Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap champions Malayalam cinema, praising its realistic storytelling and experimental narratives. He highlighted Mohanlal’s taxi driver role in ‘Thudarum’ and the bold approach in films like ‘Rekhachithram’ and ‘Eko’. Kashyap attributes Kerala’s vibrant film culture to educated audiences, film clubs, and a supportive creative environment, contrasting it with Bollywood’s limitations.
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has always been vocal about the art that inspires him. Of late, he has been the biggest cheerleader for Malayalam cinema, for all the right reasons. Recently, the filmmaker expressed concern about why Bollywood rarely produces films like ‘Eko’, ‘Rekhachithram’, or ‘Thudarum’. In a recent conversation with Tried and Refused Productions, the filmmaker expressed that nowadays he has started watching more Malayalam films than Hindi films. He also spoke about the storytelling patterns, and the audience who embrace such experiments.
Anurag Kashyap praises Mohanlal
During the conversation, Anurag Kashyap also praised Mohanlal’s 2025 release ‘Thudarum’ helmed by Tharun Moorthy. “In Thudarum, which I saw yesterday, it is so real. Your hero (Mohanlal) is a taxi driver! Here, if you say the hero is a taxi driver who wears a lungi, they will say no. Here, all designers make clothes, and you cannot make a film like that,” Anurag Kashyap said. Mohanlal’s ‘Thudarum’ received both critical acclaim and box office recognition.
Anurag Kashyap on Kerala’s film culture
Anurag Kashyap also spoke about Kerala’s film culture and how it is supported by film clubs, educated viewers, and a collaborative creative environment. “That is the most magical thing about it because it is one of the most educated and cinephile states. There is a film culture, there are film clubs, filmmakers support each other.”
Anurag Kashyap on ‘Rekhachithram’ and ‘Eko’
The ‘Choked’ director also lauded Asif Ali starrer crime thriller ‘Rekhachithram’ and the recent release ‘Eko’. “If you see a movie like Rekhachitram, where they do not have hesitation… where you are taking the shoot of Bharathan, how Mammootty came… that kind of a support system is not there here. I can’t randomly use somebody’s name. There will be a case. I can’t build a film around an existing film,” Anurag Kashyap said. He further added, “I love Eko. What a climax! The main character is a school teacher from Meghalaya! No stars, just the word-of-mouth. People follow films when they will be released. The world is really different there. I think I see more Malayalam films in a week than I see Hindi films in the whole year!”On the professional front, Anurag Kashyap’s recent directorial was ‘Bandar’, a crime thriller starring Bobby Deol, which was premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. His next as an actor is for the the upcoming bilingual film ‘Dacoit: A love story’. Go to Source
