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: A period defined by a perfect balance between artistic quality and commercial success. This era saw the rise of legendary actors like and , as well as master filmmakers like Adoor Gopalakrishnan (the pioneer of the New Wave).
Films like Punjabi House (1998) were problematic in their caricaturing of Dalit characters, but contemporary filmmakers are correcting course. Perariyathavar (2018) gave a voice to the marginalized, while Nayattu (The Hunt, 2021) is a chilling chase thriller about three police officers from lower castes and religious minorities being hunted by the system.
Malayalam dark comedy works because it doesn't moralize. It shows flawed, petty, realistic people (the "sleazy politician," the "incompetent cop," the "greedy neighbor") and lets their absurdity speak for itself.
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