at magic tricks, like when a person disappears or a flower suddenly appears from an empty vase? The wonder, the surprise—it was pure joy. But once you reveal how it's done, the magic fades,' he explains with a beautiful analogy. Arun believes cinema is no different. 'There are so many people who love watching films as a magical experience. Not everyone needs to know what happens behind the scenes. Sure, I'm all for it being studied as research material by film students and enthusiasts, but for the common viewer, the magic lies in not knowing. In the age of instant content and constant reveals, we've somehow taken away that element of surprise. The thrill of seeing a hero jump off a cliff, not knowing how it was done, that's what cinema is to me,' he shares.
Indian Express
17 hours ago
- Indian Express
Malayalam megastars are doing what Bollywood hesitates to: Redefining the Indian man
In Indian cinema, masculinity has long had a template – broad shoulders, clenched jaws, an aversion to tears, and an unyielding sense of control. Vulnerability is rare, flamboyance is frowned upon, and queerness is almost taboo. To deviate from this image is to risk ridicule, rejection, or worse – irrelevance. And yet, in a consistent act of defiance, a handful of performances and projects dismantle this myth of masculinity. One of Malayalam cinema's most enduring legends, Mohanlal, recently appeared in a jewellery advertisement that made waves – not because it was outlandish, but because it was so quietly subversive. In the ad, the 65-year-old star is seen wearing bridal jewellery, comfortable in his skin, and absolutely unapologetic. He strikes classical mudras whilst admiring himself in the mirror in his vanity van. There's no caricature, no winking at the camera, no self-preservation – only an actor willing to stretch his horizons, to explore, to express. When he is 'caught' trying on women's jewellery, Mohanlal smiles, and so does the person who finds him. There is no embarrassment in the exchange, no macho posturing. It is an act of gender-nonconforming performance, and Mohanlal does it without self-consciousness. In a society where gender expression is tightly policed, such an act by a male superstar, especially one of Mohanlal's stature, challenges viewers to rethink their assumptions. And that, in today's India, is a form of quiet rebellion. A couple of years ago, another stalwart of the Malayalam film industry, Mammootty, portrayed a closeted gay man married to a woman (Jyothika) in Kaathal: The Core (2023), a character battling internalised shame and the weight of societal expectations. The film doesn't offer cheap drama or caricature queerness. Instead, it presents a restrained, intimate portrait of a man torn between duty and identity – an experience countless queer people in India continue to live through. The backlash was swift. Right-wing and conservative groups called for a boycott of the film. Muslim clerics, too, criticised the film's portrayal of homosexuality, calling it an attempt to 'brainwash the youth'. What made Mammootty's choice especially powerful is that he did not distance himself from the role after the backlash. He stood by it. No apologies, no explanations, just conviction. Both Mohanlal, and Mammootty's portrayals were sincere, dignified, and unafraid. At a time when most male stars, particularly in Bollywood, are still clinging to rigid, outdated ideas of manhood, these actors show that maturity doesn't mean safety. It means freedom — not to protect their image, but to expand the space for what men can look like, feel like, and act like on screen; not as a parody, but as a performance. Mainstream Hindi cinema has manufactured a singular idea of the Indian man: Emotionally distant, physically dominant, often angry, rarely vulnerable. The hero is rarely queer, almost always flamboyant, and if he cries, it must be in the heat of battle or in the shadow of revenge. To wear a nose ring, drape a saree, or play a man in love with another man – these are choices that threaten to 'feminise' the hero in the eyes of a market that still equates masculinity with power, and power with dominance. So only a few movies, such as Rocky aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023), dare to go where others haven't. The fear is not of artistic failure, it is of image erosion. It is also commercial. Bollywood remains deeply conservative, and while urban audiences may appreciate nuance, large segments of the film-viewing public and financiers continue to associate masculinity with aggression, dominance, and heteronormative desire. But this rigidity doesn't just stunt creativity. It stifles emotional truth. When our stories only show one kind of man – silent, stoic, alpha – what do young boys learn about expressing pain, seeking intimacy, or embracing vulnerability? The damage spills beyond the cinema. It seeps into homes, schools, relationships – boys are told to stop crying, to assert, instead of feeling and listening. There have been disruptions along the way, though. Kamal Haasan portrayed an effeminate dancer in Vishwaroopam (2013). Vijay Sethupathi broke new ground with his role as a trans woman in Super Deluxe (2019), bringing vulnerability, complexity, and care to a character that could easily have been reduced to a trope. Moving away from the south, Atul Kulkarni gave a devastating performance as a nachya performing in '70s Maharashtrian tamashas in 2010's Natrang. The younger generation, in a rare experiment, followed suit with Riddhi Sen's National Award-winning turn in 2019's Bengali film Nagarkirtan. But these remain exceptions. Portrayals in Bollywood specifically have always been an inch away from caricatures. Most actors fear the repercussions: From losing roles and endorsements to being trolled online. This fear is real. But the silence that results from it is dangerous. As older, influential male icons, what Mohanlal and Mammootty have done is brave because they are choosing roles not out of necessity, but out of a sense of artistic freedom. They are not selling youth. They are not hawking testosterone. They are, instead, inhabiting the vast emotional landscapes that masculinity so often ignores — pain, shame, tenderness. And in doing so, they're giving younger actors and audiences permission to imagine masculinity beyond muscle and machismo, as something much more than a straitjacket.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
From Mohanlal's mass entry to KS Chithra's birthday bash: Here's why you can't afford to miss 'Star Singer 10 Monsoon Festival'
Star Singer Season 10 Monsoon Festival is set to premiere on July 27, celebrating K S Chithra's birthday with a star-studded event. Superstar Mohanlal will grace the occasion as chief guest, also launching Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 7. Music lovers and TV audiences are in for a spectacular treat as Star Singer Season 10 Monsoon Festival is all set to premiere, coinciding with the birthday of the legendary playback singer K S Chithra. This grand musical celebration promises to be one of the most unforgettable televised events of the year. Hosted on the sets of the much-loved Star Singer reality show, the Monsoon Festival will be a star-studded affair, headlined by none other than superstar Mohanlal , who will appear as the chief guest. The actor's iconic swirled mustache look, already a hit on social media, adds to the buzz around the event. Adding to the excitement, Mohanlal is also expected to make the official launch announcement of Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 7 during the celebration. The festival takes on added emotional resonance as it marks the birthday of K S Chithra. Celebrating the musical legacy of Chithra, a heartfelt tribute segment titled 'Chithrageetham' will see her most iconic songs performed by the judges, contestants, and groomers of Star Singer Season 10. Joining the festivities are pop legend Usha Uthup , singer and judges Sithara Krishnakumar, and Vidhu Prathap, all of whom will deliver captivating performances during the evening. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why Crypto CFDs May Suit Your Portfolio IC Markets Learn More Undo The event will also reunite Mohanlal and acclaimed director Sathyan Anthikkad, who will share special moments and behind-the-scenes anecdotes from their upcoming collaboration 'Hridayapoorvam'. In addition to the musical extravaganza, the festival will feature glamorous dance numbers and entertaining skits by the Star Singer contestants. Actress Moksha will deliver exclusive dance performances that promise to mesmerize the audience. With a perfect mix of nostalgia, entertainment, and star power, the evening is set to be a celebration of music, cinema, and heartfelt moments, Star Singer Season 10 Monsoon Festival will air on July 27.
