December 2002 unleashed Kalyanaraman, and approximately at that juncture, such a medley of comedy, romance, sentiment was bestowed upon the audiences of Malayalam. Shafi directed the film, and from those popular hero Dileep and heroine Navya Nair, the film would become one of the most celebrated Christmas releases by the early 2000s. No official box-office reports come out concerning how such figures would tally after all, but trade analysts and even insiders have often referred to Kalyanaraman as the Christmas winner of 2002, running to packed houses throughout Kerala and abroad.
The success of the movie can be attributed to its interesting storyline laced with humor dialogues with Dileep’s impeccable comic timing. His presentation of Achu, a fun-loving wedding planner turned in love in an unusual situation, found a home deep in the hearts of family audiences. The on-screen chemistry portrayed between Navya Nair and Dileep is an added attraction, while the leftist coterie of Innocent, Cochin Haneefa, Harisree Ashokan, and Jagathy Sreekumar took entertainment value of this movie several notches higher.
The audience reports during the entire run of Kalyanaraman revealed that it had filled houses for several weeks, especially in major cities like Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kozhikode. Its long-standing number of people turning up from talks and beneficial word at mouth made it the one to beat of other festive releases this year, making it one of the most successful films of 2002.
Even after two decades, Kalyanaraman remains a fan-favourite Dileep classic. Its songs, composed by Berny–Ignatius, continue to be remembered for their melody and emotional depth. The light-hearted tone and heartwarming message regarding love and family have given it the grace of time. While there are no records kept of exactly how much it earned in the box office, there is little doubt that Kalyanaraman became a massive commercial winner – a true festive victory that matched the spirit of Malayalam cinema at its best.
Also Read: Dileep’s Classic Kalyanaraman 4K Re-Release: Wait is Over
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