Why: The prolific editor-turned-director was behind some of Malayalam cinema’s best exports of the last two years. His edgy C U Soon, made exclusively for the OTT using phones and laptops, came with more vision than films with ten times its budget. He preempted a major change in the way the industry worked before anyone else could and he backed this instinct with Malik, a gamble that seemed to have worked as well. Given that he was also the editor of Nayattu and the equally-fascinating Aarkkariyam, you notice how he’s been a part of small changes just as he is of the bigger, revolutionary ones.
Amplified the voices of female directors by backing Soorarai Pottru and Bittu
Consistently created relatable, endearing youth-centric content across languages
Directed and co-wrote an emotionally intimate take on the underdog boxing film
His second feature was one of the year's best films and won big at the Venice Film Festival