Saturday, May 29, 2010

Bhramaram

The movie tells the story of a simple jeep driver Sivan Kutty (Mohanlal) who is convicted of killing a classmate in school. After his release 21 years later, he changes name and his family moves to a different village to settle. Rid of the past, he is happily married with a new identity and has a loving wife and daughter. The wife is blissfully unaware of the past. But the past catches up when she learns of the truth accidently. She leaves Sivan Kutty and goes to her parents place with their daughter. Distraught Sivan Kutty goes in search of his classmates who can prove that he is innocent and was falsely accused of a crime he did not commit.

In the city we see Sivan Kutty mysteriously appearing in the lives of Unni (Suresh Menon) and his wife and daughter. He tells his name is Jose and Unni is unable to place him in his class. Later on Unni realizes his true identity and feels threatened. This is actually the part of the film which is decently done where Unni feels terrorized by the presence of Sivan Kutty and tries to get rid of him. However Siva forces Unni to journey with him to tell his wife and daughter that it is not he who had committed the crime but Unni. From this point onwards the movie takes a turn for the worst and is irredeemable. The rest of the movie is Siva’s journey back to his hometown with Unni with a very predictable end.



I felt that the director was completely confused and could not decide what flavor to give to the movie. So while first half seems like an urban drama of a yuppy couple with a past, the second half seems a semi-horror film with a psychotic killer on loose. And if you have a star like Mohanlal in the movie you definitely have to throw in some absolutely uncalled for fighting sequences. The two halves actually seem like two different movies.

Mohanlal for his bit has acted well, but then that is accepted of a star of his caliber and then too this performance is nothing compared to his earlier movies. Rest of the actors are not even average and don’t even deserve a mention.

Overall the movie had a promising script and could have been a movie to be reckoned with but instead suffers with lack of coherence and dismal direction.

(Do Skip)

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Kalyanaraman

The movie is about a wedding planner. Ramankutty (Dileep) and his brother Achu (Lal) are wedding planners and take care of all aspects of a wedding from catering to pandals, decorations etc. At one such wedding of Thambi’s (Lalu Alex) daughter Radhika (Jyothirmayi), Ramankutty meets Gauri (Navya Nair) and likes her instantly. Unfortunately Radhika’s wedding is called of the night before the wedding because the groom loves someone else which leads to a lot of anguish as Radhika is dumb. Achu and Ramankutty seeing the bride get her married off to their younger brother Sivadas (Bobby Alumoodan) who is also a doctor. While Ramankutty likes Gauri, she seems interested in another guy Unni (Kunchako Boban) who is also a suave singer. After a lot of light hearted histrionics, Ramankutty realizes that Gauri is in love with him. The family easily agrees to their marriage. At the engagement in a kitchen accident, Radhika dies in a fire accident. Suspecting bad omen, Thambi consults a priest. The priest tells him that the groom’s family has a problem wherein all women in their family will die young and the family history corroborates. Thambi requests Ramankutty to call off the wedding. But Gauri learns the truth and tries to stop Ramankutty from leaving and meets with a serious accident. Her last wish is to get married to Ramankutty and he ties the knot in the hospital. Concurring fate against all odds, Gauri recovers and the couple live happily ever after.

Good time pass, nice comedy for lazy Sunday afternoons.

(Can Watch)

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Chocolate


A total masala entertainer which is a romantic comedy has emotions and drama and rebellion against tyrant dads.

The movie begins in a girl’s college in Kerala which is completing its 50 years and contemplating converting to a co-ed. Trio Anne Mathews (Roma), Nandana (Samvrutha) and Susan (Remya Nabeeshan) along with their friends plan on protesting against that move and sneak out in the middle of the night to put posters all over the college. Due to vociferous protests by the parents, finally management has to give in and maintain status quo. But there is one seat in post graduate course reserved for a boy. The dean decides to admit the son of one of the teachers. Shyam Balagopal (Prithviraj) is a troublesome good for nothing rogue who has been kicked out of nine colleges in three years for his rowdiness. After a lot of cajoling by his mother and friends who are excited by the thought of his attending a girl’s college, Shyam agrees to attend.

What follows is nothing short of war of the worlds between Anne and Shyam where they try to outsmart each other at every instance to some hilarious consequences like an incident with pads, Shyam using ladies restroom and Anne ragging him by making him wear a petticoat. Shyam is then approached by a young fashion designer, Renjith (Jayasurya) who wants Nandana to model for him but is rebuked by both Nandana and Anne. Shyam agrees to help him get closer to Nandana. Things between Anne and Shyam become better when Shyam helps Anne to defeat her arch rival Preetha in the college elections and becomes the first chairman of the student’s council. Soon they become close friends and start preparing for the youth festival.


Meanwhile Anne’s father is looking for a suitable groom and asks her to meet a guy. Anne brings Shyam along and they individually realize that they are in love but are unable to say to each other. During the rehearsals someone take pictures of Shyam and Nandana and sends to Nandana’s father who is a tyrant and disapproves of her talking to any guy. He then tries to beat up Shyam to disastrous end. Meanwhile everyone thinks that it’s Anne who sent the photographs to Nandana’s father. What follows is a fast paced roller coaster where all misunderstandings are cleared up and Nandana and Renjith get together. Finally in a dramatic ending during the play, Shyam professes his love for Anne and carries her off.


Fast paced, youthful, chirpy songs, crisp direction (directed by Shafi), good acting, total masala entertainment.

(Do watch)

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Bharatham

A story which will resonate in bits and pieces with every family, Bharatham is a movie par excellence. A story of two brothers, both exceptional singers and what can be called a version of sibling rivalry; or a story about rise and fall in life; or story of finding the escape from the burden of your own fears; or more importantly a story depicting the circle of life.


Nedumudi Venu is a well known Carnatic singer who with age takes to drinking. Soon it interferes with his singing to the extent he collapses on stage mid-performance. Mohanlal, the younger brother and apprentice takes the stage and soon wins over the audience for his powerful, soulful and creative singing. Nedumudi Venu unable to accept the backseat falls apart. What follows is a poignant tale of how he reconciles with his destiny. But that’s not all; there is a twist in the tale that tells you that while you may be mortal, life is eternal and times it’s not about choosing one over the other but simply that you must pass on what you got.

The movie is not just a story of two brothers but a moving tribute to art. The elder brother must pass on his art and blessing to the younger brother for the tradition to continue, but there is always personal ambition to account for and the film delicately delves on the dichotomy between the two. On the part of the prodigy, he must carry forward what he learnt but in the process he owes it to the teacher a debt which can never be repaid.



Mohanlal and Nedumudi Venu have given stellar performances and it will be easily one of the best roles of their lives. Very down to earth, no frills performance. It actually reminded me of a few Ingmar Bergman movies I have seen, similar to Vaanaprastham in its treatment. I will simply not have the right words to justify Mohanlal's performance. His dedication, his talent, his burden, his anguish and dilemmas stay with you. It’s as if he is a musician.

I definitely cannot end the review without mentioning the music. Though I do not really understand classical Carnatic music but I can tell you that the music stays with you.

Beautiful script, superb direction, stellar performances, brilliant music.

(Must Watch)

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Vellitherai (Silver Screen)

The first thing you feel on watching the movie is that of subtlety and subdued emotions. Nothing over the top. Even the satire on Indian Cinema is more realistic than the actual cinema.

Prithviraj and Prakash Raj again come together with superb movie about the movies. Prithviraj is an assistant director doing the rounds with his script to get a break as director while Prakash Raj is an aspiring actor. And the similarity ends in their struggle. While Prithviraj is a serious student of cinema and has studied the renowned actors and directors across the world, Prakash raj is nothing more than a street rogue all out for over the top performance and melodrama who is conniving and manipulative. He tricks Prithviraj and registers his script as his own and goes on to become a megastar. While Prithviraj dejected never really makes it after that.

Finally he also gets a script but every producer insists that Prakash Raj must star in it. What follows is a brilliant satire on cinema, what goes for talent and how stars become larger than life. Inspired by the legendary Eddie Murphy movie Bowfinger though.

I really like Prithviraj for restrained performance. Prakash Raj though has outdone himself yet again. Superb performance. And while he transforms from almost a street urchin to a superstar, you can see the subtleties in his character remain throughout.
Gopika who plays an actress and love interest of Prithviraj fills in for the character but doesn’t really deserve a special mention. Music leaves much to be desired.

Good direction, interesting script, superb performances.

(Do watch)

Friday, May 14, 2010

Abhiyum Naanum (Abhi and Me)

The reason I picked up the movie was because of Prakash Raj and Prithviraj. And of course Radha Mohan who directed Mozhi has also directed Abhiyum Naanum.

Loosely based on “Father of the Bride”, the plot follows Prakash Raj who narrates his experiences of raising a (now married) daughter to Prithviraj who has a young daughter. It takes you through the journey of a father watching his little girl grow up and move on in life to the point where he is no longer the only man in her life. It’s definitely a feel good movie with a delightful freshness and keeps you engaged. Though after a while I wanted the movie to rush to its predictable ending.



The script would have worked a bit better if it was little crisp in the second half. The groom and his family are a little over the top and unrealistic. I mean seriously at an instance the Prime Minister calls the groom to enquire about work.

Prithviraj is in a cameo. Prakash Raj has acted the part and I think he can carry off any role in any script without the associated melodrama. So he is fun to watch.
I particularly liked Aishwarya playing the mum. Trisha Krishnan fails to make an impact as the daughter though the girl who plays the kid “Abhi” is very lovable.

Overall a movie with better performances than script and direction which has its moments. Mediocre music.

(Can Watch)

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Mozhi (Language)…


Every person who has lived has a tale to tell. From shocking to amusing to melancholic to macabre. Many times in movies we blank out on all characters and their stories except the protagonist and the antagonist. Not in Mozhi though. The director has tastefully and beautifully woven the tales of people living in an apartment complex and while the story is about a girl learning to let go of the past and accepting life, others characters add life to the drama and take the story forward.

It’s a simple love story of a guy (Prithviraj as Karthik) who admires a girl (Jyothika as Archana) and falls in love with her. He then moves heaven and earth (no pun intended) to woo her and win her affection. The girl though happy to be friends is unable to look past her disappointments and fears and rejects him at every instance. Kitsch, I know. But what makes this story extraordinary is the treatment of the movie and the characters woven into the movie. Be it Viji (Prakash Raj) whose wit is unmatched playing the best friend of Karthik or the heart wrenching portrayal of Professor (MS Bhaskar) who is stuck in 1984.

The best bit is that the movie is made on a light hearted note and kudos to Prakash Raj for that. Jyothika portrays her character with finesse and no melodrama. In a particularly moving sequence you see her struggle, her anger and realize no words in any language can complete that emotion.

Cheers to the director (Radha Mohan) and the editor (M.Kasivishwanathan).

A little too many songs but I liked Kannal Pesum Penne, Katrin Mozhiye and Sevvanam Selaikatti.

Effervescent, delightful and memorable.

(Do watch)

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Manichitrathazhu (The Ornate Lock)



A poignant story of how our mind can trick us into believing anything and how our lives our shaped by the baggage of the past we carry. Dealt with subtlety, carefully etched out characters and realistic humor make the movie a must see.

For me this movie is one of the finest examples of what cinema is all about – engrossing two hours of complete entertainment.

A young couple (Suresh Gopi and Shobhana) move into their ancestral home and are plagued by small inexplicable accidents. Not attributing it to blind superstition and suspecting potential mental illness of one of his cousins (Vinaya Prrasad), Nakulan (Suresh Gopi) calls on his friend (Mohanlal as Dr. Sunny Joseph)who is a famous psychiatrist in America currently travelling in India. Mohanlal makes his appearance close to the interval and from then on movie takes the form of this thrilling psychodrama with brilliant twist in the tale.

The plot revolves around Dr. Sunny uncovering the source of the strange happenings at the mansion and helping the protagonist recover from her affliction. Mohanlal plays the character of slightly eccentric shrink with ridiculous histrionics which leaves you in splits. Though central to the movie the character is subdued and nowhere overshadows the movie.


This movie definitely belongs to Shobhana who plays the protagonist, for the portrayal of innocent, loving and simple Ganga and the fierce, passionate and revengeful Nagavalli. There is actually a scene in which she transforms from one character to another in front of Dr. Sunny which leaves you completely spellbound. Beautiful haunting music which will echo in your ears much after you are done watching the movie.

Fazil must be applauded on his superb direction, though there are one or two scenes which are on the verge of melodrama.

The success of the movie led it to be remade in almost all major the “woods” of Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali and finally Hindi. The DVD is available with subtitles at the leading stores.

(Must Watch)

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