SINGLES VERSUS DOUBLES

Singles
versus
doubles
The Malayalam film industry negates the theory that single stars are more popular with the audience than married ones, writes KK Moidu
Malayalam film industry has the unique distinction of having the maximum number of married leading men and single leading ladies. Ironically the leading men, who faded into oblivion after giving a couple of flops were mostly single. Prithviraj, son of late actor Sukumaran, has been a rare success among single actors.
Most of the current leading men began their careers in a slow climb, invariably zooming to the top only after marriage. This is remarkable because it contrasts with the career graph of actresses playing the leading role. The leading women of the Malayalam screen have traditionally chosen to stay single, while the spotlight was on them, and later opted for matrimony and simultaneous retirement away from the glare of the tinselworld. But for male stars matrimony has often proved to be the turning point of their careers.
Mega star Mammooty’s career is a glaring example. He was a bit player before marriage and had to contend with some side roles but after marriage, lady luck began to shine on him and the wave of hits has not ebbed since. He continues to give mega hits like Rajamanikam and Thuruppu Gulan to this day. Now a grandfather he continues to be on top of the heap and is still considered to be among the best in the Malayalam film industry.
But his closest contender for the top slot and versatile actor, Mohanlal’s good fortune also came after marriage to K. Balaji’s daughter Suchitra. He has also maintained a steady winning spree until now with repeated hit films and award-winning performances, the latest being the 2006 release, Thanmathra, directed by Blessy.
Malayalam cinema’s action hero, Suresh Gopi’s story is also not very different. He began as a small-time screen villain, but after tying the knot he too landed the super action hero roles in films like Commissioner and Ekalavyan. His latest release Chinthamani Kolacase is directed by his favourite director, Shaji Kailas.
Yet another success story is Dilip’s. He made his mark first in mimicry and later graduated to doing mostly insignificant roles but his superstardom came after marriage to Malayalee cine-goer’s favourite actress, Manju Warrier. Post-marriage he starred in hits like Meesha Madhavan, Thiilakkam, Kunjikkoonan, CID Moosa, Pandipada and Kochi Rajavu. He too crowned his winning spree by playing the effeminate Radhakrishnan in Lal Jose’s Chandpottu with great restraint and then followed it up with another superb performance in Joshi’s Lion. His latest performance is in Pachakuthira, directed by Kamal.
Another popular Malayalam star, Jayaram, began his film career by essaying the pivotal role in Padmarajan’s Aparan. But he carved a niche for himself after marriage to then popular Malayalam leading lady Parvathy. Of late, his films had not been doing too well, but Rajasenan’s Madhuchandralekha has proven to be his comeback vehicle.
While the much-married heroes were harvesting hit after hit, Malayalam screen’s single heroines have not been far behind. Kavya Madhavan, who featured in superhit films like Meesha Madhavan directed by Lal Jose, has kept up her string of successes with Lion. The Kavya-Dilip on-screen pair’s magic has always gone down well with the audience and their movies rarely disappoint. Even though movies like Sadanandante Samayam did not rake in big money at the box office its makers didn’t burn their fingers either.
Meera Jasmin, another single and successful leading lady, has also featured in many hit movies. She also masquerades as a boy in the recent Rasathanthram, where Mohanlal is her leading man. Perumazhakkalam, Gramaphone, Kasthuriman and Achuvinte Amma propelled her to the top in Malayalam cinema and now she has also acted in South Indian films like Tamil and Telugu.
Navya Nair began her career in Ishtam opposite Dilip. She caught public attention with the film and followed it up with successes like Mazhathullikilukam, Kunjikoonan, Nandanam and Kalyanaraman. She gave a noteworthy performance in the Bhadran-directed Vellithira opposite Prithviraj, in spite of the movie’s failure at the box office. She won several prizes at the state youth festival and was named “Kala-thilakam” at the youth festival in Aleppey district. Her other movies are Chathikkatha Chandu, Pattanathil Sundaran, Sethurama Iyer CBI. She co-starred Dilip in the hit Paandippada. Now she too has started accepting Tamil movies and has made a name for herself in the Tamil film industry.
Bhavana started her career in the campus-based movie directed by Kamal, Nammal. Her character Parimalam was noticed and after that she has shone in several films, the most notable being the Johny Antony-directed Dilip starrer, C.I.D. Moosa. She was also noticed in the super-hit Udhayananu Tharam. Like her contemporaries she too is foraying into other regional films, mainly Tamil.
Nayanthara first starred opposite Jayaram in Manassinakkare. In addition to her performance the film was noticed because it was yesteryears’ heroine, Sheela’s, comeback film. After that Nayanthara appeared in Thaskaraveeran and Rappakal as Mammooty’s heroine and in the Fazil-directed Vismayathumbathu opposite Mohanlal, which happens to be her only flop movie in Malayalam. Now she is among the top Tamil actresses and also one of the highest paid. Nayanthara has already paired with all top heroes of the Tamil film industry, including Rajanikant in Chandramukhi. The film is the Tamil remake of the Fazil-directed Malayalam super-hit Manichithrathazhu.
Leading actresses of Malayalam cinema, who quit the industry after marriage are Manju Warrier, who gave superb performances in Sallapam, Ee Puzhayum Kadannu and Kudamattam opposite Dilip and opposite Mohanlal in Kanmadam. Her career came to an abrupt halt after marriage to Dilip.
Similarly, Parvathy quit the industry after marrying Jayaram. She too had acted opposite Mammooty and Mohanlal in addition to husband Jayaram. Now, a housewife and mother of two, she is not even considering a comeback.
Urvasi, married to actor Manoj K. Jayan, quit films for a short while but made her comeback, though not as a heroine, in Achuvinte Amma. She plays the heroine’s mother in the film and in Madhuchandralekha she plays Jayaram’s wife and the mother of four children.
Among the heroines, who gave up their careers for domesticity are Samyuktha Varma, who began her career as a heroine in Veendum Chila Veettu Karyangal. At the peak of her career, she married actor Biju Menon and continues to find contentment at home as a housewife.
Another young and successful actress Annie married director Shaji Kailas and is happy being a good mother and housewife. In her debut movie she to masquerades as a boy in Balachandra Menon’s Ammayane Sathyam and subsequently gave several other hits. Her character of Alamelu in Mazhayethum Munpe, opposite Mammooty, was one of the high points of her career.
Divya Unni also quit the industry and opted to settle in the US after marriage. She performs on the stage in the US and also teaches students dance.