[3] While the new generation formats and styles are deeply influenced by global trends, their thematics are firmly rooted in Malayalee life and mindscapes.
[6] His directorial debut, Big B (2007), introduced a fresh cinematic experience to Malayalam audiences and has since garnered a significant cult following.
[7] This style inspired upcoming filmmakers, who went on to experiment further and produce films in the coming years such as Traffic (2011), City of God (2011), Salt N' Pepper (2011) and Chaappa Kurishu (2011), which helped define the movement.
[3] Actor-producer Jayasurya who had debuted into the industry in 2002, had begun creating his own signature in the new-wave of cinema through phenomenal acting performances in films such as Beautiful and Trivandrum Lodge.
[3] Erosion of the so-called "superstar" system in popular Malayalam films coincided with rise of the new wave where screenplay got rooted-to-reality, closer-to-life and lead characters became ordinary men and women.
While formats and styles of the new directors are deeply influenced by the global trends, their thematics were firmly rooted in Malayali life and mind-scape.
[10] A recurrent trope in these new narratives is accidents, coincidences, casual encounters and chance meetings that set in motion an unexpected chain of events affecting the lives of the characters drifting in the urban flotsam.
The leading ladies have often been shown to be working women who are individualistic by flirting openly, drinking and smoking in public, and making lewd comments, something which was considered taboo in the 80s and 90s.
[14][15] Actors like Thilakan, Nedumudi Venu, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Jayasurya, Kunchacko Boban, Indrajith Sukumaran, Biju Menon, Indrans, Pratap Pothen, Suraj Venjarammood, Harisree Asokan, Kunchan, Lal, Saiju Kurup, Jaffar Idukki, Baburaj, and Lena, who began their career before the new wave, were also noted for their performances in the new generation films.
Screenwriters like Syam Pushkaran, Dileesh Nair, Bobby–Sanjay, Unni R., Santhosh Echikkanam, Anjali Menon, PS Rafeeque, P. F. Mathews, S. Hareesh, Murali Gopy, Gopan Chidambaram, P. Balachandran, Shahi Kabir, Muhsin Parari; Cinematographers such as Shyju Khalid, Sameer Thahir, Madhu Neelakandan, Abinandhan Ramanujam, Jomon T. John, Renadive, Little Swayamp, Anend C. Chandran, Pappu, Shehnad Jalal, Vinod illampally; Musical Artists Bijibal, Rex Vijayan, Jakes Bejoy, Prashant Pillai, Sushin Shyam, Gopi Sundar, Rahul Raj, Shaan Rahman, Rajesh Murugesan, Shahabaz Aman, Vishnu Vijay, Justin Varghese; Editors like Vivek Harshan, B. Ajithkumar, Saiju Sreedharan, Mahesh Narayanan, Praveen Prabhakar, Manoj, Noufal Abdullah, Deepu Joseph etc.