15 September 2026 (Navroze Bureau) : Actor and filmmaker Prithviraj Sukumaran has highlighted the differences between the Malayalam film industry and Bollywood, saying Malayalam cinema has retained an informal and direct working culture even as its films have grown significantly in scale. He made the comments during the 16th edition of Expresso in Mumbai.
Malayalam Cinema’s Informal Working Style
Prithviraj described the informal nature of Malayalam filmmaking as one of the industry’s biggest strengths.
According to the actor, the relatively direct communication between filmmakers, actors and technicians allows ideas to be discussed more freely and can make the filmmaking process more collaborative.
Different Approach to Film Budgets
Prithviraj also contrasted the scale of Malayalam productions with the large budgets often associated with Hindi cinema.
He pointed out that Malayalam films have increasingly delivered ambitious and technically sophisticated productions without necessarily relying on the kind of ₹100-crore-plus budgets that are common in discussions around major Bollywood projects.
Casting Practices Also Differ
Casting was another area highlighted by Prithviraj.
The actor suggested that Malayalam cinema tends to operate with fewer layers of hierarchy around casting and filmmaking decisions. This allows directors and creative teams to focus more directly on finding performers suited to particular characters rather than relying solely on established star power.
Content Over Star Power
Prithviraj’s comments also reflect a broader shift in Indian cinema, where audiences are increasingly responding to strong stories, distinctive filmmaking and character-driven performances.
Malayalam cinema has frequently received attention nationally for films that achieve wider recognition despite comparatively modest production scales.
Industry Has Grown in Scale
At the same time, Prithviraj acknowledged that Malayalam cinema itself has evolved.
The industry is no longer restricted to small or mid-budget productions. Malayalam filmmakers are increasingly attempting larger-scale projects, while maintaining the storytelling and collaborative culture that have traditionally been associated with the industry.
Bollywood Can Learn From Malayalam Model
Prithviraj’s remarks were not simply a criticism of Bollywood. Instead, he pointed to practices within Malayalam cinema that he believes could offer useful lessons for a larger film industry.
A more direct creative process, flexibility in casting and greater emphasis on storytelling can potentially help films balance ambition with financial discipline.
Prithviraj’s Cross-Industry Experience
Prithviraj is particularly positioned to comment on the differences because he has worked across multiple Indian film industries.
Alongside his Malayalam acting and filmmaking career, he has been involved in Hindi and large-scale South Indian productions, giving him experience of different approaches to filmmaking, budgets and creative collaboration.
The Bigger Conversation Around Indian Cinema
The comparison comes at a time when Indian cinema is increasingly becoming interconnected.
Films from Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada cinema are finding audiences across India, while Bollywood productions are also adopting talent and creative approaches from regional industries.
Prithviraj’s comments add to the wider debate over whether bigger budgets and star-driven casting automatically translate into better cinema.
Efficiency Could Be a Malayalam Strength
The Malayalam model highlighted by Prithviraj suggests that financial scale does not necessarily have to determine creative ambition.
A film can attempt complex subjects, strong visual storytelling and ambitious narratives while keeping its production structure relatively efficient.