Reading takes us away from home. Movies, on the other hand, find homes for us everywhere. Keralites, for their well known capability of blending into different cultures around the globe, have literally found homes just everywhere. Malayalam cinema has in turn encompassed the myriad hues of lives in exile so well that you just need to watch some good Mollywood hits to finish a virtual tour of exotic lands.
As the United States celebrates its 242nd Independence Day on July 4, Wednesday, Keralites have indeed got a reason to rejoice as 'America' or just 'States' is not a migration space to them but a home cast in another continent. Here is a list of Malayalam movies which made the USA familiar and comfy for Malayalees:
Ezham Kadalinakkare (1979)
This is perhaps one of the earliest Malayalam movies with a foreign location. IV Sasi remade his superhit Tamil movie 'Ore Vanam Ore Bhoomi' into Malayalam in the name 'Ezham Kadalinakkare', casting KR Vijaya, P Ravikumar, Seema, Padmini, Vidubala et al. The audience literally gaped at the stunning images from the dreamland cast on screen. Keralites saw up close for the time the visuals of Niagra waterfalls in one of its song sequences. It narrates the struggles of Lakshmi (Vijaya) who works as a nurse in Manhattan to maintain her family which includes her wilful, obstinate siblings.
Akkare Akkare Akkare (1990)
The much-celebrated sequel of a superhit multistarrer 'Nadodikkattu' (1987,) 'Akkare Akkare Akkare' made the US a neighbourhood location. The story of two CIDs Dasan and Vijayan, who reach California on a government deputation to find a crown stolen by a smuggler called Paul Barber. A buddy-comedy Priyadarshan movie that amused Keralites with its pleasant portrayal of life in the US, 'Akkare Akkare Akkare' also gave the succeeding generations some eternal phrases and idioms like 'Meenaviyal enthayo entho,' 'America...america..america..' and 'Aaraanaa Paul Barber'?!”
Dollar (1994)
A family youth movie showcasing the flamboyant life in a north American city, 'Dollar' tells the experiences of a Keralite mother (Padmini) who goes to the US to be with her children. Shaken and disappointed by the culture and frailness of relationships among her own children, Ammachi returns to India in all praise of her native land. Mukesh, Mathu and Thilakan play lead roles in this movie which asserts the importance of cultural values over money (dollars.) It was directed by Raju Joseph.
Peruchazhi (2014)
A new-age political satire set in California, 'Peruchazhi' narrates the story of Keralite who serves as an advisor to John, a US politician. Directed by Arun Vaidyanathan and produced by Friday Film House, 'Peruchazhi' portrays a rather wanton life of Keralites in exile.
Ivide (2015)
Shyamaprasad's 'Ivide' was one movie that redefined the approach towards exile movies. Starring Prithviraj, Nivin Pauly and Bhavana, this detective thriller shot entirely in Atlanta captures the social and work life of modern Indian youth in United States. With soothing music lent by Gopi Sunder, 'Ivide' teleports you to the present United States and reveals all its reality with beauties and curses.
ABCD and CIA (2013,2017)
Though not shot completely in the US, the story-lines of these movies have strong roots there. While 'ABCD' discusses the troubles and fortunes of two American citizens lost in Kerala, 'CIA' narrates the struggles of a Keralite communist who gets lost in the US and ends up in jail. The lead characters played by Dulquer Salman in both these movies portray the cultural conflict, legal distinctions and unique social structures of Kerala and the US on parallel lines.
Mazha Peyyunnu Maddalam Kottunnu and Chithram (1986, 1989)
No, these movies haven't got a single scene shot in the US. Yet, they made 'the States' so familiar to Malayalees that every one from the audience could visualise their acquaintances' life in the US. America was still a remote place in our mindscape back in late 80s, though the earliest wave of Malayalee immigration to America had commenced by the 1960s. 'Chithram' shows the final vacation trip of Ramachandra Menon to his homeland, where his daughter, manager and his allies plot a drama to keep him happy until he returns to the US. 'Mazha Peyyunnu Maddalam Kottunnu', on the other hand, satirically shows a US-educated eccentric Keralite youth and his attitude that creates unlimited comedy back in his native land.
There are several other Malayalam movies which have captured the beauty of the United States. These movies effectively created a transnational canvas where Keralites shared, nurtured and internalised a cultural exchange and interaction with the American states. America is indeed a home set on a different continent for most Keralites.
