Beating concepts like superstars and big budgets that dominate filmdom, a bunch of young people in Malabar region in Kerala [Images] are proving themselves as directors and actors in their own right through 'home cinema,' which runs 'housefull' before family audiences.

CDs of home cinemas, produced on shoestring budgets and mostly dealing with social and emotional issues, now have a wide audience in the northern districts of Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kannur, Palakkad and Kasaragod.

The culture of home cinema in the state originated in Malappuram, where thousands of CDs are now being distributed. Such films also command good markets in other parts of Malabar area and the Gulf, where millions of Malayalees work.

Like mainstream cinema, home cinema also faces the problem of piracy, which is proof enough of the growing popularity of such works, says Salam Kodiyathur, director from Malappuram, who can be called the founder of the movement.

"We have a serious approach to cinema and every work for the making of our films is done by professionals. Though all films do not fetch profit, we get due return for our hard work in terms of money and satisfaction," Salam told PTI. The number of viewers of home cinema had crossed lakhs over the years, he said. Salam made his first film Ningalenne Bhranthanakki (You made me a madman) in 1999, an adaptation of his own play by the same title.

He did go 'mad' at the first attempt as it resulted in heavy loss, but he learnt the ABC of film-making in the process.