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)

Karmayodha - An impeccable yodha in a flawed battlefield

Theatre - Gopalan Grand Mall
Show - 22-Dec-2012, 9:45 PM
Status - Around 30%

Opportune time. Hero in prime form. More than a decent story line. Major Ravi still manages to screw things up as everyone had expected. But, the first three factors along with a straight forward take from the Major ensures a watchable flick. In an ideal world, this flick should have been directed by a better director. Joshi is the first name that comes to mind. May be Priyadarshan on a welcome return to non-comedy or one of the new folks like Rajesh Pillai. Had that happened, the film would have been an excellent one. Thankfully, Major has avoided his Kandahar antics and the direction slightly better than Kurukshethra as well. That said, he should stick on as a consultant/producer in films. Decent ideas, bad execution has been his motto.

At its heart, Karmayodha is taken from Taken. A vigilante cop against flesh traders. Script was nearly decent upto a point. Then Thenkashi Selvam comes into picture and the things that happen afterwards does not have a rhyme or reason. Director lacks the skill to cover up the deficiency and instead relies on his trademark sentimentalism. Major trademark family sentiments is alive and well throughout the film. Still, it starts bugging you only in the second half.

Relevance to the current scenario in our country as well as how young girls are tricked into the flesh trade is shown quite well. Major gets major props for that.

Apart from direction and the script, the problem is with the casting. When the experienced hands are in the picture, you never feel a problem. When others get in the frame, the quality of the film goes way down under. Binesh Kodiyeri is surprisingly tolerable, but he still is not an actor worthy of so much screen space. Same case with his friends, good enough for a fight or two, not any good otherwise. The old hands are good and goes a long way not making the film a chore to watch. Saikumar and Mukesh does well in their limited roles. Sukumari is tolerable, but Janardanan not so much. The girls are passable. Villain is too over the top and cartoonish.

Mohanlal carries the film throughout. He has brought in a brutal and out of control feel as Mad Maddy along with all the baggages that the character carries. He covers up for some terrible dialogues and stays true to the character. He is there throughout the film and that goes a long way in making the film watchable. Given the state of the character, punch dialogues would not have suited. Still better, fiery ones would have been a treat.

Camera is not that great. Editing at times slick, but passable. BGM is okayish, but the Karmayodha BGM is quite good.

If you decide to watch Karmayodha, you won't feel robbed or bored. You cannot help but wonder how good the film would have been under a different management.

TL;DR: Karmayodha takes up a relevant issue and ends up as a watchable, average fare. Watch it for Mohanlal and the theme.

Rating: Average and below.

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

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

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!

China Town: Mindless fun!

Cross-posting my FK review. Visit FK for reactions and comments.
Theatre: Kairali
Show: 15/4/2010. 9:30 PM
Status: Houseful

China Town neither offers a fresh story nor a unique presentation. Story is a blend of comedy, action, revenge, and everything else that Raft and Mecartin could concoct. The movie sticks to a formula which works most of the time. A good blend of three great stars in our industry. Unlike Christian Brothers where all the other actors felt sidelined, China Town has given the others some more space to perform.

I loved the look of senior Mohanlal circa 1986. The "youngster" looked very much out of shape and old to be frank. But the man has given a brilliant performance with lots of energy that lets the audience forget and perhaps forgive the looks. Probably the most energetic performance in a long time. Good action scenes and good comedy scenes wherever he was required. Still not back to his midas comic timing, but adequate. As a Mohanlal fan, I really hope none of his future movies would sport a thirty something character trying to romance twenty somethings. (Casanova is a special exclusion!)

Jayaram sports a horrible wig but otherwise has given a good performance. Dileep drives the comedy section and does a great job. Great to see Captain Raju back. Ladies have nothing much to do. Look Pretty. Dance. Job done. The villains are typical northie villains that you get to see in Malayalam movies. The Sumo wrestler was a good addition. The theatre lit up with laughter when the man was first shown. Surprisingly, Suraj was good throughout and one of his rare roles in recent times that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Direction and script are good in the first half. The second half things go a bit awry. Thanks to the duo, what could have been a brilliant comic caper has been turned into a decent, fun entertainer. Hangover inspired parts were ok for me. Camera work is really good and editing is top notch. Songs sounded good in the theatre.

China Town may be just another multi-star to get the cash registers ringing, but for me its a new path that our film makers need to exploit. May such formulaic movies lead to great movies like Ocean's series and Heat which absolutely require multiple high-caliber actors.

TL;DR: China Town is a fun ride. Lock your brains at home, loosen your tie, and enjoy yourself.

Rating: 7/10

Christian Brothers: Intoxicating Stuff

Cross-posting the review I wrote in ForumKeralam

Date: 18th March 2011
Theatre: Trivandrum New (11 AM show started at 11:30, not sure if the earlier show was a fan show)
Status: Houseful (I got the tickets in black. Otherwise, there was no chance of getting in)

I did not have that high of an expectation with this movie. I was hoping it would at least compare to Pokkiri Raja so that fans and the entertainment value would make the movie a success. Oh boy, I was in for a treat.

On the outset, the movie practically offers nothing new. Fight between two families. One righteous, other not. A son misunderstood by the family. Dead/distanced siblings. Mashed together by loads of action. Christian Brothers follows all these still becomes distinct by the brilliant performance by the cast and the plethora of punch dialogues.

Hats off to Sibi-Udayan for writing a script which essentially gives all the main characters ample space to perform. Another hat tip for writing so many punches and comebacks through out the script. Joshi has done a fabulous job of making the movie thrilling without boring the audience even for a minute. Commendable task considering the length of the movie. I didnt glance at my watch a single time throughout the screening. Camera is adequate and editing is good. Sound mixing in songs should have been better.

Mohanlal rules the roost as Christi Varghese. The man carries the role with aplomb. His dialogue delivery is terrific. It was truly heartening to see then man back in action with some good old verbal sparring. Action scenes are very good, but nothing out of the world. The only space where I felt a little awkward was during a couple of scenes with Lakshmi Rai where Lal clearly looked out of place. Wonderful return of form for Mohanlal in mass hero roles.

Dileep was brilliant where ever the role demanded. I was a tad disappointed at the length of his role in the first half. The character had a lot of potential and it would have lightened up the situation.

Suresh Gopi did well. He had a lot of good dialogues and he showed he still had his old spark. Sarathkumar was intelligently used and added a new dimension the movie. All the other actors did fine. Saikumar deserves a special mention. Ladies as usual had a limited role in the movie.

Negatives would be the old school story and lackluster music. Couple of songs sounded decent with pictures, but nothing to write home about. BGM also was adequate and nothing unique.

I am sure that the movie would be lapped up by the fans. I suspect this would also sit well with all the other type of audience. With a summer vacation looming, the marketing trick would do wonders.

TL;DR: Christian Brothers is a fun ride. Hop in and enjoy yourselves with some old school action and fiery dialogues. Recommended for all fans of commercial Malayalam cinema.

Rating: 7/10

Shikkar: The Hunt

Cross posting the review I wrote in Forum Keralam.

Theatre: Innovative Multiplex, Bangalore
Time: 10:00 PM
Status: Balcony Full. First Class must have been full, looking at the online reservation chart in the morning.

After watching Shikkar, I felt both happy and disappointed. Happy that Mohanlal is back to his elements with a good role that suits his age and image. Disappointed that the screenwriter and the director made a mess of what could have been a classic. It looks like Padmakumar wanted to make the first half as mass and second half as class. The movie does not become a train wreck thanks to the awesome last 45 minutes.

Suraj was awful and should have been nowhere near this movie. The writer could have handled Jagathy's character in a much better way to provide the laughs if that was something critical. In spite of this, there were many places where you felt that eerie feeling that something is going to happen which would be displaced the next moment thanks to the stupid antics by Suraj or Jagathy. For me the highlight of the first half was when Mohanlal touches the man who tells him about the death of other officers. You could see the slight shiver in his hands and feel his fear.

Second half meandered along at first with the low point being a Jagathy comedy. Things started kicking into top gear with the flashback sequence. Crafted very well by the Director. Very refreshing stuff. The Telugu song was brilliant, the only song which seemed to be in place. Top class performances from Samudrakani and Lakshmi Gopalaswami. Climax sequences were breathtaking though I had expected a lot more. Hats to Lalettan's dedication to do such stunts when he could easily veto without any issues.

The supporting cast for the movie did a good job. Ananya is good. Hope she gets more meaty roles. Kailesh was ok for this role. I really don't see him going far though.

TL,DR: Shikkar is worth a watch (or 2!) if you are a Malayalam movie fan and a must watch if you are a Mohanlal fan.

Rating: 6/10

Reminscing the Classics: Onnu Muthal Poojyam Vare

The new series of posts to kick off some activity in this blog. I am trying to get hold off some old malayalam movies that I haven't watched in a long time. In the process, reminisce the best our movie industry has to offer to the viewers. First up, Onnu muthal poojyam vare.

Just finished watching this little masterpiece of a movie by Raghunath Palery. The title translates as 'From One to Zero'. It literally points to our old analogue telephone where one came before zero and figuratively points to the story of the characters: From hope to hopelessness.

The movie portrays the story of Aleena, a widow and her 4 year old daughter Deepamol. Aleena lives with her daughter treasuring the memories of her late husband (a western musician, played by Prathap Pothan) in a big house. She repeatedly dismisses the notion of remarriage. She is a painter and works in the advertising industry. Deepamol is a bubbly little girl always playing around with the telephone making random calls. One such call turns their life forever when Deepamol gets in contact with her "Telephone Uncle".
Deepamol gets attached to Telephone Uncle very fast. Though Aleena was on the fence and skeptical of the man's intentions, she eventually falls in love. Telephone uncle resists the coercions from the mother and never reveals his name or whereabouts. Finally, he comes to their place on the night of Deepamol's birthday raising Aleena's hope for a better life, only to put an end to it within a very short time.
The movie explores the loneliness of Aleena and the need of a father figure for her daughter. Wonderfully crafted and scripted. The copy I had with me was quite poor in quality and skipped a lot. I would guess the abrupt cuts I found in the movie is inherent to my copy and not in the actual movie.
Aleena is played by Asha Jayaram (where did she disappear?) and accurately reflects the emotions of a young widow. She emotes well, but does tend to go overboard in certain occasions. She has the perpetual sad face perfect to the role. Geethu Mohandas steals the show as Deepamol. Very childlike unlike most child characters we see in our movies. Does not go overboard with her tantrums or in saccharine high sequences. Hats off to dubbing artist as well! Mohanlal is brilliant as Telephone Uncle. He appears only in the climax (apart from minor glimpses), but maintains a presence throughout the movie as the voice on the telephone. His performance is spellbinding even when he is not making an appearance. His voice modulation is spectacular and we can feel his emotions through the voice itself. Minor characters played by Shari, Nedumudi Venu, and Sukumari are well written and well acted, blending seamlessly in the whole narrative. Suresh Gopi and Mukesh drops in for guest appearances. Somebody else has dubbed for Mukesh and it clearly shows! Feels like an absolute eye(ear?)sore.
All in all, finely crafted movie. Get hold off the movie from Moserbaer and watch it!

Bhramaram: The Disquieting Buzz

Cross posting from regular blog.

Watched Bhramaram last Sunday. I wanted to plonk down some multiplex money on the movie as the reports have been pretty good. But my fear of getting to know the entire story made we watch it while I was in Kerala. Money well spent and won't hesitate to watch it again from a plushy multiplex as opposed to the stench I subjected myself to watch the movie.

Bhramaram heralds the return of form for two people Malayalam cinema needs badly. Mohanlal and Blessy, with the latter being even more important. After a couple of woeful outings in the form of Red Chillies and Sagar Alias Jacky, Mohanlal returns what he does best. Acting, as opposed to dressing up and walking up and down.

The life of the movie is Mohanlal and its his show all the way. A good thing this time, as the other actors are at best par and many of them below par. The story is simple and the movie moves along at a crisp pace. The movie is about love, redemption, and revenge. Locations are fabulous and fresh. Camera work is superb and technically the movie is excellent.

The worst point in the movie for me was the annoying acting of the kid acting as Mohanlal's daughter. She spoils the drama and makes you cringe instead of sympathize. Movie could have been made crisper had Blessy avoided the song towards the end (which was pretty dumb in my opinion). He could have cut short the fight sequence or avoided it altogether. Blessy should have taken a queue from his teacher Padmarajan. In Thoovanathumbikal, not a single fight scene is present. Still we strongly feel that Jayakrishnan, the protagonist, is a tough nut. Screenplay could have been tighter and a little more fleshed out. These factors stop the movie from being an outright classic and one at par with the golden stuff our industry gave in the 80's. Movie does remind you of Thaazhvaaram, the classic revenge saga, but this stands a couple of feet shorter next to it due to the avoidable discrepancies.

Blessy's return to form is welcome after the disaster of Calcutta News. Me personally enjoyed Bhramaram more than Thanmaathra. Bold statement! May be its just me that feels the artificiality projected by happy families in Blessy's movies.

Verdict: Watch it! You certainly won't regret it!