Dakshayani Biscuit Factory to Thamarakshan Pillai Bus: Fictional brand names from Malayalam films that have attained iconic status in pop culture

Malayalam cinema is known for its rich storytelling that goes beyond characters and plots. While supporting characters outshining the rest might be a common occurrence, have you ever heard of objects or even fictional brand names attaining superstardom? Well, let us introduce you to some fictional brand names used in Malayalam films that attained cult status! From Dakshinani Biscuit Factory to Thamarakshana Pilla bus, here’s a list of fictional brand names that have left a lasting impact on audiences!

Priyadarshan’s film ‘Mithunam’ revolves around a broke newlywed young man and his life. His dreams of becoming an entrepreneur with his Dakshayani Biscuit Factory take center stage in the movie. Just like one of the characters in the movie says, Dakshayani is considered a Malayali name popular in the 1960s and 70s and isn’t really appealing for the biscuit factory. However, the protagonist’s sentiments towards the name result in naming the factory. Dakshayani Biscuit Factory has reached a cult status that it has become a phrase of sorts for Malayalis!

The 2001 film ‘Ee Parakkum Thalika’ revolves around a bus named Thamarakshan Pillai, which is named after the protagonist Unnikrishnan’s father. The old bus is in fact the central character of the movie. From being the sole reason for traffic jams in the city to getting a ‘leafy’ makeover to becoming a rented bus for a wedding, Thamarakshan Pillai exhibited exceptional performance even by being a non-living non-actor!

What would happen when a young man runs out of one-liners to impress a woman who works as a copywriter at an advertising agency? Well, you create a fake company, and ask for her expertise for a micro ad! Unnikrishnan from the 1989 film ‘Vandanam’ lies that he has a food unit manufacturing jam named Gadha. And asks the woman Gadha her opinion on whether “I love you… Gadha” would suit the brand!

Directed by Ranjith Sankar, ‘Punyalan Agarbattis’ tells the story of a young entrepreneur named Joy Thakkolkaran, who has an Agarbatti production unit named Punyalan. Punyalan Agarbattis produces incense sticks from elephant dung. The film travels through the struggle of the entrepreneur to run the factory.

The acclaimed film ‘Pranchiyettan & the Saint’ has a successful businessman named Cherammal Francis aka Prachi as the protagonist. Pranchi’s firm Cherammal Gold and its advertisements have a significant impact on pop culture. The humour behind the boastful businessman remains eternal.