‘Slang’uages rule M-Town

Casual, cool and conversational, slangs are increasingly becoming inevitable in the regionalized story lines of Malayalam films. As the common man’s lingo becomes part of common parlance in our films, Kochi Times scans through the oft used ones, most popular expressions and the actors who popularized them.
Ishta, gedi kiduvaanu Thanks to a string of films featuring these terms, M-Town fans all over the state understand the much-loved Thrissur dialect now.While the evergreen film Thoovanathumbikal is famed for Mohanlal mouthing it, actors Innocent and Philomina made the best use of the ‘sing-song’ slang, sewing it into their signature styles. More recently, Mammootty’s Pranchiyettan and the Saint augmented its receptivity and as the cost-effectiveness of Thrissur soars as a location, stories set in the district naturally embrace it. Thrissur slang was taken advantage of in Prithviraj-starrer Sapthamashree Thaskaraha, Jayasurya’s Punyalan Agarbathis and Mathai Kuzhappakaranalla. We hear Kunchacko Boban too will mouth it soon in Diphan’s Shylock.
Cool macha! The ‘buddies’ and ‘teams’ of Fort Kochi have made Kochi slang one of the much loved slangs in M’wood. Mixing English words with Malayalam prepositions, the chant-like lingo was probably popularised in our industry by actor Sreenath Bhasi, who is often called its brand ambassador. Through films like Da Thadiya and Honey Bee, he popularized lines like Karayalle bro and Ente paavam Jaango, which are currently a hot favourite among youngsters. Fahadh Faasil mouthed Kochi slang in Annayum Rasoolum, and senior actors like Mammootty and Lal have also used it in their popular movies.
Lavan puliyaanu ketta!
Gone are the days when the usage of Trivandrum slang was looked down upon and its apparent shabbiness, frowned at. Post Rajamanikyam that went on to be a super successful flick, the name Suraj Venjaramoodu and his antics laced with the slang lit up many screens. The slang-specific usages like Entheru (what), puliyaanu ketta (he’s smart) and payal (chap) churned out refreshing comic moments, which were soon picked up by other regions too. Indrajith played with it in Ee Adutha Kaalathu and Prithviraj spoke the slang in Celluloid and Tamaar Padaar. Suresh Gopi also did justice to it in his recent release The Dolphins.
Allah!
Mention the word and Mamukkoya’s signature slang flashes in the minds of any Mollywood fan. In authentic mappila style Kozhikode slang, he has been entertaining us for more than three decades! The late Kuthiravattam Pappu is another performer who carved a niche in our films, hugely banking on his Kozhikode style of speech. Among the new generation flicks, Ustad Hotel and Shutter had many ‘Koikodan moments’ in its dialogues.
Ennada Uvve?
Often called achayan Malayalam, the ‘rubberised’ and casual Kottayam slang was immortalised in tinseltown by Mammootty, in his popular movie Kottayam Kunjachan. From Ennada Uvve (what’s up dude?) and Kochu (kid or term of reference for anyone), to its peculiarly pronounced words like faarya and farthavu (wife and husband), the slang offers enough scope for fun in films. Rima Kallingal’s slangy prattle in 22 Female Kottayam, for instance, had a great reach most recently, and so was Fahadh’s brilliant usage of it in Oru Indian Pranayakadha.
Maahithe Penpillere Kandkka? Guessed it right, Kannur slang has truly arrived! It came to prominence as Vineeth Sreenivasan made his actors learn it for his hit romcom Thattathin Marayathu. The lingo was used again in Oru Vadakkan Selfie that he scripted, and the Oons (He), Ools (She) and Changais (friend) of the land became quite familiar to our movie buffs. The viral song Maahithe Penpillere Kandikka recorded by a few local lasses even urged Aashiq Abu to announce a movie title by the same name featuring his wife Rima. Suraj Venjaramoodu sang a song in the slang for the film Pedithondan, recently.
Eii! Enthanda Ithu!
When Biju Menon’s character in Ordinary cracked us up in this slang that starts most sentences in Eiii or Ohh, Mollywood recognised that Palakkad has a lot more to offer than Ottappalam. The slang was noted the most in this Gavi-based film, and was later used in Jayaram’s Ulsaha Committee.
Other prominent SLANGS
Valluvanadan - Pazhassi Raja and Thacholi Othenan
Konkani Malayalam - Kammath and Kammath
Beary – Chattambinaadu
Malabar – Bavoottiyude Namathil and Paleri Manikyam
Kasargod – Zachariyayude Garbhinikal