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Malayalam cinema has always been special when it comes to mystery stories. Whodunit thrillers are films where the biggest question is simple. Who did it. These movies make people think feel scared and stay silent in theatres. Over the years Mollywood has given some unforgettable whodunits that touched both the heart and the mind.
The rise of smart investigation stories
Oru CBI Diary Kurippu changed everything when it released in 1988. The film followed CBI officer Sethurama Iyer played by Mammootty as he investigated a suspicious death inside a wealthy family. There were no songs no distractions and no loud drama. The focus was only on clues and truth. Audiences loved watching a calm intelligent officer solve a tough case step by step. Mammootty’s film became a huge success and ran for months. It also created a new trend where investigation films were taken seriously and respected. Unfortunately ‘CBI 5’ received mixed reviews.
Dark killers and broken minds
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Years later Anjaam Pathiraa took the genre to another level. The story followed a serial killer who attacked doctors in Kochi. Kunchacko Boban played a criminologist who helped the police crack the case. The film was scary stylish and smart. People clapped inside theatres after the film ended as it gave a certain sort of satisfaction when you think the backstory of the villain and his motive, along with the final pay off. Memories also left a deep mark. Prithviraj Sukumaran played a police officer who was broken by personal loss. The investigation slowly connected to his own past. The emotional pain mixed with mystery made the film very powerful. Although the film’s format is something that we usually see in thrillers, ‘Memories’ still holds a special place in our hearts and all thanks to it’s stunning execution style.
New age mysteries with a fresh feel
Kishkindha Kaandam showed how whodunits can still feel new. Set in a forest village filled with monkeys the film slowly revealed secrets from the past. Asif Ali played a man searching for answers about his family. Many praised the film for being different and thoughtful. Writer Bahul Ramesh has yet again impressed the audiences with his recent film ‘Eko’. Regarding the scripting approach, Bahul said in an exclusive interview with ETimes, “I write intuitively, starting with one scene and letting the next unfold naturally from it.”
