Why only Malayalam cinema gets real with costumes?

It’s one of the very few industries that believes authenticity lies in simplicity.

Hyderabad: In the world of Indian cinema, where glamour often takes center stage, Malayalam cinema has carved a niche for itself with its raw realism, not just in storytelling, but in every tiny detail, especially costumes. It’s one of the very few industries that believes authenticity lies in simplicity.

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When Malayalam films portray household stories, they show them as they are. From background artists to stalwarts like Mohanlal and Mammootty, everyone is often seen donning mundus (dhotis) and nighties (nightgowns) that mirror the real-life attire of people in south indian homes.

The idea is simple: to bring characters closer to the audience, make them look like one of us. There’s no glam, no exaggeration, just life as it is.

Take The Great Indian Kitchen, for example. The Malayalam version featured the lead actress in everyday homewear—nighties, old cotton dresses, no makeup. Her struggles in the kitchen felt more personal because she looked like someone we know. But when it was remade in Hindi as Mrs, the attire took a fashionable turn. The character wore stylish cotton kurti sets and sported light makeup even while doing chores. The rawness was replaced with subtle glam.

The same goes for Ayyappanum Koshiyum. The police officer’s wife in the original Malayalam version was portrayed with a deglam look that reflected her lifestyle, simple and grounded. But in the Telugu remake Bheemla Nayak, the same role played by Nithya Menen was stylised with well-ironed kurtis and well-done hair, losing the rooted feel.

So why is this happening? Is realism not marketable outside Kerala? Is the audience outside the Malayalam industry not ready to accept characters that look too real? It seems so.

While the Malayalam audience embraces this rawness as a strength, makers in other industries might feel the need to ‘elevate’ appearances to suit mainstream tastes.

Perhaps it’s also about perception—what sells, what looks good on screen. But when cinema reflects real life, it connects more deeply. Maybe that’s the secret behind Malayalam cinema’s growing national appeal: it dares to keep it real.