As curtains go up for the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala today, a few names from Malayalam film industry who have had their films screened at the festival talk about some of the best works they have watched.
Mahesh Narayanan
(Editor-filmmaker)
Mahesh Narayanan
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The Battle of Algiers (Gillo Pontecorvo): A powerful, documentary-style portrayal of the Algerian war for independence. Its raw realism and shocking authenticity stayed with me. The film not only influenced global anti-colonial movements but also became a reference point for guerrilla warfare and counter-insurgency studies. More than anything, it opened up important conversations about imperialism, resistance, and the moral complexities within such struggles.
A scene from The Battle of Algiers
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Z and Missing (Costa-Gavras): I was introduced to Costa-Gavras through an IFFK retrospective, and his films taught me how bold political cinema can truly be. Even though they are fiction, the way he frames them like documentaries creates an urgency and realism that I had never experienced before. His work showed me how powerful the form can be when politics, craft, and conviction come together.
A still from About Elly
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About Elly (Asghar Farhadi): I consider Farhadi to be this generation’s Bergman, and About Elly is a perfect example of his mastery. His ability to build tension through everyday human interactions and reveal deep moral truths without ever raising his voice has shaped the way I approach character, conflict, and emotional authenticity in my own filmmaking.
Krishand
(Filmmaker)
Filmmaker Krishand
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Akam (Shalini Usha Devi): I was expecting something else and ended up watching a work that has extraordinary filmmaking. It was one of the first films to be shot on 5D mk2 in Malayalam and I felt so proud. It has beautiful storytelling too. A lot of commercial films later picked up the tricks from it.
A still from Akam
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The Unknown Saint (Alaa Eddine Aljem): The Moroccan movie is quirky, funny and deeply philosophical.
The Unknown Saint
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This Is Not A Film (Jafar Panahi and Mojtaba Mirtahmasb): An Iranian documentary shot during the duo’s house arrest, it shows a unique form of resistance. At the same time I realised how much this art matters.
Also in my list are the Brazilian film Rule 34 by Júlia Murat, which is about a law student exploring cam girl things, blurring sexuality identity and stereotype, and Don Palathara’s Family.
Appu Bhattathiri
(Editor-filmmaker)
Editor-director Appu Bhattathiri
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Celluloid Man (Shivendra Singh Dungarpur): I am not a huge fan of documentaries but I somehow decided to watch this one. And when I came out of the cinema, I think a lot had changed in me. It is such an inspiring documentary about a man who knew it was important to archive films.
Wild Tales ( Damián Szifron): One of the best anthology films I have seen. To have experienced the same in theatres is a joy that I will cherish for life. Entertaining, engaging and inspiring all at once. Great stories, brilliantly executed.
Where Do We Go Now
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Where Do We Go Now? (Nadine Labaki): Brilliantly executed, it has got its heart at the right place. The humour, the romance and the emotion land perfectly creating a story that is warm, relevant and, above all, deeply human.
Sanju Surendran
(Filmmaker)
Sanju Surendran
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Baran (Majid Majidi): The colours and the natural style of acting remain entrenched with you. It is an old film but it still remains fresh in my mind.
Baran
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2046 (Wong Kar-wai): Although a continuation of In the Mood for Love, it is a completely different film. It is set in the future and stands out from all his other works.
A still from Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives
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Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (Apichatpong Weerasethakul): A slow, transcendental movie. In fact, many viewers walked out of the theatre during the screening due to its pace. But it was a meditative experience for me.
Mini IG
(Actor-filmmaker)
Actor-director Mini IG
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Endless Poetry (Alejandro Jodorowsky): I love all his films. Just like the name suggests it is a representation of poetry as it touches upon his self-exploration, journey towards becoming a poet, his interaction with society and other artistes. It is a beautiful take on how poetry communicates with other forms of art.
Endless Poetry
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On The Milky Road (Emir Kusturica) — Set against a war, it talks of selfless love that never ceases to exist and is also a story about offering of the self. I am fond of his films, especially the visuals that are rich in magical realism; there is a poetic presentation in his craft.
On the Milky Road
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The Man Who Sold His Skin (Kaother Ben Hania) — A movie that shows how our identity and borders become political; it ruminates on holding on to humanity. The movie is also special for me because as it is by a woman filmmaker.
Published – December 11, 2025 03:30 pm IST
