Madanolsavam

Sudheesh Gopinath's 2023 Malayalam film follows Madhanan, a street hawker. He takes responsibility for the family of a friend who has died and marries Alice, the widow. A politician with the same name draws him into a local election. The film makes satire of democracy; the narrative gives Madhanan not as a deliberate candidate but as a man whose name landed in the wrong place. Suraj Venjaramoodu leads. The tone is largely comic and the close bitter. Who it's for: those who like Malayalam satire and political comedy. Who it's not for: viewers unfamiliar with local politics; some references depend on the context.