Sairat (Wild)

So, I am adding another language to my Woods 😊

Though I have seen some Marathi and a lot of Bengali movies, but never got down to writing their reviews. So here I am kicking off my Marathi cinema review with Sairat.

Essentially a love story, Sairat is an experience not easily defined within the confines of a traditional love story. Apart from the Shakespearean classics and our very own Laila Majnu and the likes, there are very few modern-day movies which are a love story end-to-end.

Set in a small Maharashtrian village, Sairat is a story of a Dalit boy and an upper caste girl. It begins with Parshya and his two friends – Pradeep and Sallya who are going on about their lives, playing cricket, helping their parents, swimming in the local bawdi and stealing stolen glances at their crushes. Sallya is the most practical of the three, Prdaeep who limps a bit has a crush on the local kirana store’s daughter and Parshya is besotted with Archana or Archi, the local upper caste politician’s daughter.

The innocence and headiness of a teenage romance, exchanging notes, shared jokes, dreams and longing. Now, most of the movies we see dealing with this border on inane or flippant. Even the good ones. While others which are set in the backdrop of caste struggle become gruesome or dark. Not Sairat though. Even while I say the movie is a love story through and through – it deals with subtle yet powerful undercurrents. First and most obvious of which is the class difference – in the hesitance with which Parshya’s mother gives Archi water to drink, or how the politician’s son “Prince” slaps the professor who dares question him. The second and less obvious is the gender stereotype – here we have a girl with the power and privilege normally accorded to men of her class. She drives around in a bullet, commands the boys around her, protests for the menace that her brother is, takes the lead in declaring her love for the Parshya. Even stands up for Pradeep, who is ridiculed by all his friends for limping.  

The third undercurrent was almost Nietzsche-esque acceptance of fate – in the way Parshya’s father disowns him in front of the village, or how Pradeep lets go of his love after a few days or how Sallya states the obvious when he warns Parshya of the class difference, even in the way Prince and his goons boss around and beat up Parshya and his friends. I firmly believe that the way director Nagraj Manjule has captured the inanity of day-today life is what gives this movie its mass appeal and makes it stay with you long after you have watched it.

The brilliance of Nagraj Manjule also shines in how he steals little moments from the movie and

gives them a life of their own. I especially liked the bit where Pradeep thinks his girl has passed him a love note and kicks the crumpled piece of paper out of view till he can open it in solitude. It’s like one of those one-minute movie. Complete on its own. Or how Parshya manages to get his first love letter to Archi after many rejections. It’s poetic.

The music is also noteworthy and the songs take the movie forward in a unique way. From giving both Parshya and Archi, their singles while they accept their love to giving them a duet once its acknowledged. I also liked how once the movie takes a dark turn, there’s no song and hardly any background music.

Once Parshya and Archi are caught by their parents, they have no alternative but to run away. They end up in Hyderabad (I think, or some city in AP or Telangana) completely lost and bereft. With the help of a woman, who came to the city in similar circumstances they find a place to live and jobs.

Here we see the various layers of the character of Archi played by the brilliant Rinku Rajguru (It’s hard to believe that this is her first movie). Unlike Parshya, she comes from a wealthy family and has never lived in such wanting circumstances. From the dust, the stench of sewage, dirty public bathrooms, to inability to cook or clean or to do anything that help you survive. From a boisterous, confident young woman we see her become a quite lonely girl in the slum. When striped of the power which comes with wealth and caste, she doesn’t quite know how to find her voice.

Then she gets a job in the bottling plant, learns Telgu, makes friends with the local girl, finds her feet and in the process, herself. Rinku Rajguru plays the character as if it was written for her, or better still as if it’s her own life. Even better than Highway’s Alia.

Akash Thosar as Parshya lacks depth but together they make it work. Tanaji Balgunde as Pradeep or langdya also deserves a special mention.

All this build up, the pace, the story leading to the eventual heart wrenching end. The second half is as realistic as it can get, almost like a documentary. You see why this movie had to be made.

While I will try to get my hands on a subtitled version of Fandry, I can’t wait to see Nagraj Manjule’s next.

Brilliant direction, script and performances.

Must Watch.

Kariyilakkattu Pole (Like a Zephyr of Dry Leaves)

Even before I start writing anything about the movie, I want to confess that I am in love with the name of the movie. It is like reading the first line of a Kamala Das or Amrita Pritam poem. And it becomes even more sublime when you consider the fact that the movie is not a sufiana ode of love and longing, it is a crime\mystery\thriller.

Mystery dramas are my guilty pleasure. I read and re-read Agatha Christie, Feluda, Sherlock Holmes etc. like a maniac. I watch all mystery shows on TV and movies of this genre. Lack of good mysteries (and not crime\thriller) in Bollywood movies is my constant source of consternation.

Thankfully Malayalam movies come in handy. The fabulous CBIseries, Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathira Kolapathakathinte Katha (Amidnight murder story). Add to these Mammootty and Mohanlal starrer Kariyilakkattu Pole. I could not guess the killer till the very end :)

The movie starts with the dead body of a noted film writer and director Harikrishna (Mammootty) at his cottage where he retreats while writing. DSP Achuthankutty (Mohanlal) is assigned to investigate the murder. The investigation team finds various clues at the crime scene, all of which point to the fact that a woman had committed the crime.

The only problem is that it is soon revealed that there are at least three women who had a grudge against Harikrishna in addition to the fact that he was an incorrigible womanizer.

I always hesitate when I write about a murder mystery because, I don’t want to give away any indication about the killer. In this case, all the three women seem to have a strong motive for murder and each of them is hiding something during the investigation.

All the actors in the movie have given excellent performances. The ambiguity of Mammootty’s character where you never know his true intentions, the calm yet commanding demeanour of Mohanlal and the shroud of secrecy surrounding the characters of Karthika, Sripriya and Unni Mary will have you riveted to your seat.

P. Padmarajan who wrote and directed the film has kept the movie fast paced and editing crisp where every moment takes the story forward.

For those who love this genre, you will not be disappointed.

Do Watch.

Molly Aunty Rocks

I had seen this movie some years ago, but for some reason never wrote the review. Probably one of those days of slumber and inanity in Mumbai.

Anyways, I vaguely remembered enjoying the movie and decided to see it again. Prithviraj after all does add to the temptation.

Molly Aunty rocks! As is evident from the name is the story of Molly Aunty played by Revathi. She lives with her husband and two daughters in US but for past two years is in Kerala, working in the bank. All indications show that she has some financial trouble and is trying to raise money by breaking her FDs and selling ancestral property. The feisty, fearless and witty character of Molly is what lends colour to this movie. From insisting on doing everything herself, bargaining even for the smallest things and doing what she wants, Revathi gives a very entertaining performance.

One fine day, Molly gets a notice from the IT department for tax dues worth 30K. When she goes to the IT department to clarify, a corrupt officer asks her for a “gift” of 15K to make the matter go away. She rebukes the officer and later files a police complaint against him.

Within a few days, to her surprise, Molly gets another IT notice this time with due amount almost 10 Lacs. Enraged, she goes to meet the assistant commissioner Pranav Roy (Prithviraj). He comes across as an egotistical, powerful, abrasive officer and completely justifies the tax amount.

Over the course of time, Pranav and Molly have several altercations, involving even family and church to mediate. Finally, Molly’s husband comes back from US and hires a lawyer.

Amidst all this, while Molly and her husband keep on insisting that they do not have any money. The lawyer sets about to find what happened to the money that Molly got from sale of ancestral land, FDs etc.

The matter is finally resolved between Molly and Pranav in a surprising revelation.

There are few actors in today’s generation as versatile as Prithviraj and he does full justice to the part of a young officer slightly heady with power.

The movie is feel good, entertaining and fast paced. Having said that, this is not something that will remain with you after you finish watching. 

Direction and editing are crisp with enough comic relief and no melodrama.

Can Watch.

Vadakkumnadhan

It’s exciting to get back to a Mohanlal movie after such a long time. He is after all my all-time favourite actor.

Vadakkumnadhan is the story of Bharathan (Mohanlal), who is an acclaimed scholar of Sanskrit and Vedas. He is a professor and engaged to Meera (Padmapriya) who is also his student. Just before his wedding day, Bharathan starts behaving strangely. He walks out of an award function, resigns from university, burns his books and hits his fiancé. Ignoring it as an aberration from his otherwise calm demeanor, the family goes ahead with the wedding as planned.

On the wedding day, Bharathan disappears, presumably to witness Kumbh Mela. A year later, a sage comes back from Himalayas, carrying his ashes. The whole family, including Meera are heartbroken.

Five years later, when the family is visiting Haridwar on a pilgrimage, they are reunited with Bharathan. Then unravels the story of Bharathan's strange behavior and his disappearance.

There is an element of suspense in the movie and the build up to that is quite gripping. The director leaves you guessing as to why a learned, well-mannered and kindhearted man would disappear without any reason.

Unfortunately, for me unraveling of the mystery wasn’t quite as powerful as the built-up. For a moment, I almost thought that the director must be inspired by Tarkovsky’s Sacrifice.

It’s an interesting movie still, and Mohanlal has done justice to the role he plays which brings to light the duality of his character. Padmapriya while there doesn’t really add much to the story or to the movie.

First half is quite well directed and fast paced, though the movie does succumb to a little melodrama and introduction of an unnecessary villain. I also feel the director couldn't decide the genre of the movie - drama or romance or suspense.

Still worth a watch.

Can Watch.

How Old Are You

For those who do not know about Manju Warrier or haven’t seen her movies, I will recommend to immediately do some googling. She is one of the finest actors of our times. Her movies never disappoint.

“How Old Are You” is a story of a UD Clerk, Nirupama Rajeev. Nirupama, is a woman going about her life nonchalantly. She is a mother of a fourteen-year-old daughter, living with her husband and in-laws. Life has no interests beyond the clerical job and taking care of the family. Aimless and dreamless, Nirupama exists.

The husband, Rajeev (Konchako Boban) is fed up of his wife whose sole preoccupation is what to cook for breakfast. He gets a chance to go to Ireland and applies for a visa making it abundantly clear that he will not be able take Nirupama, unless she gets herself a job. Unfortunately, Nirupama is unable to get one. Meanwhile, The President of India visits Kerala and Nirupama’s daughter gets a chance to ask him a question. The president is impressed wants to meet the person who taught her this, and that person turns out to be Nirupama. She is all set to meet the President for breakfast. Unfortunately, with all the hype, the meeting doesn’t go well and Nirupama becomes the laughing stock of social media.

Amongst all the chaos, Rajeev leaves with Lakshmi (the daughter) for Ireland, telling Nirupama that he doesn’t trust her upbringing.

Meanwhile, Nirupama’s college friend, Susan David manages to find he through all the social media hype and visits her. She reminds Nirupama of the dreamer that Nirupama was in college and encourages her to find that aspect of her life once again.

Nirupama has on organic terrace garden which gets noticed and she gets to supply organic vegetable for a 2000 people marriage. How she finds her determination and resolve and becomes an ideal for her daughter as well as the world, is the basic story of the movie.

Roshan Andrrews (also directed Udayananu Tharam) , the director of the movie has done a superb job in telling a tale of a woman caught in the social mores and the expectations of the world from her. A subtle and yet powerful depiction of how a woman can lose her self-respect and forget what she is capable of, because people around her treat her like a condiment. It’s not a lecture in feminism. It’s about a person believing in themselves to leave their mark on this world. The film also remains relatively fast paced and doesn’t succumb to melodrama or histrionics at any point.

And what a comeback movie for Manju Warrier. She has played the part to perfection. All kudos to her for not letting the film become a cliché.

A perfect watch for a slow weekday.

Do Watch.

Ustad Hotel

I have ignored this blog for a long time. Reasons both actual and imaginary had me convinced I didn’t have enough time to do this. Well, what to say, I miss this and there’s always time J

After my long hiatus, the first movie I saw was something I had been waiting to see for quite a while – “Ustad Hotel” starring Thilakan, Dulquer Salmaan and Nithya Menen in the lead.

I haven’t really seen any other Indian movie about food, and I love all the English ones I have seen, from Chocolat to Chef, No reservations and even Woman on Top (with the long-lost Penelope Cruz). So naturally, I was quite excited to see Ustad Hotel. It’s a story of a young guy “Faizi” who wants to be a chef dishonouring his father’s long standing dream to see him do an MBA and run a five-star hotel in Dubai (Awww so many clichés in one sentence).

Born to Abdul Razzaq, who migrated to Dubai, leaving his pregnant wife with four daughters only to find out that the fifth child was a much-awaited boy (and they keep on coming, them clichés). The wife dies and the father brings the four girls to run his kitchen and to bring up the boy (aint that the only thing girls are born to do) to Dubai. Well the kid grows up and is only passionate about one thing in life “food”, so skilfully depicted in the film as he twirls the ladle, rolls the dough and flips some cutlets all while his loving sisters cut vegetables and give him soulful approving looks. And now, our hero has a choice of colleges and countries (UK or US) to choose for his MBA. Lo behold, he discovers a third country called Switzerland and dupes his father to go to a cookery school. Trust me, his father never saw the name of the school even while paying the college dues.

The prodigal son returns, to be informed that he is gonna get married off to finalize a business deal. Our naïve “swiss trained”, “job in London” chef goes on to meet the girl even while his firang girlfriend back in London is waiting to put a down payment on a London apartment. The girl (sensibly so) turns down the proposal on discovering, he is a chef or cook.

Father is mad, takes away his passport, uncle smuggles him back to India to his grandfather who owns the best Biryani restaurant aka hotel in Kozhikode. Grand pa wants to teach the kid humility or business or God knows what but makes him run around carrying rice sacks, cleaning tables, making deliveries etc. Finally, he gramps shows some pity and gets Faizi a job at the adjacent five-star hotel.

The story is now how he impresses the fusion food toting Paris chef, charms the staff at ustad hotel and rekindles the friendship with the same girl from Dubai his father wanted him to marry. It’s just gulf, we don’t need an explanation of how the girl turns up India and becomes a rock chic.

Anyways, Faizi turns around the hotel, saving it from the clutches of an evil banker and hotel tycoon.

And now, the final lesson awaits.

This swiss trained chef has learnt how to cook but now needs to learn why he cooks…dah. Gramps in a dramatic turn of events is in the hospital with a mild attack and sends Faizi to Madurai. There he meets up with another chef who was once with “Taj”. Now, he runs his own kitchen to feed the needy and the old. Just like that Faizi gets inspired and drops his plan for a job abroad, to manage and run the Ustad Hotel.

All's well that ends well.

I know, I know, I write reviews, not rant for the lack of any creativity is some movies I have seen recently.

But unfortunately for Ustad hotel, I saw it on the heels of Jolly LLB 2 (that’s a saga-esque rant for another day). For once, I was hoping Ustad Hotel will turn out to be a movie extolling the younger generation for believing their dreams and taking up their passions even those involving being a world class chef. But the scriptwriter, director, producer just couldn’t let that happen, could they?

There is a moral to be told. Some lesson to be learnt. Everything is not about money or being the best at what you do. Nah nah nah…unless you are saving the humanity, getting rid of hunger and (wait for it….) world peace….

Dulquer Salmaan, has no expression…movie begins and ends and I am not even sure I registered him. Had to google multiple times before figuring out who he is (and to my surprise he is in O Kadhal Kanmani). Nithya Mennon hardly had any screen time. Thilakan is the only one who did justice to his role. A man who has been there, done that and figured life. No wonder every time he looked soulful there was a trio of Sufi dancers in the background. Seriously, the director needs to know (Anwar Rasheed), the audience really doesn’t need to be spoon fed to that level. (This reminds me, I must write about La La Land)

So in short, movie begins with a promise, however clichéd, but fails miserable in the second half.

Don’t waste your time.

Do skip.

(On a separate note, if any Bollywood wallahs want to adapt this, with minor modifications, and a better cast, it can be an entertainer.)

Pranchiyettan & the Saint

I have been a little disillusioned with movies in the recent times. Nothing worthwhile to watch... I mean every time I switch on the TV, I can just somehow manage to watch a record breaking ten minutes of “Chennai Express” before I switch the channel and that is the biggest hit of the year. And so while I have all the time in the world yet no will to watch any movie.

So after long I picked up this Mammootty movie and I must say it was an excellent movie to watch. There is no one like Ranjith to take the simplest of tales (he does that to complex ones as well ;)) and transform them into a story which tugs all you the strings of your heart, Nandanam being a classic example.

But not to divert - Pranchiyettan & the Saint is a beautiful tale of an uneducated, highly successful businessman with a golden heart. His only wish is that people should look at him with the same respect as they would give to an educated person. Even though he donates to all kinds of causes, he never gets the social status he so desires. He tries all tactics from running for presidency of a local club to donating to political parties and temple festivals but most outrageous of all, tries to buy Padma Sri for himself as he is conned into thinking, it is up for sale - all with hilarious outcomes.

Then enter Padmashri (Priyamani) and a boy who is failing in exams and with a tragic life and everything changes.

While the story might seem ordinary, what makes this story extraordinary is superlative acting of Mammootty and beautiful direction by Ranjith.

The movie has its comic moments and is very light hearted but still keeps you glued to the screen. I personally don’t think great stories or movies have to be necessarily complex tales with tragedy and complex emotions. Some of the best movies are simplest characters played honestly and the most mundane of tales told well.

Mammotty is par excellence and great storytelling by Ranjith.

Do Watch.

4 The People

Well! let me first talk about the story before I write the actual review.

It is a story about four young college students who come together to start a revolution of sorts in the country. They start a website where people can post complaints about corrupt officials, crimes and other unlawful activities and these young men take action against them by cutting off the criminal’s hand.

So, of course the police and politicians are up in arms against them and a young officer is brought in to nab these guys. He after a lot of hits and misses finally manages to nab them.

Now there is a girlfriend of one of the guys, some vague story about their families which tries to explain their inspiration for this venture etc.

There are some movies where the plot has some potential, unfortunately there are way too many gaping holes in this movie. Story is shoddy, background score even worse. I did not like the music at all and it was out of place in the movie, but I understand it was a hit when the movie was released. There is no logic to the script and the script writer forgot that he needs to establish some strong characters before telling a powerful story. I don’t think this can even be called a story because it is way too disjointed.

The only decent job acting-wise was done by the Narain (as Rajan Mathew, IPS). Rest of the cast don’t deserve a mention.

I literally saw the movie in fast forward.

Don’t waste your time with this one.

The movie is available with subtitles with AP International and it was dubbed in Tamil and Telugu as well. 

Do skip.

Nerariyan CBI

(An unnatural story told in a natural way)

I am always nervous when I write a review for a mystery. You have to tell a story without actually telling it. This movie is murder mystery, fourth in the sequence of investigative thrillers starring Mammootty as a CBI officer.

The story starts with four friends spending a day at the ancestral estate of one of the friends. The estate has a worship room which has been locked and is considered cursed. During the night one of the girls not related to the family is found dead outside her bedroom near a staircase. Her death is written off as supernatural and the case is frozen. Four years later a young IPS officer, fiancé of one of the girls contacts his superior Sethurama Iyer (Mammoottyy) to solve this case which has been troubling him.

Sethurama Iyer, relooks at the fundamentals which the police at the time of enquiry ignored. His investigation reveals a story about almost all the family members, all of whom could have had a motive for killing the girl.

What I liked about the movie is that like a typical “Agatha Christie” novel it has you guessing till the end. The movie is sufficiently fast paced without being melodramatic (except the background music every time Mammootty comes onscreen). It has enough twists and turns to confuse you and keep you riveted.

I personally love murder mysteries and all sort of detective thrillers.

Direction and editing are crisp and Mammoottyy plays the suave, persuasive yet firm CBI officer brilliantly.

A pleasant break from dull romances and run of the mill stories.

The movie is available with Moser Baer with subtitles.

Do Watch.

Sallapam

While many people might classify this movie as a love story, I would say that this is a woman’s story, who in spite of very adverse circumstances knows how to live life and fight for it too.

Radha (Manju Warrier) is a young girl who has been working as a servant maid cum companion to Padmini (Bindu Panicker) and her two kids. Padmini’s husband works in some Arab country and sends money regularly. Radha’s father is a drunkard who went chasing some actress, while her mother committed suicide on rail tracks. She was brought up by her aunt and her son Divakaran (Manoj K Jayan). Divakaran is a railway employee and sort of a rowdy whom the people fear. It is understood that Radha will marry Divakaran when time comes.

Radha is very fond of music but never gets a chance to learn and sing because the upper class land lady and her daughter keep her out of the school. A village fest is being organized and Sasikumar aka junior Yesudas (Dileep) is being called to perform. While still very young, he is a beautiful singer and needs a female voice to accompany him on stage. As luck would have it, he hears Radha and chooses her. Later Radha discovers that Sasi is actually a carpenter who along with his uncle is doing some repairs at Padmini’s house. They start talking and get closer.

Meanwhile, Padmini’s husband comes back from “The Arab” and desires Radha. Padmini on discovering that tells Divakaran to take Radha with him and arrange for their marriage quickly. Divakaran and Padmini are unaware of Radha’s affection for Sasi.

Radha declares her love for Sasi and runs away to his house only to discover that Sasi and his family live in abject poverty and Sasi could never support her. She also runs to Padmini for help who knowing her husband’s character is unable to help Radha. Completely distressed, Radha contemplates suicide but Divakaran stops her telling that he will take care of her no matter what.

While the story may not be great there are a couple of points I feel need to be highlighted here especially in light of the current debate on women’s portrayal in Indian cinema. 

• There are no black and whites in the world. Fighting is not always the right path. Survival is.
• While Padmini is a housewife completely dependent on her husband, on learning his evil intentions for Radha, she is mature enough to not blame that innocent girl but take measures to ensure her safety. Also leaving the man, while bold decision, might not have been feasible for her and her children, but she has not been shown weak even for a second. She makes her displeasure apparent to her husband.
•  Radha, an innocent village belle who constantly looks over her shoulder while walking on desolate roads for eve teasers, does not fail to destroy a ruffian’s cycle but has the sense to run away on sensing danger. While dependent on Divakaran, she also has the courage to stand up for her love and not give in to forcibly marrying him.

All in all, a woman’s strength is not in pretending that the streets are safe and men are angels, but knowing when to stand up for one’s rights and dignity and when to flow with circumstances. Not every battle has to be fought. The trick is to know which one to fight.

I would say “Do Watch” for sensible portrayal of women in seemingly simple day-to-day stories.

Kudos to Manju Warrier for a simple yet stunning performance.

The DVD is available with Moser Baer with subtitles. 

Hallo

Hallo is to Mohanlal, what Dabangg2 is to Salman Khan…story that could have been…moments that could have been…bad music…wasted actors…relying solely on out of place antics of a star…

I do know Dabangg2 will break a lot of box office records this year and from what I understand Hallo did as well.

Anyways here goes…

Shivaraman (Mohanlal), a lawyer by profession is now an unabashed alcoholic blaming his parents and brother, a police officer for the untimely demise of his lover.

Parvathi (Parvathi Menon) is the daughter of an extremely wealthy Marwari. Her family members apparently are after her life and she is trying to escape their clutches. Unfortunately she is kidnapped, but somehow manages a phone call which connects her to Shivaraman. He figures out the hideout by recognizing the ‘bar’ sign Parvathi describes and rescues the damsel in distress. Rest of the movie is a tussle between Shivaraman and Parvathi’s family. I can now write about tons of loopholes in the plot and absolutely silly story…but I am not going to waste my time doing it.

Music is as bad as it can get. Direction and editing don’t deserve a mention. Mohanlal looks ridiculous doing those antics and Parvathi Menon looks like a bimbo and acts like one for good measure.

DVD is available with Moser Baer with subtitles - Hallo

Do Skip.