In the golden era of Malayalam cinema (2010–2020), few films achieved the cult status of Charlie . Directed by Martin Prakkat and written by the Unni R.–Martin Prakkat duo, the 2015 film starring Dulquer Salmaan and Parvathy Thiruvothu was a visual poem. It redefined the road movie genre in India, with its psychedelic frames, soulful music by Gopi Sundar, and a narrative about two eccentric souls searching for meaning.