‘Mollywood Times’ first half review: Naslen powers an earnest tale of cinema and ambition’

Abhinav Sunder Nayak’s ‘Mollywood Times’ opens with a familiar but instantly engaging premise. Vineeth Madhavan (Naslen), a young man from Kuttikkanam, dreams of becoming Malayalam cinema’s finest horror filmmaker, fuelled by an almost obsessive admiration for horror movies. Abhinav spends the first half establishing Vineeth’s world, tracing the roots of his cinematic passion and the circumstances that shaped his ambitions, all while maintaining a light, entertaining tone.

Naslen carries the film comfortably through these portions. The humour lands naturally, and Vineeth’s relentless pursuit of his goal keeps the story moving. Much of the first half works because the character feels authentic, making it easy to invest in his aspirations and setbacks.
While Malayalam cinema has explored filmmaking before in films such as ‘Udayananu Tharam’ and ‘Varshangalkku Shesham’, ‘Mollywood Times’ takes a more grounded route. Rather than focusing on cinema as an industry, the film stays closely tied to Vineeth’s personal journey and everyday realities.

While the film begins with considerable energy, it slows slightly as it progresses, with a few stretches that feel less engaging. Even so, Vineeth’s journey remains compelling enough to sustain interest and set up the second half effectively.