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Film fest!

Every year, Onam brings with it a rich harvest of films.

This year, too, brings with it a rich haul. A glimpse:

VALIYETTAN

What: The only all-stars film to hit the marquee this Onam, it promises plenty of action and family drama.

The film has Madhavan Unni, a devil-may-care, quick-to-ignite but large-hearted man. He has a penchant for white kurtas, black thread circling his wrist, upturned moustaches and a gold chain with a pearl.

Who: Mammootty, Shobhana, Manoj K Jayan, Sudheesh, Vijay Kumar, Innocent, Siddique, Saikumar

The film has been directed by Shaji Kailas (who had directed Mammootty earlier in King), to the story written by Ranjith.

Valiyettan has music by Mohan Sitara to the lyrics of Girish Puthancheri.

The draw: Mammootty. Mammootty. Mammootty. Expected to do exceedingly well.

Drawback: Immense hype might work against it.

INDIA GATE

What: An action drama, with fast-rising star, Vani Vishwanath, Devan, Spadikam George and Jagdish.

Who: The film shows a dramatic change -- a naïve simple girl into an underworld goon and terror of the town. The man at the helm? Director Saji.

The draw: An angry Vani Vishwanath. Despite its action image, the film purports to be a clean entertainer.

Drawback: Absence of other stars might not fetch a good initial.

SWAYAMVARA PANDHAL

What: Jairam's sole Onam release, a humorous family entertainer

Who: Under Harikumar's direction, the film engulfs you with five sisters. All married, they have one burning concern: To get their brother, Deepu, married. But there's a catch: they don't like any of the girls shortlisted for their precious brother.

Finally, they do find a girl, Priya, beautiful and from a wealthy, respected tharavadu. And they conspire to get Deepu and Priya married.

And thus you have Jairam and Sayukta Varma in the lead roles, with ample support from Ambika, Manju Pillai, Bindu Panicker, K Sreelatha, Sreenivasan and Innocent.

Johnson swings the baton to Girish Puthancheri and O N V Kuruppu's pen.

The draw: Sreenivasan's story and screenplay. That it happens to be a family entertainer. And films of such ilk have had a high success rate during Onam.

Drawbacks: Might be a repetitive comedy. Also the tiny factor that you might need to suspend your disbelief when you watch this film

JOKER

What: A humourous family entertainer.

Who: Get set to laugh a minute (or not even as long as that!) with Dileep and new face, Manya, prodded on by Nishant Kumar

Director Lohitadas, known for his serious dramas, presents a touching story that revolves around life in a circus troupe.

The draw: Superhit songs, well before the film has been released.

Drawbacks: It might just end up being a reflection of Lohitadas' earlier works.

RAAKILIPAATU

What: A film that has been talked about one way or the other, what with Priyadarshan directing it, and the film being made in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, apart from Malayalam.

Youth reigns supreme -- college life gets the whole nine yards treatment here.

Who: The all women cast reads Jyotika, Tabu, Sharbani Mukherjee, Suchitra, Lakshmi, Joemol and K P A C Lalitha.

Draw: Priyan's tech savviness, beautifully shot frames, Vidyasagar's music

Drawbacks: Stars not familiar in the Malayalam circuit. Also, the great hype might work against it.

RAPID ACTION FORCE

What: A no-holds-barred action thriller.

Who: Director Salim Baba has smartly addressed the film to both, the family and the youth.

Vani Vishwanath, Kalabhavan Mani, Vineeth, Rajan P Dev and Spadikam George star in this action circus. It's Vani Vishwanath all the way, as a daredevil police officer who has been assigned to head the Rapid Action Force set up by the Chief Minister to bring a terrorist gang, Kargil House, to book.

The draw: Vani Vishwanath flexing her muscles.

Drawbacks: No other stars in this one, save for Vani.

MADHURANOMBARAKAATU

What: Family drama

Who: Biju Menon and Sanyukta Varma take their orders from Kamal.

The draws: The Kamal realistic touch. An unusual, unique backdrop.

Drawbacks: Absence of an established starcast. Also, the audience has other films to choose from.