Malayalam megastar Mammootty‘s ‘Bramayugam’ became the first Indian film ever screened at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles. The screening occurred on the last day as part of the prestigious film series ‘Where the Forest Meets the Sea’. The accolade is extraordinary because videos and snaps from the Academy Museum event quickly circulated online.
Movie lovers flood social media with emotional reactions
Twitter (now X) has been brimming with excitement since the news broke. One user wrote, “From Kerala to the heart of Los Angeles, @mammukka elevates Malayalam cinema onto the global stage at the Academy Museum. Forever grateful to @rahul_madking for this cinematic gem.” Another commented, “Proud moment of Indian cinema. Proud moment of Mollywood!!” A tweet celebrating the film’s reception read, “Movie screened on almost a full house theater & received very well by the audiences. #Mammookka has been called as the ‘Mollywood Legend’ & Director #RahulSadasivan got praised for his extraordinary work.”One tweet read, “Malayalam cinema mentioned as Mollywood in the intro & #Mammootty as Mollywood Legend. Proud Moment.”One user wrote simply: “Pride Of Our Mollywood.” Another tweeted, “Mollywood’s pride #Bramayugam at Ted Mann’s Theater, Los Angeles…”
‘Bramayugam’s unique vision and storytelling
‘Bramayugam’ is a period folk-horror film shot entirely in black and white, an artistic decision praised by audiences and critics alike. Set against a backdrop of ancient myths and societal hierarchies the film follows a folk singer named Thevan. The patriarch, Kodumon Potty, offers him food and shelter. But gratitude soon turns into dread as Thevan realises the mansion is not a sanctuary but a prison. The movie was hailed especially for Mammootty’s performance as Chathan and also Rahul Sadasivan’s making style was said to be the apt one for the narrative.
Accolades already rolling in
Besides this historic screening ‘Bramayugam’ has already won a State Award and the fans believe national honours are likely to follow. If you are planning to watch ‘Bramayugam’, check out our ETimes review which shares an indepth analysis of this modern horror classic. Our review says, “Mammootty keeps the viewers spellbound throughout, with the way he looks, his resounding laugh and the horrors he conveys. Siddharth plays down his character and you feel, at the start, that he could have taken it up a notch, but even with his even voice and demeanour, he is striking when the tempo of the story rises. He has done a great job with the overall look of his character. Arjun Ashokan is also good. Apart from doing a great job of causing delightfully scary chills, Bramayugam also has the nostalgic appeal of a grandmother’s tales.”
