Amen - Imprrressive Stuff!

Theatre: Gopalan Grand Mall, Bangalore
Show: 23-Mar-2013, 6:45 PM
Status: Around 90%

Does your head explode when someone mentions flatulence? Are you the elusive fairy who does not poop? If your answer to either or both the questions is yes, then its probably good for you to stay away from Amen. Sick of seeing an awesome movie get stick for a few harmless jokes. May be one joke too far, but if that sticks out in your head after 2:30 hours of sheer art, then I guess you should not be watching it in the first place.

Lijo has sculpted a beauty and he has raised his game several notches up from City of God, one of the best films in 2011. Though the film is thoroughly rooted in fantasy, you just feel that a such a village exist somewhere in the backwaters of Kerala. Characters never feel wooden with their own little quirks and agendas. Lijo has simply transformed the written script into a living and breathing entity. Pure magic. He has had ample support from the cameraman and art director. All three on top of their game and perfectly complimenting each other. I have never felt such a sync between the three since Thenmavin Kombathu.

Abinandhan Ramanujam has stormed his way into the top echelons of camera men with just one film. In a crowded space filled with superlative talent, he has made his indelible mark. Jaw dropping would be the word to use. To be honest, Amen would be the best work to showcase the beauty of Kuttanadu to the outside world. He has been adept not just in capturing the landscape, but the people as well.

Art director Bava deserves an applause for a terrific job. Props look perfect for the mood of the film and the setting feels authentic. I believe that the church is a set and hats off to him for giving a mystic feel to the church. The downside might be the relatively new drums, but since I am a stranger to drum technology, cannot comment more on that.

Screenplay and dialogues by P.S.Rafique is upto the mark most of the time. However, a tighter screenplay would have bolstered the film a little bit more. The story is something we have heard over the years in several avatars, but the treatment is fresh and unique. Amen reiterates the fact that a film is not dependent on the story, but the screenplay, treatment, and direction.

Fahad is impressive as Solomon. Yet another Solomon who would be remembered by Malayalam movie lovers. Indrajith did well as Vincent Vattoli, but I felt the character had a little more space for development. Swathy as Shoshanna was good barring minor lipsync issues. Aside from the main characters, the life of Amen resides with the supporting cast. Awesome work from Joy Mathew, Sunil Sukhada, Nandu, Makarand Deshpande, Rachana, Lijo regulars et all. The list is practically endless.

Music and BGM felt apt for the subject. Another good work Prashant Pillai. The romance track and the finale competition song stands out.

Amen is a one of a kind occurrence. Relish the film for such magic is seldom seen and never created.

TL;DR: Amen is an awesome experience. Go and watch unless you yearn for the regular, recycled schtick in Malayalam cinema.

Rating: Excellent

Red Wine - For the connoisseur

Theatre - Gopalan Grand Mall, Bangalore
Show - 9:45 PM, 23-March
Status - 90-95%

I guess Salam Bappu named the film as Red Wine because of the fact that the movie like Wine requires an acquired taste and like Wine it doesn't give you an immediate high.

The film is more of a drama centred around the lives of two people than an investigative thriller. The film centers around the psychology of a murder rather than the whodunnit aspect of it. Red Wine belongs to a thin pack of realistic police stories headed by Yavanika. Its fun to watch how the investigation unfurls and thankfully stays away from political cliche though there is enough scope for it in the story. On the topic of politics, its hard to find political identity even in political thrillers these days. Red Wine stays true to an ideology and its evident from the red signature throughout the film. Though not a fan of the left, respect for the director to stay true to his beliefs without antagonizing others.

Direction is good. The director has a good idea was to what his film must be. Some shots are really good. Script is decent to good. But a little more tighter screenplay would have done wonders to the film. Camera, editing etc are upto the mark. Camera work deserves a special mention in capturing the beauty of Wayanad. The tribal colony scenes are pretty colourful. BGM is good at places, but expected better from Bijibal.

Fahad easily steals the show as Comrade Anoop. Love the way he eases into yet another different role. Arguably, the best actor around on form. Asif Ali was good. He brought a level of believable vulnerability to the character. One of his better performances. Mohanlal had an almost extended cameo. Performance is par for the course. Nothing much to do for the actor, but the star certainly lifted the quality of the film and role. Good to see him in such a role in such a film. I hope Red Wine garners enough support from the audience so that he becomes more open into  doing more such roles. The girls did well in their limited roles. The romantic pairs had great chemistry. Meghna's character was an eyesore to be honest. Lots of potential, but seriously underwritten and thus feels unwanted. Saiju and Sudheer Karamana had good roles and they played the parts to perfection.

At the end of the day Red Wine leaves you with lingering thoughts about how rampant commercialization affects the lives of people and is devoid of human touch. At least it did for me.

TL;DR: Red Wine is a decent film that focuses on the psychology behind a murder rather than give you cheap thrills.

Rating: Good (3.25/5)

Netholi Oru Cheriya Meenalla - A Delicious Dish

Theatre - Innovative Multiplex, Bangalore
Show - 10-Feb-2012, 4:45 PM
Status - HF or nearly so

Its not everyday that you encounter movies like Natholi. Self-indulgent with a bold narrative. Rarely these kind of experiments work and when they do, its a treat. Natholi worked big time for me. Essentially a comedy-drama which would have been utterly forgettable had it been written and directed in a conventional fashion. Just another film. Perhaps a tad more successful financially.


Shankar Ramakrishnan has essentially written one of the more unconventional films to come out of our industry in a long time. He writes strong dialogues that could be mistaken for some thing that Ranjith, his mentor, wrote. He keeps a level ground even while dealing with fiction inside fiction. Sadly, there would be a large section of audience who needs to be spoon fed as to what is real and what is not. Preman is a well setup character and drives the movie on. Narendran is also the same. Prabha could have been a little more fleshed out. There are quite a few interesting characters popping all through out the film. Even the cameo by V.K.Sriraman stands out. He has etched out the underlying theme of class difference pretty well without being overt or preachy. Kudos to him for the final parts where he establishes that a person is responsible for his destiny and should not live a life harbouring hatred for those who are better off. Its really satisfying as a writer to see how the characters that you write take on a life of their own and you start to get feelings towards them.


V.K.P is on the mark with his frames as usual. I doubt there is a better director with the visual sense that he has. Not many eye popping moments ala Beautiful or Trivandrum Lodge, but still the entire movie is aesthetically pleasing. The pacing is excellent for a drama. The movie does not drag out anywhere and parts towards the climax is pretty well laid out. Only qualm is so how the epilogue panned out. Though amusing with a dig towards himself, it does not satisfy.


BGM is terrific and apt to the mood. Couple of songs provide the needed break from the drama and are very well shot. Camera work is upto mark and with excellent editing adding value to the product. Art direction is great as well. Captured the feel of how most of the supervisors live in a posh apartment complex.


Fahad Fazil does a terrific job as Preman/Narendran. After Annayum Rasoolum he establishes the fact that he is the best young actor around in any type of role. Preman is a delight to watch and is kind of a lead that we haven't seen in a very long time. Narendran is equally good with Fahad being in a familiar territory. Kamalini Mukherjee is pretty good. Lip syncs decently enough and a good fit as the older, single woman. Mukundan is a revelation in a short role. Hoping for more roles for him. Rima was good in a very short role. Pretty effective in spite of being an almost complete fictional character. Other actors did well. P. Balachandran has a short cameo that left you wanting more.


Netholi Our Cheriya Meenalla may not be your cup of tea if you are used to a film that is to the point and follows the typical commercial pattern. Try it if you want to see something that’s truly different.


TL;DR: Netholi is one of the more imaginative flicks to come out of Malayalam in a long time. Entertaining and unique.


Rating: Very Good.

Run Baby Run - When the master strikes!

Theatre - Innovative Multiplex, Bangalore
Show - 11:15 A.M, 1-Sep-2012
Status - FC - 25-30% Balcony - No idea, must be more than FC looking at the crowd.

I was optimistic about the film when the initial announcement came. The expectation reduced considerably after the romantic stills came out. The favourable reviews piqued my interest in the film once again.

The major positive in RBR is Joshiy. His best outing since Naran. He had a similar style of direction in Robinhood, but he has improved a lot from there and delivered in RBR. He was able to make an entertaining film without the typical masala stuff.

Sachy had a good first outing as a writer. The writing was fairly well paced, if not predictable. He had a chance to shine with something spectacular and the plot had the opportunity. Still managed to give a decent output. A good part in the screenplay was the exposure that the different characters had. Almost everyone sans the villains had decent enough screentime to establish their characters. I would still term this as a lost opportunity since he had a director and actors in terrific form.

Mohanlal continues his good run with another fine performance. Nothing challenging, but he was charming and funny as Venu. Looks young enough for the role. Very good chemistry with both Amala Paul and Biju Menon.

Amala Paul did a decent job. Its been quite a while since we saw a female character with this much screenspace in a superstar film. Biju Menon continues his dream run. Another excellent performance by the gifted actor. Aparna Nair and Shammi Thilakan were good in their respective roles.

Saikumar and Siddique had the run of the mill villain roles that they have done a million times. Saikumar had some moments of exceptional acting with quick change in expressions. Siddique was sadly sidelined.

Ratheesh Vega was disappointing when it came to the BGM. Some parts were good, some were mediocre. The song was decent and got a lot of traction thanks to Mohanlal's voice. R.D.Rajashekhar deserves an applause for his splendid camera work. Editing was great in some places, but could have been better at others.

TL;DR: RBR is a perfect vacation film in a unique setting that would entertain with a few thrills and laughs.

Rating: Good

The Intoxicating Spirit!

Theatre: Sreekumar, Trivandrum
Show: Matinee, 14-06-2012
Status: A full house

I had high expectations on Spirit. Mohanlal-Ranjith combo after the latter moved on to meaningful cinema. After the film, I was extremely happy with what I had seen; but I was also left with a lot of lingering thoughts on how it could have been better. Like Pranchiyettan, Spirit places all the eggs in a single basket. A film entirely reliant on the lead actor to make it special.

What I would call post-Kayyoppu second half syndrome strikes again. Underwhelming and lazy writing in the second half. Slightly evident in Paleri(quite contentious though), Pranchiyettan, and now in Spirit. I thought Indian Rupee was relatively free from this. Take this with a bucket of salt though. These films are still miles ahead of other contemporary films. Its just that, Ranjith can do a lot better. Its a bit more damning when you see the kind of threads lying around in the script which could make for even more compelling cinema. Relationship between Raghunandan and his son, I felt could have been used in way more effective manner. Nandu's story felt very undercooked and rushed to be honest. Ranjith could have woven in a middle-class character which honestly would have been an accurate reflection of an everyday Malayalee.

Heartening to see Ranjith use more visuals to converse with the viewer along with his trademark dialogues. A couple of them were overdone though. Lal enjoying the sights and sounds of daily life without the effect of spirit was simply superb.

Mohanlal carries the film throughout with a remarkable performance. His best in a long time and he underlines his greatness yet again. The performance simply proves why he is head and shoulders above his contemporaries. Not just his trademark drunk scenes, the subtle change of emotions when Shankar breaks the bad news to him, his high power monologues in the talk show etc are a treat for the viewers. I have been drawing parallels between Raghunandan and Dr. House (from the eponymous TV series) ever since I watched the film. I always wanted to see Lal in such a role and I guess this is the closest we would get. What would have made the film even more gripping would have been Lal's battle against Spirit similar to how Dr. House battles his vicodin addiction. This battle got only a few scenes, though they were quite good. Ranjith could have written in a combination between Lal and Thilakan here.

Shankar Ramakrishnan was apt for the role. He did a good job of what was on offer. Kaniha was also good. Sidharth Bharathan had a good outing, which should have been an expanded role. Nandu had a good role after a long time. Heartening to see someone fresh. Thilakan was criminally underused. Whatever little we saw was terrific. Combination scenes with Lal would have been an absolute treat. Tini Tom get a good role yet again and delivers it to perfection.

Camera work was adequate, with some good use of lighting to convey mood. Editing was at par with the demand of the film. BGM was also good. Songs had great lyrics. But I didn't find the songs to be hummable in spite of having good music. Artwork is excellent with a wonderful little Koshy's bar, a well designed Casa Rosa resort, and Raghunandan's house strewn with a wide variety of poison.

TL;DR: Spirit remains an excellent watch despite of its shortcomings in the script. Must watch for an amazing performance from Mohanlal and yet another good effort from the master, Ranjith.

Rating: Very Good

Postscript: What I ultimately wanted after watching Spirit was to see Mohanlal play Kuttiyappan in Leela penned by Ranjith. It was amazing to see the result of the work by the two of them and I believe that Ranjith+Mohanlal in Leela would be totally awesome.

Grandmaster - The Master of the Game

Theatre: Innovative Multiplex, Bangalore
Show: 5-May-2012, 10 PM
Status: Houseful

Good film with a great performance. I would sum up Grandmaster with this quote. To be honest, the main apprehension for me regarding Grandmaster was how good the direction would be. B. Unni impressed more as a writer than a director. He managed to blow the apprehensions away. Hats off for the making. Well-crafted and avoids most the investigative thriller cliches that we are used to. GM whilst a calm film, manages to keep your attention on the screen and generates a sense of curiosity towards the proceedings. No unnecessary jump cuts and screen tears. Great improvement and hope he maintains this level throughout.

Script was good. Though linear, I would not club this under typical Malayalam thriller films. Characterization is much more detailed. Dialogues are crisp and smart. No holes in the plot as far as I can see. You can make an argument for logic in the proceedings, then again the film manages justify everything in my opinion. Though inspired from ABC murders by Agatha Christie, I felt that the film has a soul to stand on its own. Writing towards the climax could have been better which would have elevated the movie to another level. Then again, I guess sacrifices have to be made to make the film commercially viable. At its current state, the film appeals to almost all the classes of audience thanks to the way the end game is constructed.

Camera is superb. Good to see another promising cinematographer. Editing was slick apart from a scene or two. BGM was really good and added to flavour. Deepak Dev's music was bit of a let down.

The major aspect that makes Grandmaster a treat is Mohanlal. Superlative performance from the man. My favourite Lal performance in a commercial film since Chotta Mumbai. The ability to flesh out a character that does not challenge him is remarkable. Dialogue delivery, expressions, and body language adds upon a well-characterized role. Priyamani was ok. Siddique was good in a short role. Babu Antony and Riyaz Khan were intelligently used and where good in their respective roles. Anoop Menon was also good. Hard to look beyond the resemblance to Lal when they are on screen together!

TL;DR: Grandmaster is a very good experience. A nice investigative thriller which we haven't seen in a very long time. Highly recommended for all the viewers.

Rating: Very Good

22 Female Kottayam - Bold and Beautiful!

Show: 11:30 PM, 13-April-2012 (FDFS)
Status: Balcony nearly full (4-5 seats vacant), FC - Not too many
Theatre: Kairali, Trivandrum

Ashique has been hyping at 22 Female Kottayam since its inception. To be frank it was off-putting to see so much of his face in the promotions. I had serious doubts on whether this movie would fall flat on its face and turn out to be an embarrassment. Even with such negativity in my head, I was blown away by the film.

To be honest, this film is not everybody's cup of tea. Its like watching an enthralling test match. A nice buildup, culminating in an excellent finale. Not necessarily, a pulse racing affair. But a lot more satisfying in the end. I seriously doubt its success in this T20 era. This film tries to stay away from the new-gen cliches as much as possible. An urban setting with sexually liberated folks would be something that we can call a new-gen element. Whatever element it is, I have seen lives like this in Bangalore. They may be outliers, but they are there.

Ashique has done a good job as the director. His best work so far. I thought SnP was a tad overrated from a direction point of view though it was thoroughly enjoyable. The narration and treatment was really good. Kudos to him for striking a balance between going downright arty and typical commercial cinema. Some may find this as a negative, but I felt that this approach made the film very enjoyable. The best part of the treatment is that the theme would have strayed into the titillating territory in a lesser directors hand.

Script could have been better. Crispier script would have avoided some amount of drag in the film, especially in the second half. Though the dialogues were adequate, the film deserved better, memorable lines. Cinematography from Shyju Khalid is top class. Bijibal and Rex has done a brilliant job with the BGM. Music gelled well with the film. Editing was also spot on for most part. Art direction was good, but being a bachelor in Bangalore, I wonder if nurses can afford such a lavish apartment.

Rima is in top form in this film. I think she has dubbed for herself and for the first time she has done a brilliant job in a full length role. Kudos to her for a controlled performance. There were lot of places where she could have gone overboard and destroyed the scene. She managed to punch above her weight and gave a scintillating performance. If Kavya can sweep awards for her bulging eyes in Gaddama, I will be royally pissed if Rima doesn't sweep the awards next year.

I loved Fahad in the movie. He was very good throughout and upstaged Rima in the climax sequences. Till now, I was thinking he would do good only as the urban yuppie. Though this role is typical Fahad, I really want him to see in other roles after watching this performance. Loved the drunk scenes and the scene where he corrects Rimas "pha". Rima-Fahad chemistry is electrifying to say the least. You feel that they are connected even while they are not even in a touching distance.

Sathar was good as the stylish Casanova. Prathap Pothan was also good as the eccentric Hegde. Refreshing to see familiar yet not too familiar faces in prominent roles. TG Ravi had a decent role which he did well as usual.

22FK cannot be clubbed as a typical new-gen film. It doesnt employ a difficult narrative. Its not very light-hearted or have sudden twists and turns. At its soul, its a Malayalam film with a strong story and well-etched characters. Th film has a slow build-up like many of the foreign drama films, which people do not appreciate when seen in Malayalam.

TL;DR: 22FK is a brilliant film with a strong story and excellent performances. Watch it if you are a connoisseur of good films. Stay away if you want some brain-dead entertainment.

Rating: Excellent

The King and the Commissioner - Not the best of returns

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Theatre: Innovative, Bangalore
Show: 24-Mar-2012, 1:30 PM
Status: FC - Around 60%, Balcony - Must have been more than 90%

I had very little hope in the movie, despite the glowing reviews. Lowered expectations probably got the movie to an average level for me. The story revolves around the exploits of Joseph Alex in New Delhi, ably assisted by Bharath Chandran. The core issue of the length and lack of character development of antagonists probably stems from this fact. This movie would have better suited to either of the characters, not both. A lot of time had to be spent giving time to Joseph Alex, Bharath Chandran, and their bonding.

Nothing to write home about the screenplay and story. Renji Panikker totally fall flat here. The one department he shines is the dialogues. Eventhough a lot of the dialogues are rehashed, there are quite a few dialogues that make your blood boil. Pass marks to him for that. Shaji's direction is something we have seen over and over. Some of the multi-frame cuts look silly and would have been fit in a Telugu movie. He does manage to hook you onto the seat for most of the time. Quite an accomplishment considering the length of the film. You can't help wonder, when you would get to see a Shaji without these stupid gimmicks ala Commissioner.

Mammooty was good as Joseph Alex. Not fiery like in The King. He managed to control the dialogue modulation to suit his current stature and manages to deliver big. An intelligent performance. Suresh Gopi was also pretty good, manages not to go overboard unlike his recent outings. The man can still swear like a pottymouth and make it look cool! Aside from the leads, only Biju Pappan made some impression. Good performance from him. In an ideal world, this movie should have had King or Commissioner with Biju Pappan as the side kick. The biggest disappointment by far is Sai Kumar. I am big fan of the man. But this has to be one of his worst performances. Totally unconvincing. The other villain characters were simply caricatures. Poor job by the writer in character development. Mohan Thomas and Jayakrishnan would be rolling in their graves if they knew about such insipid villains.

BGM was on and off. Some parts good, most of the time pretty loud and lame. Editing also felt a bit shoddy.

Except for the perfomances and dialogues, nothing much goes for this film. Some sequences could have trimmed or cut away altogether. The film just plods along at times testing your patience. Probably the biggest disappointment was the climax. Same old warehouse, dishum-dishum, bharathamatha kee jai. A combination of king and commissioner climaxes.

This is a film I would recommend to Mam fans (and SG fans), who would lap it up following a disastrous period. For the others, it would be decent enough only if you like Renji Panikker dialogs.

TL;DR: King and Commissioner is an average fare with some great dialogues and good lead performances.

Rating: Strictly Average

Ee Adutha Kaalathu - Excellent stuff!

Theatre: Innovative, Bangalore
Show: 19-03-2012, 4:45 PM
Status: Houseful


A great script enhanced by good direction spiked with good performances. This is EAK in simple terms. The only issue I saw was in the first half. The pacing is off and once in a while you reach for your watch. A better beginning could have cranked up the viewers interest by a few notches and made for a more complete experience.

Murali Gopi deserves the meat of all appreciation. A good script which gets more and more interesting with the passage of time and ends on a note that the viewer hopes and prays for. Rubik's cube features in the film from start to end. According to his interview, the screenplay is paced in a way someone solves the Rubik's cube. Slow at start and frenetic towards the end. Looks good on paper, but the execution on screen was a teeny bit short.

Glad to see that the lesser known parts of Trivandrum are on view in the film. The small agrahaarams, housing colonies filled with lonely elders. More so happy to see a new gen film away from Kochi.

Arun Kumar Aravind drew a lot of flak for his straight lift Cocktail. He can proudly display EAK to whoever calls him out for Cocktail. EAK is original as far as I know. Though EAK gives a little feel of Lock, Stock and Burn After Reading, there is nothing lifted in here. As a director, I would say he has done a neat job. The pacing should have been better in the first half, but the second half was excellent. His editing skills complemented very well towards the climax and provided the much needed frenzy on the screen. A job well done indeed.

BGM was exceptional, but sadly lifted as we all now. Cinematography was good, but a better visual sense or colour tone could have taken the movie to a whole different level altogether.

Indrajith steals the show as Vettu Vishnu. Excellent performance. Trivandrum slang portrayed at its best. Tanusree Ghosh was very good. Even with the dubbing issues, her performance stands out. Murali Gopi was convincing in a role that could have been a goner had it been someone else. Even with all the antics, the character manages to feel real. Mythili was alright, but could have been better. Nishaan was good and apt for the role. Probably the first time I guess! Anoop Menon was good but very short. I would have preferred to see more of his gaffes in the first half instead of trudging through a lot of meaningless stuff. Lena had a somewhat lengthy role and she played the part very well. Jagathy had a short but effective role as well. The casting has been perfect with all the leads and supporting characters who suit the characters to the sock.

This is a film which carries forward the torch that Traffic (and Passenger to an extent) lighted last year. Anybody should be able to enjoy the film, provided you are averse to a few swear words (muted and beeped for posterity!) or a masala/goodie-goodie free experience.

TL;DR: EAK is an entertaining new-gen film with a fresh screenplay, taut direction and very good performances.

Rating: Very good

Nidra - with the magical touch

Theatre: Sangeeth, Bangalore
Show: 2:45 PM, 10-Mar-2012
Status: Around 50-60 people

Sangeeth is a theatre I completely avoid unless there is no other option. Nidra got released here in two other multiplexes which were too far off from my place. Sound was terrible the last time I went to Sangeeth, this time the sound was good, but the picture was way too dark.

Nidra 2012 is a faithful remake of the old Nidra. I watched the old one a few months back and thought it was a very average film at best. Sidharth has done a very good job by remaking such a film and leaving his father's best work untouched. The new Nidra makes you feel way more than the old one. Direction is good and the pacing is okay for such a movie. Good debut from Sidharth as a director. Bharathan touch is evident in this film which was missing from the old one! He has put in a lot of effort on the technical side. Sound, music, visuals, and everything that qualifies him as an exciting new talent.

Cinematography is awesome. Sameer Thahir has woven magic on screen with some excellent shots. BGM by Prasant Pillai deserves a special mention. Well crafted and immerses you in the movie even when there is not much going on in the screen. The songs are also good and Jassie Gift has delivered big here.

Sidharth as Raju was adequate. He certainly looked better than Vijay Menon in the original. While you could see Sidharth's Raju as a quirky person slipping into insanity over a period of time, Vijay Menon's Raju looked bat-shit insane right from the start. Rima Kallingal has performed very well. Most likely her best performance till date. Good call on not making her dub. Her original sound wouldn't really suit the character. Jishnu has made a good comeback to the screen and should get more chances. Business as usual for Thalaivasal Vijay and Lalitha with good performances in the kitty.

I feel that the new Nidra is able to convince the audience about the theme better than the old one. How an eccentric can drift into insanity just because he thinks in different fashion and how our penchant for money can destroy a beautiful place. The old one never connected to the audience in such ways.

TL;DR: Nidra is a movie worth a watch for the technical brilliance and the bittersweet feel of a tragic romance.

Rating: Very good.

Second Show - First Class!

Theatre: Ajantha, Trivandrum
Show: 11.15 AM, 11-Feb-2012
Status: Upper Class - Full, First Class - Around 40%. Everybody except most probably the 2 of us were under 25!

A dream debut to be frank. Dulquer Salman, Sunny Wayne, Gauthami Nair, and Sreenath Rajendran could have never asked for a better start. A film punching above its weight. That pretty much sums up Second Show. Not a classic by any stretch of imagination.

The making is refreshing, though the treatment is inspired by the new gen films in Tamil. Those who scream for freshness in Malayalam cinema will love this film. Story is pretty much straightforward and told a dozen times, but the writer has managed to create an engaging screenplay with good dialogues. Characterization could have been better. Though Kurudi's character was nicely etched, I am inclined to give Sunny the credit given how the other characters were portrayed. Sreenath Rajendran should be the man to look out for if his irons out the little flaws and adds more stuff to his crafting repertoire. His style does remind me of RGV, more specifically Rakhtacharithra though there is little resemblance between the films.

Dulquer has good screen presence and awesome sound. Not to mention the good looks. Looks like a proper hero material given the right scripts and director. He did not look good in sentimental scenes and thankfully there are just a sequence or two. He looks exactly like a very young Mammoos when he sported a thick mustache. I am waiting for Ustad Hotel where I believe Anwar Rasheed who managed eke out great performances from the Ms will be able to bring out the best in Dulquer.

Gauthami Nair looked good and did a tidy work. Baburaj was good while he lasted. The villain looked menacing and fit the bill. The guy who played the gangster-constable was also very good.

Sunny as Kurudi is probably the brightest thing in the film. He has immense potential and could potentially be a legendary performer down the lane. Mark these words. He manages to make a character lovable which would have been overacted to the maximum by all of our young actors, none excluded. Its really nice to see some body so expressive with the face and body among the young actors.

BGM was good and the songs fit the mood quite well. Good camera work and editing. Sound design was good except for a few sections where dialogues seemed to be drowned by the background sounds.

All in all second show is an exciting movie to watch with good performances from the new faces, in front and behind the camera.

TL;DR: Second Show is an exciting movie packaged in the perfect new gen way.

Rating: Good.

Padmasree Bharat Dr. Saroj Kumar - A pain in the backside

X-posting my FK review.

Theatre: Innovative, Bangalore
Show: 10 PM, 14-Jan-2012
Status: House Full (there were a couple of people walking away without getting the tickets, they have no idea how lucky they are!)

The promos looked tacky. Sreenivasan's recent form is pretty bad. I thought even if the movie is boring there would be something to laugh at. The reviews here lowered my expectations further. Even then, I was not prepared for such a crappy film.

It looks like Sreeni wanted to badmouth the stars, especially Mohanlal. I have no qualms at Sreeni doing this if it results in a decent movie and some amount of introspection for the stars and their fans. The problem here is that the movie is pretty much a collection of badly written skits, overacted to perfection by Sreeni. Even Suraj was better in comparison!

The story is about how Saroj Kumar continues to be an ass and how he gets his ass busted by his actions. Unfortunately, the second part happens to the audience. Terrible script by anybody's standard and not just Sreeni. Its Sreeni not the superstars who need to shut shop and go away. They atleast give us a watchable movie or two every year. Direction is sub-par and not a good start to a career. Only time will tell whether its due to the interference of the "super star." Camera, editing etc didn't really make any impact whatsoever. The only portion I liked in the movie was the song Kesu. The songs were pretty good and certainly undeserving of such a stupid film.

Fahad and Vineeth did well, though Vineeth just don't have the kind of look that goes with a young and upcoming star. A big waste of Mamta. Jagathy and Mukesh also didn't have much to do, but some of their dialogues were pretty good.

Looking for positives in this movie is like searching for something in a pile of crap.

TL;DR: Padmasree Bharath Dr. Saroj Kumar is a terrible movie. Stay away unless you have a penchant for masochism.

Rating: Horrifying! (not the good kind!)

Asuravithu - A true, but flawed sequel

Theatre: Kairali, Trivandrum
Show: 11:30 AM, 6-Jan-2012
Status: Around 90% Balcony, More than 60% in FC I guess.

Stop Violence is a pioneering film in Malayalam. It showed the brutal world of quotation gangs. The habitat of soul less men. Probably the most important film in Prithviraj's career after Nandanam. Saathan, the quintessential anti-hero, still endures after nearly a decade. No better vehicle for A K Sajan to make a great comeback and for Asif Ali to showcase another dimension as an actor. While Asif Ali did what he could, Sajan simply disappoints after laying the groundwork for a promising film.

Don Bosco is Saathan' son. He was abandoned by his mother (Lena replaces Chandra Laxman) fearing for his safety from CI Stephen's father Abbaji (Vijayaraghavan), a Jew who controls the Kochi underworld. Baburaj (a priest) takes care of Don Bosco and in his youth, Don decides to become a priest. Marty (Samvrutha) is a boat owner-conductor smitten by Don. One day, Don witnesses the murder of a customs officer (Rekha) and is beaten to pulp for refusing to falsify his testimony. The incident and several altercations with Abbaji's family changes his life forever.

Asif Ali was good in the first half. No where near as fit for the character as he was for Salt n Pepper, still pretty decent. He was able to convey the emotions of a conflicted young man. In the second half, all he had to do was walk around in a suit, wear sunglasses, and dally around in jaguars and porsches. Vijayaraghavan was wasted in his role which had a lot of potential. Other villains (and villathis!) where pretty decent and did enough villainy to gather a lot of hate. Siddique was also wasted in a role which could have been utilized in a much better manner. IM Vijayan has a cameo (thankfully!), could be a takeaway from the movie, Quotation. Lena had to cry for the most part and she did an ok job. Samrutha was the usual bubbly girl and was absent in most of the second half.

AK Sajan did a decent job of connecting the films together. We rarely have proper sequels in Malayalam where the second film actually follows up on the first instead of the protagonists appearing in a different setting. He completely failed in conjuring a proper narrative. The first half was pretty ok, apart from a couple of scenes in the first half which exposes the Don for the first time to the viewer and certain inconsistencies. 2-3 good action sequences are there in the first half which are quite nice to watch. Sajan as a director and a writer fails completely in the second half. Don looks like Don from Malaysia rather than Kochi. There are some silly stuff like Don written across the screen and a "D-Company" seal displayed whenever Don makes a kill. The way things happen around Don is laughable at times. Girls keeping the umbrella over Don. People standing while Don watches a movie. People calling Don as "Bhaiyya". Don wearing a suit all the f**cking time in the heat of Kochi. If Sajan had removed at least these silly stuff, the movie would have been very much reasonable. Better yet, he could have weaved a better story. Heck, even I can think of a generic yet better story right now.

Camera work is pretty good. Technically the movie is slick. Action sequences are also good without being too over the top. No sandstorm or flying thugs here. Still pretty exciting. Asif has done a decent job in the action scenes. The pure quotation sketches are also there which I liked. BGM is loud but effective. Editing is also slick, save a couple of glaring holes towards the end.

Asuravithu is a movie which had a lot of potential. Had AK Sajan though through the movie properly, he could have made it a good one at a much lower cost. For Asif Ali, it could be a setback even after making a good effort and partly succeeding.

TL;DR: Asuravithu is flawed movie, made watchable by an intriguing first half and a couple of great action sequences.

Rating: Average to Below Average

Orkut oru Ormakoot - Good start to the year

Cross-posting my FK review. For more comments and discussions, visit FK.


Theatre - Kripa, Trivandrum
Show - 6:15 PM, 5-Jan-2012
Status - 30% Balcony

Title of the movie, though catchy, is a bit misleading. The writer-director could have used a better name instead of going for a name which was trendy over an year (or more!) ago. The plot does center around the arrival of an online friend, but the online activities are pretty minimal. The movie is more about self-discovery and coming of age.

The main protagonists are five friends living in a flat complex. Typical upper class yuppies who really doesn't care about anybody in their life and likes to goof away for most part of their lives. They enjoy their nightlife and desperately trying to get laid. All of them have issues at home, some serious and others not that much. One of them hooks up with a girl online and she decides to show up changing their lives forever. Rest of the movie centers around the mysterious girl and her journey of self-discovery with the help of the youngsters which in turn affects them as well. I liked the way the movie ended. Quite touching to be honest. Though some of the ends could have been tied up in a better fashion.

The five guys have acted pretty decently. Nothing mind blowing but competent enough for their roles. Rima has done a good job. The role is right up her alley and she does well barring a few sequences towards the end. The casting is pretty good and there are a lot of small characters which add life to the movie. Sreejith Ravi, Siddique, Menaka (though too much of a weepie-do), Kaviyoor Ponnama, and a couple of other young actresses have done pretty well.

Direction is pretty good for a first timer. The first half is quite enjoyable while the second half feels a bit stuffy and some disruptions to the overall flow. Screenplay written by the director is to be blamed since there were far too many tangents in the script. Placement of certain songs in the second half didn't help much either. The film dragged for a good 15 minutes more than what was required. Over all, had script been more lucid, the movie would have been excellent. I liked some small touches by the director like different getups of Kaviyoor Ponnamma in one of the boy's dream sequences.

Upper class cliche is liberally available in the film. Flat neighbours not caring about each other. Parents who doesn't care about kids and vice versa. Usage of certain slang and english words in conversations etc. Same kind of stuff in reverse can be seen in the village scenes. If you can sit through these cliches (which may be true to an extent), the dialogues are pretty fine. I liked the palakkadan slang in the village sequences and some of the dialogues between the boys were quite witty.

Camera work is pretty good and the production values are quite good for a movie with debutants and a dominant female lead. There was some animation work during the titles which could have been avoided. But they do seem to sync with the mood of the initial phase. Editing is crisp during the first half and slightly choppy towards the end. Songs were decent, but there were far too many in the second half.

Orkut oru Ormakoot is a good start in 2012 for Malayalam cinema. The commercial success is a question mark. If Johny Sagariga cannot make this movie a hit, I don't think anybody else can.

TL;DR: Orkut oru Ormakoot is an entertaining film with a good plot, decent execution, and fresh situations.

Rating: Good.

Arabiyum Ottakkavum P.Madhavan Nairum - Not the ideal swan song

Cross-posting my FK review. For more comments and discussions, visit FK.

Theatre: Innovative Multiplex
Show: 19-Dec-2011, 10 PM
Status: 25-30%

An insipid effort from Priyan for a movie touted to be his last comedy film in Malayalam. AOPMN shows the skill of Priyan as a Director. Out of nothingness, he created a tolerable movie with a few laughs along the way. Some of them felt natural, while some of them felt forced. Not the kind of stuff that we expect after a long hiatus from a celebrated film maker.

Script is stitched together from a couple (or more!) Hollywood flicks and scenes from old Priyan movies. Priyan could have chosen a much better script for his return. Had the movie been directed by someone else (and the dialogues) and did not have Mohanlal and Mukesh in it, we could have safely added this to the crap list. Dialogues are quite witty at places and evokes a chuckle or two.

Mohanlal did well as Madhavan Nair. Nice expressions and voice modulation. I would say his character was underwritten and not worthy enough for someone of his caliber. His range remained un-utilised for most part. The romance sequences with Laxmi Rai where cringe-worthy. He looked the part of a near forty year old (the movie says PMN came to gulf 13 years back. I want to assume he came when he was 26/27), but the romance scenes where not fit for someone of his age. Really hope we don't get more of these dished out. The same holds true for the other M as well. Mukesh was good and had a more rounded character. The chemistry between Lal and Mukesh was really good and is a major factor in making the movie rise above itself. Bhavana was good and Lakshmi Rai was her usual dummy self. It was sad to see Mamukkoya, Innocent and co wasted away. Suraj was decent and did not do much harm.

Camera work is good at places, especially the desert sequences are a treat to the eye. Editing is a bit shoddy. I liked the remixed Good, Bad, Ugly BGM. Otherwise, the BGM is a little under par with criminal under use in many places.

All in all, the movie is a disappointing fare and strictly middling. I hope that team that gave so many wonderful films go out on a bang with a good movie backed by a good script than a whimper that is AOPMN.

TL;DR: AOPMN is an average movie that you can watch, just for a few laughs and the magical chemistry between Mohanlal and Mukesh.

Rating: Average

Beautiful - The title sums it up!

Cross-posting my FK review. Visit FK for more discussions.

Theatre: Innovative Multiplex
Show: 8 PM, 11-Dec-2011
Status: Nearly a full house.

This year has been a good year for our cinema. A handful of good flicks a class apart from the usual fare dished out by our filmmakers over the last few years. Beautiful ends the year on a really high note just like what Traffic did in the beginning of this year.

Beautiful can be summed up as a writers movie. Anoop Menon has a done a great job in the screenplay and more importantly, the dialogues. Refreshing and natural are the two words that come into my mind. The language spoken by an average, educated Malayali. The kind of conversations that I would have with a friend. The kind of jokes that we would crack in our midst. Special props for the Aishwarya Rai sequence. We used to play the same prank on our friends in a more sadistic manner. He could have done better towards the end as the flow seems to disrupt a bit. But you can take nothing away from the man. Full marks for his penmanship. Love the way he puts in Mohanlal references in his scripts (Cocktail and now this). I hope we get a movie with Lal written by Anoop Menon on a subject several notches lighter than Pakalnakshathrangal.

VKP has often given us exciting frames but not a good movie as a whole. This is definitely his best work. Rain scenes were sheer poetry.

Jayasuriya has done well as Stephen. A great performance from probably the most improved actor of this generation. Anoop Menon was good and Meghna looked delectable. Nandu provided with good laughs and other cast members did justice to their roles.

Beautiful shows that a movie shot and released in a limited a span of time at an extremely low budget can probably be one of the best in terms of aesthetics and entertainment.

Do yourself a favour and go watch the movie at the theatre. Else you miss out one of the best films this year and lose your license to lament about the lack of quality films in Malayalam.

TL;DR: Beautiful is a beautiful film with enough smiles and laughs to entertain you for several days.

Rating: Brilliant

Indian Rupee - Bang for the Buck

Cross-posting my review in FK.

Show: 10 PM, 7-Oct
Theatre: Innovative Multiplex, Bangalore
Status: Housefull (Houseful note was put up by the time we reached at 9:40. Great to see a full house despite poor reservation earlier in the day)

Hats off to Ranjith. Brilliant movie. For the third time in a row he has managed to pull off a great movie. Its often easy to be a victim of your own success but Ranjith has managed to stay true to his work. Armed with a good script, his direction has made this movie a delight for the viewer. Apart from poor picturisation of an awesome song (what were you smoking?), you could hardly find any glaring (or otherwise) fault. Terrific dialogues. The little verbal spars and one liners are really enjoyable.

Not getting into the story details. Better to see it unfold in the screen. Movie basically discusses the urge of today's generation to make a quick buck with little regard to everything else.

Prithviraj did well. Possibly his best performance since Vasthavam. No signs of stiffness that had crept into his acting in the recent flicks. His performance as JP would be remembered. A very good performance throughout barring the scene where he runs away from home during his sister's pennukaanal. He was able to portray the emotions of JP to perfection. You could easily accept JP as a "9th pass". A little smattering of humour works really well for the character. He should try doing more of these rather than trying a hand at slapstick which does not suit him at this stage.

Thilakan has shown how we miss him as an actor. A dialogue from Prithviraj, "Ningalithu evide aayirunnu ithrem naal!", sums it up. Brilliant performance. The best in the movie by far.

I thought Reema did quite well. She was charming and did well as the supporting yet strong romantic interest. The chemistry between Reema and Prithvi worked really well for me.

Jagathy as usual was terrific. Played the character to perfection. Tini Tom has played a good role. The movie should do him a lot of good. All the others were also aptly selected and did a good job. Special note to the girl who played JPs sister. Fantastic brother-sister chemistry. A welcome relief from the usual cliched kunjupengal.

Technical side was quite adequate. Good frames. Terrific BGM. Shahbaz Aman is seriously good. Ee puzhayum song was brilliant barring the terrible picturisation.

Its great to see that Malayalam cinema has marched ahead this year with some good movies. Indian Rupee certainly ranks high in my list among the best movies this year.

TL;DR: Indian Rupee is a delightful movie that handles a good theme backed by good performances in front and behind the camera.

Rating: Excellent!

Sneha Veedu - A cliched feel good movie

As usual cross-posting my FK review. Delayed by two weeks I guess! :-)

Theatre: Innovative Multiplex, Bangalore
Show: 10 PM, 30-Sep-2011
Status: 90%+ in balcony, first class status unsure. Quite healthy I think.

A beautiful village with all the village clichés set in place. The hero nostalgic about the village. A mother who has raised her son against all the odds. Lovely human beings all around. Typical Sathyan fare yet again. This setting, though unreal, is good to watch. If a typical city brat like me got tickled with the feeling of nostalgia, then it would be a rush for Sathyan's target audience. But the usual problem haunts yet again. Lack of credible writing.

The first half is quite enjoyable. A terrific performance from Mohanlal. A good performance from Sheela where she does not go too loud. Most of the comedies work out quite well. Not the kind of comedy where you laugh out loud and hurt your belly, but the ones which induce a smile and an occassional chuckle.

Cometh second half and cometh the devil. Sathyan has no idea how to go about the business. The story cruises along aimlessly and eventually runs out of gas. A better writer would have been able make the movie interesting with the same story line. The ending and second half should appeal to a family audience, but not for others.

The biggest positive by far in the movie is Mohanlal. His comic timing is impeccable. Self-referential humour was a riot. The exercise sequence with Biju Menon was hilarious.

Songs were a let down. Most of all them sounded alike. Sathyan should have got rid of Ilayaraja and got somebody new. Camera was adequate, but frames could have looked better.

Still, the movie is pretty harmless unlike other comic capers we are subjected to. Clichéd to be sure, but it never makes you want to hit the exit.

TL;DR: Snehaveedu is a typical family movie pulled down by weak writing and propped by a good performance from Mohanlal.

Rating: Decent to Good.

Pranayam - Poetry in Motion

Cross-posting my review in Forumkeralam. Visit FK for reactions and comments.
Theatre: Sreekumar
Show: 31-Aug-2011, 2 PM
Status: Balcony - Full, First Class- Not many (where are the bloody fans who fill out multiple theatres on the first day? Shame on you!)

I am still under the spell of the movie. Personally, the best movie I have seen this year and possibly for an even longer period of time. Hats off to Blessy for terrific writing and direction. Pranayam is not a love story, rather a life story. A movie that has a lot of value for someone who wants to lead a happy life. Blessy has penned some of the best lines I have ever heard in a film. Life is an extension of happiness...Imo, the best film from Blessy (taking nothing away from Kazhcha).

This is one of those performances that every fan crave. To show off your favourite actor with pride. Look! This is the man I am talking about! To say Mohanlal is brilliant would be an understatement. He shows his immense screen presence and brilliant performance with limited scenes and even more limited mobility. I strongly believe nobody could have matched him or even come close to what he has done here. Blessy once again deserves kudos for writing such a masterclass character for him.

Anupam Kher can be proud of his work in Pranayam. As the character that drives the movie he exudes an aura of freshness and performs with perfection. Lip sync was a slight irritant in the beginning, but later on I was mesmerized with his performance that I never even noticed it again. Truly awesome! Blessy deserves another pat on the back for such a brilliant casting idea.

Jayaprada was truly a revelation. Brilliant performance. A strong feminine character without the cliched underpinnings. Felt just like a strong woman in real life who loves to live a happy life. Her character was pivotal to the plot and she did a fantastic job. I wanted Sumalatha in the role when the news about this film came. More for the Thoovanathumpikal nostalgia more than anything. I am glad Blessy didnt think like me!

Anoop Menon deserves kudos for a fabulous performance. I really wish he would get meatier roles in future movies. He showed his class and makes one wish he had started out a bit earlier. Other characters were aptly casted with good performances.

Camera work is brilliant. Satish Kurup has done a magnificent job. The lighting and shots were delectable to say the least. Editing, sound, BGM were top class.

Blessy has shown his class once again. After a forgettable outing in Calcutta News and a fragile script in Bhramaram, this is a remarkable comeback (of sorts!).

This movie is a modern classic. There are no two words about it. I would always cherish this movie close to my heart. Once I was confused about what I should do in life. Nothing really made too many sense. I asked a friend: What do you want to be in life? A prompt reply came: Be happy! A moment of truth for me. I feel Pranayam tells the same thing. Live life and be happy. Life is more beautiful than dreams...if you know how to live.

TL;DR: Pranayam is a wonderful experience. A must "feel" movie.

Ratiing: Exquisite!

Adaminte Makan Abu - Simple, subtle yet beautiful

Cross-posting FK review. For further analysis and comments go to the FK.

Theatre: Innovative Multiplex, Bangalore
Show: 12:30 P.M, 25th June 2011
Status: 15 in Balcony, Must be around the same in First Class

To be frank I had braced myself to expect disappointment when I went to watch the movie. Sometimes arthouse movie critics simply rave about a movie just because of the theme, irrespective of its making. All fears aside, the first thing I noticed was that the director did not sacrifice anything on the technical side. Salim Ahmed deserves kudos for the fact that he did not sacrifice any aspect of the making to reduce the cost. Bold, considering the returns that such movies give to the producer.

Unlike other Malayalam parallel/art movies, ABA has decent pacing. Aside from the first 20 minutes or so, the movie has enough pace so that you don't keep glancing into your watch every now and then. I think most of the general audience would be able to sit through the movie without getting bored. Director has done a great job in keeping things tight. He has kept things simple and gets the audience involved right into the idyllic village and Abu's life. There are those little things that strike you like Aishumma holding a lemon every time she goes in a bus, considering the fact that she spends most of her time at home and rarely travels.

Couple of guffaws aside, the script was also really good. The only gripe I have is with the Usthad-Suraj sub-plot which was not very clear to me. Will Suraj be the next Usthad? I loved the way in which Abu's son's role was handled. Very little mention, but it stays throughout our mind even when the words are unsaid. Terrific writing. Salim Ahmed penned some of the most memorable dialogues in a long time which would wet your eyes immediately and even later when you reminisce. One major guffaw was with taking "8" for a car license. Avoidable mistake.

Camera work has been outstanding. Kudos to Madu Ambatt for providing the perfect lighting. The night shots looked really good. His decision to use digital instead of 16mm has paid of rich dividends as the long shots provide a certain amount of richness to the film. BGM was outstanding to say the least. Engrossing yet unobtrusive. Art direction was also upto the mark with Abu's house gave the feel of a frugal yet devout life.

Salim Kumar has done an outstanding job. A truly great performance in Malayalam in a long time. There was only an old Abu in sight and not the laughter inducing Salim Kumar. The expressions, the body language, the style of movement everything was extra-ordinary. Abu's makeup deserves a special mention here. It never felt like makeup at all. Everything down to the milky eyes looked so genuine. Zareena Wahab did really well as well. She depicted Aishumma perfectly. All the other actors did quite well. Mani and Nedumudi Venu deserves a special kudos. Suraj was good within his limitations and showed what a proper director can make out of him. While most, if not all the characters in ABA are innately good, they don't come across as being too good to be true as most other Malayalam movies that preach "goodness".

The success of a movie lies in the fact is that it makes people across strata to think and talk. ABA for me reiterates the age old belief about living an honest life while sticking to your convictions and being a good human being.

TL;DR: Adaminte Makan Abu is a brilliant movie with great performances and an everlasting story. Must watch.