Kerala Varma Pazhassiraja

This movie is a historical biopic. Since I don't really know about this historic character, I will just review the movie as a story, though I understand it will be limiting and not really do full justice to the movie.

It's the story of a prince who stood against the Britishers to save parts of modern day Kerala from their enslavement. To defend Kottayam and surrounding areas against Tipu Sultan, Pazhassiraja joins army with Britishers while his fellow kings run away. After the victory, britishers levy ncreasingly higher taxes in farmers resulting in social uproar. the taxman appointed by Britishers is a former aide of Pazhassiraja and he (Chandu) commits atrocities under Pazhassiraja's name. Britishers attack Pazhassiraja's palace, seize his property and wealth forcing him to run away.

Pazhassiraja along with his trusted army chief starts gathering army to fight against the britishers. He is joined by the tribal chief and his wife along with their armies. The rest of the movie is Pazhassiraja's resistance against Britishers and Chandu's evil plans to defeat him.

While I am not a great fan of period movies, I must say that this movie is quite commendable. Remember Jodha Akbar with super ornate and glamorous sets, melodrama by everyone at the drop of a hat - this movie is exact opposite. Extremely simple and realistic sets depicting the era.And of course Mammoottywith his superb performance. With every movie that I watch, I realize the finesse with which Mammootty acts. Rest of the cast is also good except maybe for the actors playing the Englishmen. They are slightly clueless and abrupt.

Slightly slow, but then it is expected of a period movie. It is M T Vasudevan Nair's script and thus worth watching just for that.

Even if you dont know this part of history, it is worth a watch and I would say that bollywood contemporaries can definitely take a page or two (actually the whole book with a version for dummies) from Hariharan (Director) and the rest of the crew on how to make period movies.

The DVD is available with subtitles with MoserBaer - Kerala Varma Pazhassiraja

Do Watch.

Naan Ee (Tamil) / Eega (Telugu)

Literally meaning " I am a fly", Naan Ee or Eega is nothing you would have seen ever before.

Sudeep, a wealthy businessman who is also a womanizer, has his eyes set on a girl who came to him for donation for her charity. Bindu is a simple girl who runs a school and does micro-art, i.e. carving rice, pencil tips etc. Nani is the boy next door who is completely in love with her for two years now. Bindu while playing hard to get also likes him.

When Sudeep realizes that Bindu is completely oblivious to his advances because of Nani, he kills Nani. Now comes the most exciting part. In a Harry Potter-esque turn of events, Nani's soul latches onto the living object in sight, which happens to be fly eggs. And Nani is reborn as a fly...

He ends up with Sudeep and instantly recognizes him as the killer. Rest of the story is his revenge against Sudeep and his bid to protect Bindu from his amorous advances.

I would say its a feat for Indian cinema for the absolutely fantastic execution of this fantasy drama. The animation is superb. The way it's woven with the rest of the story is remarkable. There are literally no loose ends and after the first twenty minutes the movie is very fast past paced. Compared to other recent sci-fi / fantasy stories like Ra.One, 7th Aum Arivu etc.  Eega is ahead by miles both in story, creativity and execution.

Sudeep (Sudeep) and Samantha (Bindu) have both done a good job. Sudeep especially plays the villain tormented by a fly without much melodrama. though the true hero of the story, needless to say is the "Eega" ;)

I saw the movie without subtitles and really enjoyed.

Must Watch.

Spatikam (Prism)

Finally Two years after I bought the movie I finally saw it.

The movie is a story of a real life rowdy called "Aadu Thomas", played by Mohanlal. Let me first start with the name of the movie, I absolutely love the fact that many Malayalam movies have well thought out names ( contrast that too the barrage of names with pyar mohabbat dil etc. in Bollywood ). It's a simple story with no shenanigans. Son of an acclaimed Math teacher, Thomas runs away from home at an early age, unable to bear the atrocities of his strict father who wants him to become a math scholar. He returns many years later, still unaccepted by his father, ends up becoming a rowdy almost revered by the people he helps. A corrupt police officer makes life miserable for Thomas and most of the movie is his rebellion against the system.

What's interesting about the movie is the way it weaves the friction between the father and the son as a backdrop amidst all the action.

While the story is simple, the storytelling is fast paced and interesting. Without much melodrama, Mohanlal gives a superbly restrained performance and carries the entire movie on his shoulder. And of course it stars the original Silk Smitha ;)

Watch it like you are reading a short story.

The DVD is available with Moser baer with subtitles - Moserbaer - Spatikam

Can Watch.