Sports drama: A re-emerging trend in Mollywood?

The Mollywood film industry is recognized for its ability to capture human emotions naturally. Recently, the industry has also seen several films from the sports drama genre. A string of successful releases and highly anticipated upcoming projects, as of September 6, 2025, underscores the significance of this trend, proving that viewers are engaged and entertained by the sports drama genre.

A Continuing Phenomenon

This phenomenon isn't new; instead, it is a continuation of the successes of films like '1983' (2014), 'Godha' (2017), and 'Sudani from Nigeria' (2018). These films set the benchmark for upcoming projects within the sports drama genre. Along with sports, these films captured human emotions and real-life scenarios that resonated with many, contributing to their success.

The year 2025 has already seen two major films become box-office hits. 'Alappuzhaa Gymkhana', directed by Khalid Rahman, was about a group of school graduates who decide to learn boxing to earn grace marks for college admissions, and the subsequent events in their lives. In addition to connecting with the audience, this film also motivated them to learn boxing. The performances from Naslen K. Gafoor, Lukman Avaran, and Ganapathi, among others, are commendable. The film also successfully brought laughter to its viewers. The film grossed approximately 64 crores worldwide.

Another notable hit was 'Daveed', an underdog boxing drama directed by debutant Govind Vishnu, starring Antony Varghese in the lead role. The film received positive reviews for its realistic portrayal of an underdog's journey. Critics also praised the film for its strong execution and authentic feel, which helped it overcome the disadvantage of a predictable plot. These factors made the film a profitable venture.

The Future of the Genre

Looking ahead, signs strongly indicate that sports drama will continue to shape Mollywood's creative and commercial landscape. One of the most highly anticipated projects, which has been creating a buzz for some time, is 'Balti', starring Shane Nigam in the lead. The film features kabaddi and marks the 25th film of Shane Nigam’s career as an actor. Initially planned for an Onam release in late August, the film has been shifted to September 26, according to the latest reports. This film is a notable testament to the fact that more and more experiments are being done in the sports drama genre in the Mollywood film industry.

The "X Factor"

Sports drama is popular among Malayalam filmmakers due to a distinct, unique "X factor"—a quality that makes a film stand out and resonate deeply with audiences. This "X factor" includes three key points:

Grounded Narratives: Instead of focusing on generic, larger-than-life characters, filmmakers are attempting to capture the audience with more relatable and often flawed elements of human life.

Cultural Specificity: The plots of the films are often either set in Kerala or explore the lives of expatriates, making the films more appealing and emotionally connected to the audience.

Emotional depth: The sports drama genre itself opens up opportunities to explore themes such as family, friendship, and competition. With recent successes like 'Alappuzha Gymkhana' and 'Daveed', and upcoming and exciting projects like 'Balti', one thing is clear: sports drama is a re-emerging trend in Malayalam cinema and is expected to thrive in the near future.

Entertainment