'Kazhcha' tops Malayalam movies

Kochi, Sep 15 (IANS): This fortnight has seen a routine thriller losing the race to a film of unconventional theme and treatment.

The following are the top five Malayalam films:

1. "Kazhcha": Newcomer Blessy directs Mammootty in this somewhat offbeat film about a boy from Kutch (a victim of the terrible Gujarat earthquake) finding his way to a rural family in scenic Kuttanaad. The performance of Master Yash, a Gujarati boy settled in Kochi, has earned all-round plaudits.

2. "Satyam - The Real Identity": The Vinayan-Prithviraj team's golden run continues with this typical police story. This is the first solo hit of Prithviraj, which will consolidate his position as a saleable star.

3. "Natturajavu": This Mohanlal film has received mixed response from the audience. But the tag of a hit has helped revive his fortune as a superstar.

4. "Vettam": This Dileep movie is directed by veteran Priyadarshan, considered an expert in slapstick comedy. But the film seems to be a rehash of his old films and, therefore, is not doing as well as it was expected to do.

5. "Manjupoloru Penkutty": This film tackles the theme of sexual harassment of a teenaged girl by her stepfather without being titillating. Director Kamal has drawn audiences to theatres by displaying delicacy in dealing with this difficult theme.