Focus on like Adoor Gopalakrishnan or Lijo Jose Pellissery.
Perhaps the most defining trait of Malayalam cinema is its obsession with the "everyday." Unlike the larger-than-life heroes of other industries, the quintessential Malayalam hero—from Sathyan in the 60s to Mohanlal and Mammootty in their prime—has always been a flawed, rational human being. Focus on like Adoor Gopalakrishnan or Lijo Jose Pellissery