With Onam festival around the corner, the beautiful state of Kerala can be seen in its magnificent best. In this pleasant weather, sunny and warm calling for mirth and celebrations, the film trade considers Onam as one of the best seasons to release a Malayalam films.

Onam, the industry feels, is the time for celebration. And for all top stars, an Onam release is not only prestigious but also a must for their survival in commercial cinema.

MACTA-initiated strike has put a question mark on the majority of films like Chocolate. Nasrani and Calcutta News planned earlier for this Onam. And so many stars including Dileep couldn't bring up a film for this biggest festival season. Any how film goers have no big reasons to worry as the other major stars are in the fray with the best of the films.

This year, Mohanlal' has already placed his Onam bet in 'Ali Bhai,' an out-and-out mass masala entertainer, which was released on August 15, 12 days before Thiru Onam. It enjoyed a good opening and topped the charts. Director Shaji Kailas has created a film that falls in line with what is typically expected of the team. The actual fate of this film will be known only after the initial euphoria is over.

The other major 2007 Onam releases are Shyamaprasad's Mammootty-starrer Ore Kadal, Lohitadas' Nivedyam with newcomers in the lead, and Suresh Gopi's Kichamani MBA and Black Cat, which are all scheduled for the Onam weekend starting on August 24.

The other good news for Mammootty fans is that he is trying his best to release his off-beat movie Ore Kadal on Aug 26. The movie revolves around the main protagonist, Dr S.R. Nathan, who is an internationally acclaimed economist.

Lohitadas' new movie Nivedyam will be released on Monday and many film buffs are keeping all their hopes on the director. Nivedyam, a movie which will introduce debutant faces in the lead roles, is handling a very youthful theme. Vinu Mohan, grandson of the late Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair and nephew of Saikumar, is the hero of the film, which will have Bhama as the heroine. Another new face being introduced by Lohitadas in this film is Aparna.

Kichamani MBA is the Onam movie of action hero Suresh Gopi. The first directorial venture of Samad Mankada, who had produced Madhuchandralekha and Anachantham, Kichamani MBA, portrays Suresh Gopi in a different role with a pinch of comedy. Navya Nair is the heroine of this movie.