Mollywood game-changers: Why these directors refuse to stick to one genre

The Hollywood filmmaker, screenwriter Alan Parker, once said, "It's always been important to me to try different genres. But writers on film like to pigeonhole you. I suppose, depending on whether people like or dislike my films, I either have an extraordinarily wide range as a filmmaker, or no focus whatsoever.

"You know, in the world of movies, sticking to one lane can make you a star, but it can also trap you. Various filmmakers try different genres. They're the real rebels, jumping from laugh-out-loud comedies to heart-wrenching dramas without breaking a sweat. Why? Because storytelling isn't about formulas. it's about capturing life's messy, unpredictable vibes. Take Priyadarshan, Jeethu Joseph, Jayaraj, and others for example. These guys aren't just filmmakers; they're the masters who keep audiences guessing.

Priyadarshan's comedy-to-drama-to-everything

Priyadarshan, the king of slapstick in the '80s and '90s, started with wild Malayalam hits like 'Poochakkoru Mookkuthi' (1984) and 'Kilukkam' (1991), where chaos and punchlines ruled.

But this guy didn't stay put. He dipped into historical epics with Kaalapani (1996), a gritty tale of freedom fighters that earned him a National Award nod, and later explored period dramas like Kancheevaram (2009). Even in Bollywood, his remakes like 'Hera Pheri' (2000) mix comedy with social bites.

Why switch? Priyadarshan once said he gets bored repeating himself – it's about challenging actors like Mohanlal and keeping the fire alive.

Jeethu Joseph's thriller mastery, but not just that

If you've seen 'Drishyam' (2013), you know Jeethu Joseph redefined suspense in Indian cinema – that family-on-the-run thriller became a pan-India phenomenon with remakes everywhere.

But rewind to his debut 'Detective' (2007), a procedural cop story, or 'Memories' (2013), a dark serial-killer chase.

Then boom, he flips to family dramedy with 'Mummy & Me' (2010) and workplace comedy in My Boss (2012). Later, Oozham (2016) went for revenge-action, and Neru (2023) tackled courtroom drama. Jeethu refuses labels; he told a conclave recently he's itching to ditch thrillers for something fresh, like relationship tales.

"I am tired of thrillers' - says Jeethu Joseph

Recently during a speech at Manorama News Conclave 2025, the 'Drishyam' director Jeethu Joseph admitted that he is tired of making thrillers.

He said, "Even when I went to Telugu, they asked for a twist at the end. In Tamil, they demanded logic. I want to break free from this box." He further said that he doesn't want to be defined by a single genre.

Jayaraj's art house to mainstream leap

Jayaraj's the quiet storm of Mollywood, blending arthouse poetry with crowd-pleasers. His Navarasa series starts with 'Karunam' (1999) on compassion and 'Shantam' (2001) dives deep into human emotions through Shakespearean lenses like 'Kaliyattam' (1997), a raw Othello adaptation.

But he doesn't shy away from fun – 'Thilakkam' (2003) is pure slapstick comedy, and 'Daivame Kaithozham K. K. Duraiswamy' (2018).

And come on, the man even took a complete action flick like '4 the People' and even a horror film like 'Rain Rain come again'.

The bigger picture

These directors aren't just game-changers; they're the masters who love to explore their skills. Even though many are missing out from this, such directors prove that It's not about focus; it's about freedom. And honestly, who wouldn't want more of that?