In this episode, we dived into Angamaly Diaries (2017), a Malayalam-language film that feels like a punch to the face — but in a good way. Directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery, the movie is a hyperlocal coming-of-age gangster story set in the small town of Angamaly, Kerala.

Khilli explained that Angamaly Diaries blew them away when they first saw it — pulling them back into exploring the Malayalam film industry. They described it as “very realistic” with a focus on small-scale street gang fights and the messiness of everyday life.

Adam loved the low-stakes energy of the movie — instead of a high-level mafia story, this was about food stall rivalries, pig slaughtering, and petty turf wars. It felt almost like an Italian gangster movie but scaled down to the streets of Kerala.

Nicky pointed out how impressive the fight choreography was — everything looked messy, exhausting, and painfully real. They were especially impressed by the film’s famous 11-minute one-shot climax, with hundreds of people on screen, street processions, and chaotic brawls unfolding in a single take.

Winnie appreciated the movie’s sense of place — describing it as “more of a way of life” movie than a pure gang film. It captures the rhythms of a small town, from church festivals to back-alley deals, and shows how violence can feel weirdly mundane in a tight-knit community.

We also talked about how the cast was made up entirely of newcomers — adding to the naturalistic vibe of the movie. Nothing felt polished. It all felt sweaty, loud, and totally alive.

This was our introduction to Malayalam cinema — and Angamaly Diaries set the bar high.