Kerala BO - The summer of 2012 (April/May)

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The summer of 2012 has turned out to be the best for Malayalam film industry in nearly a decade. The peak summer season of March second half, April and May, has turned out to be a golden period for many small budget films which turned out to be super hits at the Kerala box-office. During this summer there was a marked preference by the audiences for small budget films with fresh content and themes like Ordinary, 22 Female Kottayam, Mallu Singh and Diamond Necklace. The only biggie that turned out to be a blockbuster was Dileep`s Mayamohini.
Mammootty and Mohanlal had their worst summer in recent times at the box-office. Mammmootty`s King and Commissioner and Cobra turned out to be disasters. Mohanlal`s Grandmaster was liked by critics but at the box-office it was just an average grosser. The trade feels both the superstars who were the pillars of the industry for nearly two decades have lost their all-important “opening” at the box-office.

Prithviraj too did not have a good summer as his Masters and now Hero turned out to be lukewarm at the box-office. Jayaram too did not have a good summer as his Thiruvambady Thamban is a total washout.
It is the young brigade of Fahad Fazil, Unni Mukundan, Asif Ali and Boban Kunchacko who are the big winners at the summer sweepstake. Baburaj and Biju Menon have got a new lease of life doing strong character roles.
It is films made on a budget of Rs 2 Crores to Rs 2 .50 Crores like Ordianary, 22 Female Kottayam and Diamond Necklace, which turned profitable from its theatrical revenue alone. And if you add satellite and other rights they are mega hits.
The highest grosser of summer of 2012 is Dileep`s Mayamohini which grossed Rs 18 Crores and a share of Rs 8.5 Crores in 50 days. Simply awesome!


1, Mayamohini
Cast: Dileep, Biju Menon, Baburaj, Maithily, Lakshmi Rai
Director: Jos Thomas
Dileep, Baburaj, Biju, comedy
Trade : Blockbuster

2, Ordinary
Cast: Kunchacko Boban, Asif Ali, Biju Menon, Shritha, Ann Augustine
Director: Sugeeth
Trade : Blockbuster

3, 22 Female Kottayam
Cast: Rima Kallingal, Fahadh Faasil
Director: Aashiq Abu
Trade : Super Hit

4, Diamond Necklace
Cast: Fahad Fazil, Samvrutha Sunil
Director: Lal Jose
Trade : Super Hit

5, Mallu Singh
Cast: Unni Mukundan, Kunchacko Boban, Samvrutha Sunil
Director: Vysakh
Mass masala, slapstick comedy
Predictable and no logic
Trade : Hit