Maqbool Salmaan and Mythili star in Matinee, a 2012 Malayalam love film directed by Aneesh Upasana and starring Maqbool Salmaan and Mythili. Still, photographer Aneesh Upasana makes his directorial debut in the film, and Mammootty’s nephew Maqbool Salmaan plays his first main role. The plot revolves around two people’s road to stardom in the film industry and how their lives are changed by a single Friday matinée show.
Maqbool Salmaan, who had previously acted in A. K. Saajan’s Asuravithu, plays the lead role in the film. Mammootty’s nephew Maqbool is a well-known actor. He is the son of Ibrahimkutty, Mammootty’s younger brother, who was a prominent miniscreen star. AOPL Entertainment, which also introduced Mammootty’s son Dulquer Salmaan earlier this year through Second Show, is producing the film.
Critics and spectators alike praised Matinee when it premiered on December 13th. The film was praised for its realistic approach as well as the major actors’ performances.
The item dance performed by Mythili in the film sparked a lot of debate. Another controversy arose when anti-tobacco groups protested the film because of movie posters depicting Mythili holding a lit cigarette and a bottle of liquor. Anti-tobacco activists from the Ernakulam district held a demonstration against the film, blackening many posters in the city.
Ratheesh Vegha and Bollywood composer Anand Raj Anand composed the film’s tunes. Anand composed the item number ‘Ayalathe Veetile,’ which features Mythili and was written by Vinukrishnan. The song was a huge smash, garnering over 4.5 million views on YouTube in just two weeks. Dinanath Puthenchery, Gireesh Puthenchery’s son, wrote the lyrics for two of the film’s songs. Kavya Madhavan, an actress, contributed her vocals to the song ‘Maunamayi Manassil,’ which was positively welcomed by music critics.
