Debut directors who made a mark in Kollywood in 2023 – F’day Spl. Article by Naveen

2023 has been a good year for debutant directors as some of the movies made in Kollywood by first time directors have been received well by the audience. While the fans are expecting the biggies to hit the screens, movies made by debut directors have grabbed their attention.

Let us take a look at some of the movies directed by debutante that have been received well by the audience.

Directed by K Babu, the movie has Kavin and Aparna Das in the lead roles. The movie which released in February is produced by Olympia movies. The movie is about a couple in love, who accidentally become teenage parents. Unpleasant situations make them fall apart. Kavin is left alone with his son, struggling as a single teenage father. What happens in their life forms the rest of the story. The solid writing and heart-melting emotions were received well by the audience.

Sasikumar and Preethi Asrani played the lead roles in this movie directed by Mandhira Moorthy. Produced by Trident Arts the movie speaks about humanity beyond religion. Taking up a sensitive issue, the director has made a movie that leaves a lasting impression. The film addresses various issues such as religion, superstitions, chauvinistic attitudes of men and more. Mandhira Moorhty’s craft is so powerful enough to hold the audience’s attention throughout the film. The way in which he has presented is what makes this movie a special one.

Yaathisai is a historical period film directed by Dharani Rasendran. The historical-fiction not only comes up with interesting visuals and well-crafted screenplay but also some powerful lines then and there that touch upon war, male ego and the lust for power. Kothi, a man from the Einar clan, goes on a journey to revolt against the Pandiyas, headed by Ranadheera Pandiyan. Can Kothi free his clan and capture the kingdom forms the crux of the story. Dharani Rasendran has come up with a masterclass in how to make a world class historical movie with a small budget. His authority over the subject matter that clearly came from extensive and painstaking research shows on screen.

Starring Manikandan and Raichel Rebecca in the lead roles, the movie is about a simple boy-next-door character whose biggest problem in life is his snoring.He falls in love with a girl and how the couple overcome his sleeping problem while living together.

Good Night is an example of how feel-good films can be made with simpler-yet-effective conflict. Director Vinayak, has managed to incorporate some beautiful moments here and there, giving us a compelling watch. Every character is well-established, and the writing and the film-making sensibilities of the maker are evident throughout.

An academically bright but faint-hearted rookie cop needs to man up and overcome his fears in order to succeed in his very first assignment-team up with a hostile and reclusive senior cop to catch a serial killer on the loose. Director Vignesh Raja doesn’t follow the usual tropes that one finds in this genre and refrains from incorporating too many twists. The best part is, he keeps the events engaging and enticing, even after we get to know the identity of the murderer. The director also sends an underlying message through the movie.