Prithviraj Sukumaran says Malayalam cinema’s advantage is not that it only makes small films. In fact, it now makes expensive, long-shoot productions too. The difference, he argues, is that the industry has kept a more direct and informal way of working.
“Our bag is light”
Speaking at The Indian Express’ Expresso event, Prithviraj described Malayalam cinema as less burdened by layers of process. His point was cultural rather than purely financial: directors, actors and producers can often communicate more directly.
Malayalam films are not always low-budget anymore
He pushed back on the old stereotype that Malayalam cinema survives only on tiny budgets and short schedules. He said the industry now makes projects with budgets around Rs 100 crore and shoots stretching to 150 days.
So what is actually different?
Prithviraj contrasted a director directly calling an actor to narrate a script with the more layered agency-manager-production process he has encountered in Bollywood. Those layers can be useful, but they also add time and distance between creative decision-makers.
Why viewers should care
Production culture eventually reaches the screen. Faster communication can make it easier to respond creatively, take risks and protect a film’s core idea from being diluted by too many intermediaries.
What Bollywood can learn
The lesson is not “spend less.” It is “add process only when it creates value.” Big scale and professional systems do not have to eliminate direct creative relationships.
Bottom line
Prithviraj’s argument is less about Malayalam cinema versus Bollywood and more about efficiency: large films can still feel human, direct and creatively nimble.
Source: The Indian Express
