For international audiences who are just discovering the powerhouse that is Mammootty, Thaniyavarthanam is the perfect introduction. Unlike the shouting, over-the-top performances often associated with "madness" in older cinema, Mammootty plays Balan with a terrifying restraint.
Thaniyavarthanam (which translates roughly to "The Solitary Tree" or "Isolated by Kin") works on multiple levels: Thaniyavarthanam Movie With English Subtitles