Similarly, the treatment of masculinity has evolved. In Kumbalangi Nights , the "toxic masculinity" embodied by the character Shammi is not celebrated but diagnosed as a symptom of a decaying patriarchal order. The film offered a new model of manhood—one that is vulnerable, brotherly, and comfortable with failure. This nuanced portrayal of men is perhaps why Malayalam stars like Fahadh Faasil and Nivin Pauly have become pan-Indian icons; they represent real men, not infallible gods.