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One cannot discuss Malayalam cinema without mentioning the "Middle Cinema" of the 90s and the New Wave of today. This genre champions the "Common Man"—a character archetype that resonates deeply with Kerala's egalitarian ethos. Unlike the demigod heroes of other Indian industries, the Malayalam hero is often an everyman: a thief ( Pavithram ), a quack doctor ( Vikram ), or a struggling husband. They have faults, financial debts, and receding hairlines.