11 years of Premam! Some movies are more than just films; they become memories, emotions, and a part of who we are. As Premam completes 11 years, I wanted to revisit this old blog post and relive the magic of a movie that made us laugh, cry, fall in love, and yearn for our younger days all over again. Some movies never really get old, and Premam is definitely one of them.
I was intrigued from the time I started seeing Premam’s posters in Kerala. At first glance I thought “OMG, they forgot the name! But oh, the butterfly looks so pretty!”.
Fast forward couple of weeks and we are finding our seats at Anu Ega (any amount of renovation cannot salvage this theater)) and thinking, this movie better be worth it! And then the title cards start rolling….and you realize this is not your average new generation movie or a mindless masala flick….and you fall, hook, line and sinker for this brilliant masterpiece from Alphonse Puthren.
Premam makes you yearn for your adolescent years like never before. When the screen comes alive with butterflies along with that wonderful wonderful song, you are transported back in time and you end up almost wishing the movie never ends.
The movie follows the life of its protagonist, George and his different shades of love. While Mary is just an infatuation, he finds true love in Malar and his soulmate in Celin. And the boy also grows from a hesitant, almost scared to profess his love teenager to a strong, sure of himself and an almost impatient young man to a caring and mature adult.
Malar almost steals the thunder from George, well almost. With her amazing screen presence, you can rest assured Sai Pallavi is here to stay. Premam also belongs to George’s friends, Koya, Shambu, Jojo and even Girirajan kozhi! You cant help but love them when you realize that your college days were filled with such endearing characters. Vinay Fort plays the lecturer who falls for Malar and alogn with the PT master, they literally bring the theater down. The frame where Vinay explains what “Java” is to his students is pure 24 carat gold! And Renji Panicker as George’s father might have only a couple of minutes to himself, but he packs in quite a punch with the limited time frame and you are left wanting more!
And then there is Nivin Pauly as George. When he realizes Malar no longer recognizes him and he walks away with a heavy heart and breaks down moments later, you realize what a brilliant actor Nivin has evolved into. Premam is definitely his best performance till date. If you thought Oru Vadakkan Selfie was an out and out entertainer, you better grab that popcorn and watch Premam today!
P.S: When you are watching Premam, you get this feeling that you get to see history being made. Malayalam cinema has definitely got a new super star!
And oh, how that comment has aged! Looking back now, it’s wonderful to see how Nivin Pauly has grown into one of Malayalam cinema’s most loved stars. That feeling I had while watching Premam wasn’t misplaced after all. Some instincts are just right, and this one feels especially good to look back on 11 years later!
And as we celebrate 11 years of this beautiful movie, one thing stands out even more on every rewatch. At its core, Premam is as much about friendship as it is about love. The people who stand by you through every heartbreak, every mistake, every crazy adventure and every phase of growing up are the ones who make the journey unforgettable.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about George, Mary, Malar or Celin. It’s about the boys who grow up together, laugh together, stand by each other and make memories that last a lifetime.
One for all, all for one.
Here’s to 11 years of Premam and to the friendships that make life beautiful!
