The stark difference in the fates of entrepreneurs portrayed in some recent Malayalam films, compared to those of yesteryear, has become part of Industries Minister P. Rajeeve’s push to showcase the transformed business climate in Kerala.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday (November 5, 2025) evening, the Minister chose to compare the troubles faced by the entrepreneurs who are the protagonists in the films Varavelpu (1989) and Mithunam (1993) to Mohanlal’s character in Hridayapoorvam (2025), who runs a successful cloud kitchen business in Kerala.
“Three decades have passed since the times of bus owner Murali of Varavelpu and Sethu Madhavan of Mithunam, who runs a biscuit company. Sandeep of Hridayapoorvam is running a successful cloud kitchen business in Kerala. His business is constantly improving. Even when he is facing a serious health condition, Sandeep is not bothered by any business-related worries. It is noteworthy that his venture is in Kerala, which has ranked first in the ease of doing business rankings. The government is now there to help and support such ventures right from their initiation. There are now many pro-entrepreneurship mechanisms that were not available in the past,” writes Mr. Rajeeve.
Facilities highlighted
The Minister highlighted the availability of single-window permit clearance, MSME clinics and various other facilities from the local level to the State level for grievance redressal.
“No officials such as the one who harassed Sethu of Mithunam can be seen anywhere in Kerala now. Officials are reaching out to entrepreneurs to help them. (Director) Sathyan Anthikad, who created a character like Murali in the 1980s, has now brought us the character of Sandeep. Murali and Sethu, who dominated the public consciousness as symbols of entrepreneurs in Kerala for a long time, have now disappeared from the picture. Entrepreneurs like Sandeep who are reaping success are now in the arena. This experience was shared by prominent businessmen of Kerala at recent events,” writes Mr. Rajeeve.
At the same time, the Minister also attributes wrong business decisions and the lack of knowledge of the field he was venturing into for the failure of the entrepreneurial character in Varavelpu, who launches a bus service in his village.
“He was investing the money he had earned up to that point in a field with which he had little experience. Murali had no basic understanding of not only the bus service business but also of any kind of enterprise. He bought the bus by listening to the words of many people without bothering to do the necessary homework, study or gain experience on the subject before starting a business,” writes Mr. Rajeeve.