The first time we see Mohanlal and Mammootty on screen in director Fazil’s Harikrishnans (1998) is after the 15-minute mark. The first act is over, and the inciting incident has taken place. Up until that point, we don’t hear their characters’ names even in passing. In fact, the opening act almost makes one wonder if it’s a children’s film, as it revolves solely around Ammalu ( Shamlee ), an 11-year-old girl who has arrived in Ponnur for vacation, and her friends. But that’s the brilliance of Fazil, one of the most daring commercial filmmakers in Malayalam cinema history. He never took the beaten path, nor did he follow formulas. While others desperately tried to replicate his films, believing they could use the same ingredients and cook up hits, he simply kept doing his job and (unknowingly) led the way.…