Pookkaalam

Pookkaalam
Theatrical release poster
Directed byGanesh Raj
Screenplay byGanesh Raj
Produced by
  • Thomas Thiruvalla
  • Vinod Shornur
Starring
CinematographyAnend C. Chandran
Edited byMidhun Murali
Music bySachin Warrier[1]
Production
companies
  • CNC Cinemas
  • Thomas Thiruvalla Films
Release date
  • 8 April 2023 (2023-04-08)[2]
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam

Pookkaalam (transl. Spring) is a 2023 Indian Malayalam-language comedy drama film written and directed by Ganesh Raj. It stars Vijayaraghavan as a 100-year-old man, with K. P. A. C. Leela paired opposite him.[3][4][5][6][7]

Pookkaalam was released on 8 April 2023.[2][8] It was featured at the 54th IFFI Indian Panorama section.[9][10][11]

Plot

Pookkaalam is the story of the lives of Ittoop and Kochu Thresiamma and the people surrounding them.

Cast

Production

After his debut film Aanandam, director Ganesh Raj took 4 years to complete the script of Pookkaalam,[12] and he penned a note as "Pookkaalam... The season of growth, change, and Love" along with the first look poster.[13] This film was bankrolled by Vinod Shornur for CNC Cinemas in association with Thomas Thiruvalla's Thomas Thiruvalla Films.[14][15][16] Sachin Warrier was signed to provide the music and background score of the film.[17][18] Actress Honey Rose also plays a cameo role.[19]

Principal photography started on 13 April 2022. The filming wrapped up on 14 December after 37 days of shooting.[12]

Reception

Critical reception

Princy Alexander of Onmanorama noted that the film is "a fresh take" on elderly couple relationships and compared the film to Oru Cheru Punchiri, and wrote: "Though the movie dwells on a serious subject like a marital discord, Ganesh Raj's 'Pookkaalam' is not a tear-jerker. Instead, he relies on the youthful vibrancy that was the pillar of his earlier work to narrate this film, too. … Despite the good performances, the weak dialogues and the failure to explore some of the characters further affect the film, which is otherwise an interesting family drama."[20] Sajin Shriijth of Cinema Express gave 3.5/5 stars and wrote: "Despite some of its rough edges, Pookkaalam is what I would call a wholesome family entertainer ideal for the holidays. There are places where the exaggerated acting from Basil Joseph, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Johny Antony, and others doesn't land, but their presence also makes Pookkaalam lively when necessary. In a way, they remind us of some of our family members. We don't always like what they do, but we can't live without them either."[21]

Awards

National Film Awards

Kerala Film Critics Association Awards

References

  1. ^ പ്രേക്ഷകമനസ്സിൽ പൂക്കാലം തീർത്ത് പാട്ട്; കൈതപ്രത്തിന്റെ വരികള്‍ക്ക് സച്ചിൻ വാരിയറുടെ ഈണം [The song fills the minds of the audience; Sachin Warrier's tune to kaithapram's lyrics] (in Malayalam). Manoramaonline.com. 18 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  2. ^ a b തിയേറ്ററുകളിൽ ഇനി 'പൂക്കാലം'; 'ആനന്ദ'ത്തിന് ശേഷം ഗണേഷ് രാജ് ഒരുക്കുന്ന ചിത്രം റിലീസിനൊരുങ്ങുന്നു ['Pookalam' to hit theatres; After 'Ananda', Ganesh Raj's film is gearing up for release] (in Malayalam). Mathrubhumi. 26 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  3. ^ പ്രേക്ഷകമനസ്സിലൊരു പൂക്കാലം തീർത്ത് 'പൂക്കാലം' ആദ്യ വീഡിയോ ഗാനം പുറത്ത് [The first video song of 'Pookkalam' is out.] (in Malayalam). Asianet News. 18 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  4. ^ 'ആനന്ദ'ത്തിന് ശേഷം 'പൂക്കാല'വുമായി ഗണേഷ് രാജ് [After 'Ananda', Ganesh Raj to come up with 'Pookkala'] (in Malayalam). Samayam. 17 June 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Malayalam Director Ganesh Raj Reveals First Look of His Next Film Pookkaalam". News 18. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  6. ^ "'Pookkaalam' to arrive this summer!". The Times of India. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  7. ^ "First-look poster of Pookkaalam is out". Cinema Express. 5 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  8. ^ വിജയരാഘവൻ 100 വയസ്സുകാരനായി അഭിനയിക്കുന്ന 'പൂക്കാലം' റിലീസ് പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചു [Pookkalam | Vijayaraghavan's 'Pookkalam' release announced as a 100-year-old] (in Malayalam). News 18. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  9. ^ "Indian Panorama 2023 Announces Official Selection for 54th IFFI, 2023". Press Information Bureau. 23 October 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023 – via press release.
  10. ^ "തിയറ്ററുകളിൽ പൂത്തുലഞ്ഞ് 'പൂക്കാലം'; പ്രേക്ഷക പ്രതികരണം".
  11. ^ "Vijayaraghavan starrer 'Pookkaalam' gets an OTT release date". The Times of India. 18 May 2023.
  12. ^ a b "It's a wrap for Ganesh Raj's 'Pookkaalam'". The New Indian Express. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  13. ^ "'Pookkaalam': 'Aanandam' director Ganesh Raj's next is all about the season of growth, change, and pure love". The Times of India. 17 June 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  14. ^ "It's a wrap for 'Pookkaalam'". The Times of India. 15 December 2022.
  15. ^ "'Pookkaalam' to arrive this summer!". The Times of India.
  16. ^ "'Pookkaalam': 'Aanandam' director Ganesh Raj's next is all about the season of growth, change, and pure love". The Times of India. 17 June 2022.
  17. ^ "Basil's Kadin Kadorame Andakadaham to release for Eid". The News Minute. 21 March 2023.
  18. ^ Anil, Revathy (18 March 2023). "Manasilum Pookkaalam Movie Lyrical video". Prime Time. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  19. ^ "At Bakery Inauguration In Vijayawada, Actress Honey Rose Expresses Thoughts On Marriage". News 18. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  20. ^ "Movie Review: 'Pookkaalam' - a feel-good film revolving around a 100-year-old man". Onmanorama. 8 April 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  21. ^ Shriijth, Sajin (9 April 2023). "MPookkaalam movie review: A wholesome family entertainer designed to lift your spirits". Cinema Express. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  22. ^ "71st National Film Awards announced | Who won Best Actor, Best Film, and more?". Mathrubhumi News. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  23. ^ "Kerala Film Critics Awards 2023: 'Aattam' bags best film award". Mathrubhumi News. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
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