Why Abhinav Sunder Nayak is rethinking how cinema talks about itself with ‘Mollywood Times’

Malayalam audiences are closely tracking 'Mollywood Times', the next film from director Abhinav Sunder Nayak, with expectations running high ahead of its release. The anticipation comes largely from the success of his debut 'Mukundan Unni Associates', which earned strong critical and audience response and established him as a distinct voice in Malayalam cinema.

With the release approaching, Abhinav says he is more excited than nervous.
Speaking to Onmanorama, the director said, “As the release date gets closer, I feel more excited than nervous about how the audience will receive the film.”

One of the most discussed aspects of 'Mollywood Times' is its tagline, 'A hate letter to cinema'. The phrase has sparked curiosity, especially in a film culture where stories about cinema often tend to romanticise the industry. Abhinav, however, says the intention is quite the opposite.

Explaining the idea behind the tagline, he said, “When I say hate letter, it is not meant as anger. It is not a love letter either, and it does not romanticise cinema. The film does not try to keep the industry in a bubble. It tries to look at it in a grounded way.”

He added that films about cinema often fall into the trap of idealising the industry.

“Whenever films are made about cinema or the film industry, they usually end up glorifying it. I did not want to do that. I wanted to approach the subject differently and keep it grounded,” he said.

Abhinav has also described 'Mollywood Times' as part of a larger trilogy that began with 'Mukundan Unni Associates', with all three films exploring different dimensions of success.

“'Mukundan Unni Associates' was about a morally bad person achieving success. This film looks at the opposite, the success journey of a good person,” he said.

The idea for the film, he added, came from conversations with writer Ramu Sunil, a close friend.

“The writer Ramu Sunil and I have been friends for a long time. He is like a brother to me. After 'Mukundan Unni Associates', we were discussing life experiences, and that is how this story came about, as a second exploration of success,” Abhinav said.

While expectations are high for another sharp take on cinema, Abhinav says this film does not rely on revealing hidden layers of the industry.

“In 'Mukundan Unni', we were showing a new world to the audience and exposing an underbelly. This time, there is no such angle. What is new is the way the story is told,” he said.
He also stressed that his creative conviction remains the same as his debut.
“In Mukundan Unni, I was sure that what I wanted to say had value. That same conviction continues with this film as well,” he added. The movie will hit theatres on June 5.