Best Malayalam Directors Of 2018- The Flag-bearers Of Good Cinema

Joseph was an underdog at the box office. But Director M. Padmakumar has meticulously crafted a thriller where he could extract a towering performance from the lead actor Joju George. The director knows his craft well as he had elevated all the actors with subtle, down-played performances that hit at the right chords. He is an experienced technician and it does reflect in his work.

This family thriller by Amal Neerad handles a subject that is relevant in today's scenario. But the manner in which the panacea is administered only suits best to Amal Neerad's finesse. Amal Neerad paints a picture of absolute disillusionment of a marital bliss-lost and regained and has turned Varathan into a cinematic experience. Backed by the versatile actor Fahadh Faasil and relatively new actor Aishwarya Lekshmi, Varathan should find place in the special league.

Bhayanakam belongs to the Navarasa series of director Jayaraj. Jayaraj, who has written the screenplay, perfectly explores the mental turbulence of a war-victim turned postman and has displayed his supreme vision of turning the bhaya-rasa into an outstanding one. The movie speaks volumes about his directorial prowess and no wonder, Jayaraj won the coveted Best Director Award at the National level. 

Koode bears the 'Anjali Menon stamp'. She is one director who can spin a movie on human relationships so effortlessly and this is what makes Koode a note-worthy watch. Albeit an experimental film, the director must be lauded for the novel picturization of the emotional burden carried by different characters brilliantlyessayed by the talented Prithviraj, Parvathy and Nazriya Nazim. Anjali is always capable of tugging at the heart strings of the audience through her vivid portrayal of human bonding.

No Indian movie has portrayed a transsexual as adorably as in Njan Marykutty. As in his earlier films, Director Ranjith Sankar has placed his protagonist on a motivational ground. The director has succeeded in giving a dignified treatment to a sensitive issue and  should be patted for bringing out a career-best performance from Jayasurya. Ranjith is an idea champion who treats contemporary subjects in an unconventional way.

Director Lijo Jose Pellissery has delivered a masterpiece like Ee Maa Yau and has proved that he is a master craftsman.  By working on a delicate theme, he is at his creative best at handling satire or sarcasm so frivolously that it stares hard right at the face of humans. There is something very intiguing about his style of direction that we are blown away. Undoubtedly, he won the Best Director Award at the State Level and also at IFFK, Goa.

First-time director V.C. Abhilash should be lauded for making a genuine attempt at focussing on a subject of social relevance in Aalorukkam, by giving a whiff of dignity to it. The director has succeeded in presenting the reality in such a way that calls for a change of attitude from the society.

In Swathanthryam Ardharathriyil, Debut Director Tinu Pappachan has adopted an ordinary theme and powdered it with a refreshing treatment. Tinu has adopted a dark tone and had shown a lot of promise as a director and keeps the audience hooked through his ferocious treatment.

Sudani from Nigeria's debut director Zakariya has given a classic work which is magnificient even in the minutest of details. He has given a spectacularly outstanding film by delineating a simple plot-line and treating it with with accuracy, without dwelling on the methodological narration.

Debutant writer-director G. Prajesh Sen deserves special mention for presenting a perceptive biopic film, Captain, without the inclusion of cinematic frills and being true to footballer Sathyan's life story. The journalist turned director should be lauded for an honest attempt to present his life by giving a glorious tribute to the unsung hero of football.

The brilliant direction and content is what makes Ajith Kumar’s directorial debut Eeda a must- watch, as it showcases the tragic underside of a land that has been tossed into the turbulence. One cannot help admitting that it was the editor turned director Ajith Kumar who had the upper hand in ‘Eeda’ than all other crew and cast.