Mumbai: Sometime back, in an interview, Malayalam cinema superstar Mohanlal said that “they created me, not me.” Lal was referring to the many characters he portrayed on the big screen, which was made possible due to acclaimed producers, directors, writers, co-stars, and, of course, the movie watchers.

It is a sentiment that echoes not just personal gratitude, but the essence of how stardom, which perhaps blossomed in Malayalam cinema with the evergreen Prem Nazir, who ruled the industry for several years.

Today, as the golden twilight glows gently on the colossal careers of Mohanlal and Mammootty, a silent truth begins to crystallise that they are perhaps the last of the true superstars in this ever-evolving cinematic galaxy.

Perhaps the first one to enter public consciousness as a superstar, albeit short-lived, was Jayan, who redefined masculinity and action in cinema. The famous elephant stunt in Aryapedatha Rahasyam, long before Bahubali or the helicopter retake scene in Kolilakkam, which ended with his death, cannot be replicated.

Jayan’s tragic end left a big vacuum with producers and directors scrambling to find a replacement for him with little success, as none could match his heroism and dedication. Mohanlal and Mammootty, who were in the early stages of their career, would eventually replace Jayan as superstars and create a renaissance with realistic acting.

For over four decades, their names shimmered above the titles like constellations guiding countless nights at the theatre. But what made them superstars was never just the applause or the adulation. It was their unspoken bond with the audience, their ability to mirror every shade of Malayali life, from rustic innocence to urban melancholy. They were not demigods cloaked in glamour; they were reflections, relatable and revered in equal measure.

Yet, the winds will shift, eventually, which they too realise. Malayalam cinema today breathes in a new rhythm. It pulses with bold storytellers, young blood, and daring narratives that no longer orbit around a single star. It is a cinema of collectives, of ensemble brilliance, where content walks ahead of charisma. In such a world, superstars are no longer born; they are not even necessary.

This is not a lament but a quiet celebration of evolution. Mohanlal and Mammootty were the final flames of an era where actors became myths. What follows is the dawn of a different light, one where talent shines, not for its aura, but for its truth. And in that truth, Malayalam cinema finds not just survival, but sublime rebirth.

For News About Cinema & Personalities, Subscribe To Media Eye News

Image is Representational