Twenty 20

Joshiy's 2008 Malayalam film was made for an unusual reason in film history: to raise money for the welfare fund of the Malayalam actors' association. Almost every major name of the period is therefore in the cast, with Mohanlal, Mammootty, Suresh Gopi, Jayaram and Dileep all in the same film. The story begins with a lawyer realising that the man he defended was in fact guilty. But the plot is secondary; the film's actual function is to bring the stars on in turn and give each of them a moment. That structure weakens it dramatically. Most characters get a few scenes and no time to develop. Even so it drew extraordinary attention in Kerala, and the atmosphere it created in cinemas was discussed as much as the film itself. Who it's for: viewers interested in the Malayalam star system and in cinema culture. Who it's not for: viewers looking for a coherent narrative; this was designed as an event, not as a story.