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It’s 2026. But somehow it feels like 2016 all over again!

Nostalgia has hijacked the internet, thanks to the internet burnout we saw last year. Your neighbour is probably posting the BTS from his proposal scenes. Your favorite influencer is giving you a sneak peek of ‘how it all began’. And somewhere in the chaos, you are spiraling, watching strangers relive moments that aren't even yours.

Let’s save you from that brain rot. Sometimes, revisiting the past means remembering things that actually mattered. Case in point, cinema, if you are a Keralite (we are born cinephiles, aren’t we).

Let's walk down memory lane together. Not to chase clout or likes, but to explore why 2016 was a defining moment for Malayalam cinema. 2016 was a watershed moment for Mollywood, where we saw a clear balance between formulaic commercial films and content-driven narratives, hybrid genres emerged, and experimental content found its footing.

Character-driven dramas and thrillers Dileesh Pothan’s ‘ Maheshinte Prathikaaram ’, the breakout movie of the year, didn’t chase otherworldly topics; instead told the story of an ordinary man and his extraordinary grudge. Fahadh Faasil delivered a masterclass in subtle yet nuanced acting with the film, and we saw not a star, or a starkid, but an actor rising!

Rajeev Ravi’s ‘ Kammatipaadam ’ and Rajesh Pillai’s ‘Vettah’ followed suit, in their own unique way. While Vinayakan-Dulquer Salmaan starrer was a slow-burner, dissecting the lives of marginalized and raw emotions, the Kunchacko Boban-Manju Warrier’s film dug deep into the art of deception.

The coming-of-age tales2016 was the year when ‘Anandam’ ruled the hearts of now millennials. The coming-of-age film helmed by Ganesh Raj struck a chord with the young audience. Friendship, romance, and self-discovery could never not be trendsetters. Though it doesn’t inherently fall into the coming-of-age tale, Khalid Rahman’s ‘Anuraga Karikkin Vellam’ resonated with the audience for its exploration of romance and relationships across two different generations.

Genre-reinventing narrativesUntil then, audiences here have hardly gotten a glimpse into the real lives of cops. Abrid Shine's ' Action Hero Biju ' was a breath of fresh air. The Nivin Pauly starrer was a realistic police procedural wrapped in comedy. The hero here wasn't worshipped, but stripped of any such pretense. Sameer Thahir’s ‘Kali’ starring Dulquer Salmaan and Sai Pallavi too tapped into an emotion that is otherwise woven into the hero’s strengths. The approach and performances grabbed eyeballs, for all the right reasons.

Experiments and more Star power is trivial in content-driven tales. Take Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s ‘Ozhivudivasathe Kali’, or Nadirshah’s ‘Kattappanayile Rithwik Roshan’ - both, despite belonging to two different schools of filmmaking, prove how films need actors, not stars. Ranjith bet on ‘Leela’, a clear departure from his usual films, and so was ‘Monsoon Mangoes’ starring Fahadh Faasil. Shanavas K Bavakkutty’s ‘Kismath’, Jeethu Joseph’s ‘Oozham’, and Shyama Prasad’s ‘Elektra’ ventured into an unknown territory and yet found their audience.

Actioners and blockbuster entertainers Mohanlal’s ‘Pulimurgan’ catered to the large section of the audience who enjoy action, humor, and sentiments, and emerged as the first Rs 100 crore project from Malayalam. Films like ‘Darvinte Parinamam’, ‘Puthiya Niyamam’, and ‘Guppy’, ‘King Liar’, ‘Jacobinte Swargarajyam’, ‘Annmariya Kalippilaanu’, ‘Marubhoomiyile Aana’, ‘Oppam’, and ‘Kochavva Paulo Ayyappa Coelho’ too found their audience.

Malayalam cinema had the best of both worlds in 2016. Art house ambitions were answered, and commercial viability was fulfilled. And if you have missed watching any of these films, it's time to update your watchlist!