The Kerala Film Producers’ Association recently released a list of Malayalam films that hit theatres in 2025, complete with their reported commercial performance. What was meant to be an industry update has quickly turned into a flashpoint, drawing sharp criticism from filmmakers, actors and audiences alike.
A List That Sparked a Storm
One of the earliest voices to question the list was Anuraj Manohar, director of Narivetta, which stars Tovino Thomas. The filmmaker took to social media asking why his film was missing from the document and demanded clarity on the criteria used to compile it. His post opened the floodgates, with netizens and industry insiders scrutinising the accuracy and intent behind the classification of films as superhits, hits or otherwise.
The controversy only intensified when actor Nivin Pauly weighed in during a press conference held to promote his upcoming film Sarvam Maya. Addressing reporters, Nivin said that publishing such a list was unnecessary and unprecedented. According to him, cinema is a business like any other and every year will naturally see a mix of profit and loss. He argued that there was no reason to put those figures out in public, especially at a time when the Malayalam industry is trying to evolve and attract fresh investment.
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Nivin added that making commercial verdicts public in this manner could do more harm than good, as it risks creating a negative perception among potential investors and partners. His statement has since been widely shared, with many agreeing that transparency should not come at the cost of damaging the ecosystem.
Confusion Over Hits, Superhits and Missing Films
Adding to the uproar is the way the association has categorised the year’s releases. Only a small number of films have been labelled as superhits and hits, leaving the majority outside these brackets. This has triggered heated online debates, especially over the classification of certain high-profile titles.
A key point of contention is the treatment of Eko and Empuraan. Social media users are questioning why Eko has been listed merely as a hit even though it reportedly earned higher net profits than Empuraan, which the list describes as a superhit. For many, this discrepancy has raised doubts about whether the parameters used were consistent or even reliable.
Equally puzzling is the absence of Sumathi Valavu from either the hit or superhit categories. The film enjoyed a healthy run in theatres and generated strong word of mouth, making its omission all the more glaring. Fans and trade observers have since demanded an explanation from the association, arguing that incomplete or selective reporting only erodes trust.
The backlash has also revived a broader conversation about Nivin Pauly’s own recent career trajectory. While several of his films over the past few years have struggled at the box office, many of them have been critically appreciated. In this context, his comments are being read not as defensive but as a plea for a more nuanced understanding of success, one that goes beyond financial labels.
As the debate rages on, the Kerala Film Producers’ Association has yet to issue a detailed clarification on how the list was prepared or why certain films were excluded. Until then, the document is likely to remain a sore point, serving as a reminder that in an industry built on collaboration, public scorecards can easily backfire.
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