Rethinking Landscape- Analysing the Representation of Hill Stations in Selected Malayalam Films

Hill Stations are enchanting retreats, with lush green plantations, misty mountains, serene environment and cool atmosphere. They signify natural beauty as well as cultural complexity. Many Malayalam films, including Kilukkam, Minnaram, Chitram, Notebook, Iyyobinte Pusthakam, Ordinary, Maheshinte Prathikaram, Idukki Gold are set in the backdrop of hill stations like Munnar, Vagamon, Ootty and Kodaikkanal. There are different approaches to the representation of landscape in films- landscape can act as a space, place, spectacle and metaphor in a film. Therefore, hill stations as landscape in a film play multiple roles. It can provide the location to the film and can provide the space in which the story of the film unfolds. Hill stations as landscapes, sometimes becomes a crucial character in a film. The natural beauty of the hill stations can mesmerize the viewers and may boost tourist potential of the place. Hill stations as landscape can act as metaphor to processes like nationalism and colonialism. Hill stations as landscape also represents emotions of the characters in the film.

The paper titled “Rethinking Landscape- Analysing the Representation of Hill Stations in Selected Malayalam Films” aims to analyze the representation of hill stations as landscape in selected Malayalam films. The methodology of the paper follows segmental analysis of selected films and analysis using various Post Modern theories.