V K Cherian's Book Examines the Transformative Renaissance of Malayalam Cinema

A great deal has been written about the transformative impact of the Renaissance on Kerala, and Malayalam cinema underwent its own renaissance as well. According to writer-filmmaker V K Cherian, this cinematic movement was driven by an exceptional trio, an A-team  that played a pivotal role in its emergence.

In his book Noon Films and the Magical Renaissance of Malayalam Cinema, Cherian offers a look into the industry's new wave during the 1970s and 1980s, the growth of the film society movement, and the rise of arthouse or parallel cinema.

At the heart of this narrative is what Cherian calls the "A-team of Renaissance" , a group consisting of Adoor Gopalakrishnan, G Aravindan, and John Abraham along with the impact of M T Vasudevan Nair’s Nirmalyam.

As Cherian himself acknowledges, he grew up in 1970s Kerala and was a direct witness to the transformation of the film industry. Starting with the social orientation of early Malayalam films and progressing through the socio-cultural changes of the time, he examines the influence of the library and film society movements, as well as the rise of new writers. Cherian guides readers through the environment that laid the foundation for the state's cinematic renaissance. 

As a film historian and close associate of Adoor and Aravindan, Cherian explains why Adoor continues to be regarded as the quintessential Renaissance figure in Malayalam cinema. He also attributes the Chitralekha Film Society as the key catalyst for the film renaissance in Malayalam.

The author suggests that while Aravindan was the poet-philosopher of contemplative cinema, John Abraham served as the baptist and cult figure of the renaissance. In a concise analysis of Nirmalyam, Cherian highlights how MT’s scripts were crucial in shaping the mid-cinema movement in Malayalam.

The book also explores other filmmakers like K.G. George and the emerging actors who defied the traditional mold of stereotypical heroes. Cherian compares the Malayalam new wave to the broader new wave in Indian cinema.