Onam has long been regarded as one of the biggest seasons in Malayalam, but this year things are quite different as there are no new big star releases or big budget productions releasing.

The reason?

Well, the main revenue is from the Malabar area and since Onam comes before Ramzan, the theatres will obviously be empty. As a result, the big guns are playing a waiting game and getting ready to release their films during the Ramzan season, which is next month.

Sensing the opportunity, quite a few films with lesser known leads are getting ready to hit the cinemas. Producer Sasi Ayyanchira's Amma Nilavu (starring himself) and director Sheby's Plus Two are two such films already in theatres. 

Soon to follow are films like Pattinte Palazhi, Nirakkazhcha, Athmakadha, Yakshiyum Njanum, Neelambari, Orange, Kanyakumari Express, Three Char sau bees and Chaverppada.

Pattinte Palazhi, directed by Rajeev Anchal, stars Meera Jasmine, her comeback to Malayalam. The film has a musical backdrop. Manoj K Jayan plays the male lead. It was shot in Mysore.

Athmakadha has been directed by Premlal and stars Sreenivasan, Sharbani Mukherjee and Shafna in the lead roles.

Sreenivasan plays Kochubaby, a blind man who works in a candle manufacturing unit.

Nirakkazhcha stars Mamta Mohandas and an Italian actor. The film is directed by Anish J Karinad.

The other small films include Biju Varkey's Orange with Kalabhavan Mani and Biju Menon in the lead roles, and Kanyakumari Express, directed by T S Suresh Babu, starring Suresh Gopi.

Three Char sau bees marks the directorial debut of TV anchor Govindankutty Adoor. Chaverppada has a few newcomers, with Manikkuttan in the lead. It is directed by Yashpal.