Archive · 19 Aug 2026
How Classmates Beat Four Superstars to Become an Onam Phenomenon
Classmates is a Malayalam movie about college friends meeting again after 15 years.
The friends remember their younger days and try to understand painful events from the past.
The movie mixes friendship, romance, politics, comedy and mystery.
It was released during Onam in 2006.
Even though four movies featured much bigger stars, Classmates became the biggest hit of the group.
It earned around Rs 24 crore.
Many viewers felt the movie brought back memories of their own college years.
It also encouraged people across Kerala to organize reunions with old classmates.
Lal Jose’s Classmates released on August 25, 2006, alongside Mammootty’s Bhargavacharitham Moonam Khandam.
The film defeated four superstar-led releases, including movies starring Mammootty, Mohanlal, Dileep and Suresh Gopi.
Classmates earned about Rs 24 crore and nearly surpassed Rajamanikyam’s reported Rs 25 crore total.
Its reunion story, campus politics, mystery and friendships helped it connect strongly with Malayalam audiences.
The film reportedly inspired college reunions across Kerala and became a lasting cultural phenomenon.
- Who
- Director Lal Jose, writer James Albert, and actors including Prithviraj Sukumaran, Kavya Madhavan, Indrajith Sukumaran and Jayasurya were associated with Classmates.
- What
- Classmates became the 2006 Onam winner after outperforming four superstar-led films and becoming a cultural phenomenon.
- When
- The film was released on August 25, 2006; the other listed releases followed during the next week.
- Where
- The film is set largely in a Kerala college and was shot mostly at CMS College, Kottayam; its reported reunion influence spread across Kerala.
- Why
- Its layered story about friendship, romance, campus politics, mystery and nostalgia resonated with audiences.
The Film’s Strengths
The Film’s Limitations
Representation of campus life
The Film’s Strengths
The film was praised for presenting campus politics, friendship and student life in a layered and relatable way rather than focusing only on romance.
The Film’s Limitations
The article notes that the film includes misogynistic elements, including body-shaming and sexist remarks directed at Tara in its early scenes.
Impact beyond the box office
The Film’s Strengths
Its nostalgia and emotional story reportedly inspired college reunions across Kerala and made it a cultural phenomenon.
The Film’s Limitations
The article presents this impact as a result of audience nostalgia, while also noting that the film’s appeal was tied to recreating an idealized past.
- Director
- Lal Jose
- Writer
- James Albert
- Release date
- August 25, 2006
- Reported earnings
- Rs 24 crore, according to Onmanorama
- Major competing releases
- Bhargavacharitham Moonam Khandam, Mahasamudram, The Don and Pathaaka
- Near-surpassed film
- Rajamanikyam, reported at Rs 25 crore
- Primary shooting location
- CMS College, Kottayam