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Veruthe Oru Bharya deserve praise!

Cast:   Jayaram, Gopika, Innocent, Suraj Venjaramude
Director:   Akku Akbar
 
Veruthe Oru Bharya is a family story that's different in both its story and treatment.
 
Sugunal (Jayaram) Bindu (Gopika) is husband and wife. Their daughter Anju (Nivedita) is a teenage school going girl.

Story revolves around this household where they lead their ordinary lives. Bindu is shown rising early to tend to a lot of household chores that ties her up for the whole day. She is often shown going to bed late in the night tired. However, that's the only time when her husband begins to treat her with some love though that’s attached to the objective of attaining carnal pleasures.
 
Devoid of appreciation, care, and compassion, she grows quiet frustrated with the the way things are unfolding in her family life. She keeps murmuring her complaints throughout the day. Every time her husband calls her, it will be either to ask her progress of some work, assign her some new chores, to blame her for some past chores or to highlight her inabilities.

Pace at which things progress in the movie is quite remarkable. First we see a hard working house wife always burdened with a heavy backlog of household chores. Then we are introduced to a husband who is insensitive to the pains of his wife. He things it is her duty and he let her enjoy neither freedom nor appreciation for her work. She is denied of any leisure and visit to her own home is a rare event.

Then we see places such as Suugunans place of work. He also goes for some parties and leisure but all alone leaving the overburdened wife back home. Anju, their daughter is busy with her studies and she shows no inclination to help her mother even at her request.

Suraj Venjaramood As Jayaram's colleague shines in his role.
 
For Bindu, the way her husband handles the matter of her mother’s death bring matters to the boiling point and she takes some hard decision at that point.

Story takes a turn once Bindu starts a no-cooperation movement. Sugunan is left alone with their daughter at their home. What happens after that forms the heart of the story.

Undoubtedly, this is one of the best movies to come out in recent times. It has been narrated with utmost precision and in a compelling style. Movie is a reflection of common characters in life. Many a husband and wife behave the same way as Sugunan and Bindu.

It is nice when a movie has a message for the society. This one definitely has an excellent message and for that message the effort deserves to be applauded.

Director Akku Akbar deserves commendation for the brilliant direction of the movie. Both Jayaram and Gopika has put in remarkable performance and the child artist matched their effort. It is a serious movie in synchronisation with many a real life family story.

No work is too trivial and no role is too small in a family. Equally important is a husband and wife's role. Only when both recognise this, family life becomes cool and easy. They have to love and respect each others role.

Veruthe Oru Bharya is a move that makes every husband introspect and many wives feel vindicated. Film reinforces the importance of love, affection, and respect within the family.

6 marks out of 10.

Minnaminnikkoottam - Ordinary story with very few good sparks.

Cast: Naren, Jayasurya, Indrajith, Manikuttan, Anoop Chandran, Meera Jasmine, Roma, Samvritha Sunil, Radhika, Saikumar
 
Direction: Kamal
 
Abhi (Narain) and Charulatha (Meera Jasmine) are in the lead in Minnaminnikkoottam.

They have a love hate relationship with stint of frequent quarrels followed by harmony. Mani Kunju (Jayasurya) has a sometimes platonic otherwise outspoken love for the smart moving Rose Mary (Roma). Rest of the friendship gang has Sidharth (Indrajith) and Mumtaz (Samvrutha), married couples and former lovers. Kalyani (Radhika) and Tamilian Parthasarathy (Anoop Chandran) complete the eight member friendship gang.
 
They often came together for food at the home of Sidharth (Indrajith) and Mumtaz (Samvrutha). A lot of the story revolved around these meetings as they dined.
 
The main affair being Abhi's and Charu's, let us follow that more closely. Film first takes us to Singapore where Charulatha is seen working before her PC. She gets an e-mail and a long flashback is offered. Taken back to India, we see their friendship playing out in office and outside.
 
Abhi brings the matter of their affair and his desire to marry Charu before his parents. Highly affluent parents, however, frequently failed to make their planned meetings with their sons beloved. Frustrated, Charu doubts that Abhi’s parents are truly not interested in their marriage because she comes from an ordinary family. She tells Abhi to come to Calicut to find out what real love and commitment of a parent means. Some of the few good moments of this otherwise not so fascinating movie unfolded in Calicut as Charu demonstrated to Abhi how much her father loved her. (Saikumar) as Charu’s father turned out one of the few remarkable performances of this film.

Failing to meet her sons would-be at her place of work, Abhi’s parents come to see her at Calicut.

That meeting at Charu’s home ended in Abhi’s father ridiculing Charu’s father. Taken aback and hurt by their insult of her beloved father, Charu shouts them out of the home in her characteristic sudden anger. There, their relationship comes to an abrupt end. What happens after that forms the crux of the movie. That again, unfortunately, is a predictable outcome.
 
The story has nothing new and Minnaminnikkoottam does not have many good moments either. Kamal has not been able to keep the story fresh and exciting. It proved a rather dull work with friendship as its main theme and many explosive and less explosive loves treading parallel to predictable outcomes.

4 marks out of 10.

Annan Thambi - an average entertainer!

Main Cast: Mammootty, Gopika, Lakshmi Rai, Janardhanan, Harisree Asokhan, Salim Kumar, Rajan P. Dev, Suraj Venjaramoodu.

Director : Anwar Rasheed

There is no central theme or much logic in the film. It is a loosely put together set of events that form a story, the focus being sibling rivalry. It is a Rajamanikyam style ‘thakarppan’ movie that the Anwar Rasheed tried to create yet again. However, his effort was mostly in vain with fault lines in several places, particularly the climax.

Mammootty is in double role in the movie. We are taken to the protagonists childhood as the film opens. Achu and Appu are the central characters in Anann Tambi. Appu is talkative, smart and Achu dumb. Both are good at fighting, though. Because of their dislike for each other right from the childhood, Appu is sent to Pollachi to live with his uncle.

Appu the eldest of the twins is a nasty troublemaker. Dharmarajan (Rajan P Dev), his past partner and present enemy, closely follows him in Pollachi trying to hit him at every chance. His niece Thenmozhi (Laxmi Rai) is madly after Appu.

Achu, his younger brother is dumb and not blessed with children. He is married to Lakshmi (Gopika). They both are assisting his father Ravunni (Janardanan ) in recreating the Puranas. Suraj, Salim Kumar and Harishree Ashokan present a lot of comedy on the lines of the ballet troupe roles of Mahabharath characters.

The scenes shift between Pollachi and Kerala. Appu rarely visit his own home due to the fact that he can find little consensus and often end up in bitter fight with his brother. Achu was involved in collecting donations for a temple festival as a committee member. Money suddenly vanished from the home along with the gold they were taking as a guarantee for lending money. In the matter, Appu is suspected of involved because Achu during the period had beaten up Appus friend who was visiting their Kerala home on behalf of Appu.

Consequently, Achu goes to Pollachi to retrieve money and Gold that was suspected to be with Appu. They come across Thenmozhi who elopes with Achu to Kerala thinking that it is Appu.

Then there was calm for sometime between the siblings and family seemed happy. Suddenly, a murder happens in the family in which an eyewitness implicates Achu.

We leave the rest for you to watch. Overall it is an average entertainer which you can watch not trying to apply much logic. Movie is far from Rajamanikyam but watchable mainly for its comedy compartment. Mammoottys performance was unimpressive. Songs are lovable though music feels like repetition. 

Suraj Venjaramoodu, Harisree Asokan, and Salim Kumar lend much spine to the otherwise predictable story. They deserve lot of appreciation.

5 marks out of 10.

‘Katha Parayumbol’ – Sreenivasan clinches another win.

Producer: Mukesh, Srinivasan
Director: M Mohanan
Cast: Sreenivasan, Mammootty, Meena, Innocent and Salim Kumar
Music: M Jayachandran

Everyone knows the top two actors in Malayalam, which is Mammootty and Mohanlal.  There is one more who proved yet again that he is not only a top actor but also the top all rounder in Malayalam film industry - that's our Sreenivasan.

In a touching story, beautifully narrated, and performed to perfection by versatile Sreenivasan, 'Katha Parayumbol', the latest flick from Srinivasan's stable, is a true revelation of his versatility. He does the script writing, become the leading man, and also has co-produced the movie with actor Mukesh.

Story goes like this: Famous hero of Malayalam, superstar Ashokraj, (Mammootty) visits the village for a film shooting. Word is out that Barber Balan (Sreenivasan) is his friend. People from all sections throng upon Balan and try to impress upon him to get to see Ashokraj from close. Under piling pressure, Balan tries to see Ashokraj by going to his guest house, by calling him by phone, and by even swimming to the shooting location. But he fails miserably in all those ways. He is also not sure whether Ahokraj remembers him after more than 25 years. He doubts even if Ashokraj does remember, whether he shall be humble enough to recognize their relationship because Balan, his old friend, is a small man now.

In the beginning he ignores and resists villagers pressure to accompany them to Ashokraj. Finally, it is when the pressure gets very intense, he caves in. At his children’s school too, PTA meeting had elicited word from Balan that he shall get Ashokraj to an school function.

Barber Balan, our protagonist, is a Barber in Melukavu literally struggling with his life. But he rarely makes one feel that he is actually going through a difficult life. He is always content with what he is. He fits the word stoic - 'free from passion and unmoved by joy or grief', content with what life throws up on him. In the film, he is also actually able to make you feel the pain he is going through under his facade of joy.

His problems are numerous. He aspires to get a revolving chair at his Barbershop where he is steadily losing his clientele due to the antique accessories and setup of his shop. He has competition from his neighbouring modern barber shop run by Sarasan (Jagadeesh). He can't pay his children’s school fees in time. He is struggling to make enough money to even buy essential food items for his wife to make a days meal. His wife Sridevi (Meena) who eloped with him after an affair is although struggling with him is content like him with the life shared with him.

At the Barber shop, he tries to reduce the charges to attract some customers and finally succeeds in doing so to some extent. He is also an object of ridicule for most people in the town and the poet of the town played by Salim Kumar even makes a comedy style poem about Balan 'Vythysthanamoru Barberam Balan' - which is a quiet well made one.

Through the entire struggle, he is so upright and honest to the core in his life. He is also feeling an inferiority complex and that’s one reason, he is hesitant to meet his old friend who is very famous and a multimillionaire and one who can quickly save him from his perils if he chooses to do so.

It is what happens next after his failure to meet Ashokraj and whether he can meet him, whether Ashokraj recognizes him which forms the crux of the story - we will leave that for you to face.

It is a wonderful movie, a type of which was not seen in recent times. Coming from Sreenivasan it is also flawless. Song 'Mampulli Kaavil' coming as part of Mammootty's movie being shot in the film has been a great number too.

It is a story that reminds one about how hard some people struggle with their life and in spite of all the odds, maintain their integrity, honesty, and humble manners. It is a story in which you begin to think what kinds of turns await people in their lives?

Sreenivasan and all those who are responsible for this venture deserve a standing ovation. Sreenivasan never fails to surprise and in this movie he has done more than surprise; after he fed people all his comedy, he also made them cry. Location of Thodupuzha, acting by the lead team, direction by the debutant, songs, and comedy department were all outstanding and deserve commendation.

7 marks out of 10.

Mission 90 Days - Major strikes again!

Cast : Sivaram - Mammooty, Salam Ali - Kiran Raj, DIG Radhavinod Raju - Lalu Alex
Story, Screenplay Direction : Major Ravi, Producer : Sasi Ayyanchira

Mission 90 Days, the action packed Mammooty flick, goes into great detail about the plot and investigation behind Rajiv Gandhi Assassination. It follows the hot trail until the very end when cops round up the perpetrators in a house on the outskirts of Bangalore.

Most people still remember in clear detail how one of our bright and young leader's life was taken by suicide bombers of the LTTE. Time stood still in India when people tried to assimilate the seemingly unbelievable that happened in Sriperumputhur near Chennai that day on an election rally.

Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on the night of May 21, 1991 at an election rally at Sriperumputhur near Tamil Nadu capital Chennai (Madras) by Dhanu, a woman suicide-bomber. A BBC news quote that time put it like this, "He was campaigning for the Congress Party on the second day of voting in the world's largest democratic election when a powerful bomb, hidden in a basket of flowers, exploded killing him instantly"

Attack killed 14 others and shocked the country. It was a gruesome killing and the great Indian son lay dead succumbing to the wrath of dreaded LTTE for sending IPKF (Indian Peace Keeping Force) to Sri Lanka. It is a pity that India couldn't protect him from the hands of the assassins. There were reports that time that his protection was reduced even though the threat to his life remained high.

Mission 90 days, the movie, is focused entirely on the investigation that ensued and commando operation later. The movie takes you through the riot across the country after the killing. Our commando chief Major Sivram (Mammooty) is maneuvering a car journey right from Delhi to Kerala in through the heat of the riots. His car is shown moving rapidly through streets of Tamil Nadu set fire by the angry mob.

He reaches his hometown safe daring the mob but in a wrecked car. Longing to embrace his wife and join his family and friends he is relieved to be home. His father is ex military (Innocent) and beautiful wife is Tulip Joshi. He also has his friend (Salim Kumar), waiting for the regular bottle of liquor that he would bring him.

However, his peace of mind is short lived. Soon, he gets a call from Delhi to report to the SIT office in Chennai and to take charge of the special investigation team investigating Rajiv Gandhi murder. Duty bound, he leaves quickly for Chennai and joins his team. There, he is joined by DIG Raju (Lalu Alex) and other team members. Their orders were to "catch Sivarasan and his associates alive before they consume the cyanide". 

One of the first things the SIT team examined was some photographs which were taken by a local photographer. The assassination was caught on film through the lens of this photographer, whose camera and film was found from the site.

Hatched in Jafna, Sri Lanka, plot to assassin Rajiv Gandhi was meticulously planned by one eyed Sivarasan. The movie tells in clear detail and in a nice action filled style, how the investigation team proceeded from one member of the assassins to the other and how each one was caught or killed by themselves (cyanide capsules take a big role).

At one stage, the film shows exactly how the SIT planned to apprehend the perpetrators before they could consume cyanide capsules by injecting antidote and through rapid overpowering of the culprits by small explosions to stunt them for seconds. However, towards the end of the movie when Sivarasan was to be caught in their Bangalore hideout, due to the common bureaucratic apathy, they could not launch their final mission in time and execute their plan to take the assassins alive.

Unlike his first movie, the wholesome 'Keerthichakra', the story of Mission 90 Days is narrowly focused on Rajiv Gandhi Assassination’s plot, the investigation and commando operation that followed. So it is quite monotonous as a movie in that sense. But what is better than focusing solely on a small but interesting story and telling that compellingly? In doing that, the movie is a grand success.

The way the story is narrated is quite unique and it banks heavily on the experience of Major Ravi's direct involvement in the real commando operation that went on to nab the dreaded killers of Rajiv Gandhi. Major Ravi is on the right track of film making and one wonders what comes next from him? Is it a story on Kargil war? Let us wish he does it with the same ease and poise.

6 marks out of 10.

Cuba Mukundan as Pravasi - 'Arabikatha'

Director : Lal Jose, Producer : Hussain
Cast :  Sreenivasan, Nedumudi Venu, Indrajith, Zhang Shumin, Narayanan Nair, Salim Kumar, Jayasurya, Saadique, Suraaj Venjaramoodu, Samvritha Sunil.

Film starts of with the strike on a leather factory which ends with the police lathi-charge on Cuba Mukundan (Sreenivasan) and other party followers including Anwar (Indrajith).

Leather factory is owned by businessman Kunjunni (Jagathi Sreekumar). Mukundan loves communism and is a staunch activist. Karunan is his colleague in the party and he tries for a compromise between Kunjunni and Mukundan on the leather factory’s environmental damage issue.

Karunan also wishes to see Mukundans iron grip on the local party workers loosen and wants to take over the reigns of the local leadership. Mukundan accepts no compromise with Kunjunni and vows to continue their agitation. Karunan finally join hands with Kunjunni and traps Mukundan's father ‘Society Raghavan’ (Nudeumudi Vevu), also a staunch communist, in a cheque case amounting to 20 lakhs. Mukundan finally shoulders the responsibility of his father 'Society' Raghavan's wrongdoing himself and suspends his father from the party. Already in the hospital and under intensive care, Raghavan succumbs to his illness as his ouster was being announced.

Party recommends that Mukundan move to Gulf to earn money quickly so that his huge debt can be paid easily. Mukundan for whom Gulf is Burshua territory, could not comprehend the new recommendation. However party also suggests that he studies the working conditions of the thousands in the Gulf in which he finds some charm.

Next we see Dubai. Little did Mukundan realise that Kunjunni has his roots spread far and wide including where he is headed. In the Gulf he encounters numerous problems and his day-to-day survival itself becomes a question mark. Mukundan meets Kunjunni in his office in Dubai. But Kunjunni ridicules Mukundan and rightly makes him realise he is neither good for any labour work which needs physical exertion nor he knows how to operate a computer. In fact we are made to realise Mukundan and other such party leaders, is only good to be leaders and useful for nothing other than communism.

Keralites often think Gulf as a land of opportunities with abundant money. Mukundan who has to amass a large amount of money is terrified at the future and is often left with nothing to eat and no place to sleep. He begins a new realisation and finds that many people are trying hard and tough to makes ends meet in the arid Gulf. He comes across a Chinese girl Shu Min (Zhang Shu Min) who sells pirated CDs. He has the greatest respect for Cuba and China, both being communist countries. He never expected the great Communist Chinese to be doing something illegal such as pirate CD sales. Nevertheless he falls for her in subsequent meetings and with the help of some good and bad Keralite interpreters of Chinese language.

From here on, Movie moves into a faster pace and is beautifully told. Unlike what Mukundan expected, Chinese girl flees with his money. There were also tougher problems waiting for Mukundan. He never wanted to leave his beloved Chemmannur, In his forced exile in Gulf, he could not make ends meet, leave apart amassing an amount of 20 lakh rupees to clear his debt.

Two themes, one of hardships in the Gulf and the other being futility of Communism, is told refreshingly in the film. In the contemporary politics where the state CPM leadership is on the tenterhooks staring at scam after scam, it is socially relevant too. Many Keralites still think life in the Gulf is a celebration all along while the opposite is true more often. Movie strikes a cord and is definitely worth a watch. Songs are nicely done by debutant lyricist and music director. Dr. Iqbal Kuttippuram whom the story belongs to, deserve commendation for his efforts and Lal Jose as always has done a great job of putting it all together..

6 marks out of 10.

Hello - The right call.

Cast : Mohanlal, Parvathy Melton, Jagadhi Sreekumar, Madhu, Salim Kumar, Siddique, Ganesh Kumar, Suraj Venjaramoodu etc...
Direction : Rafi Mecartin
Producer : Joy Thomas.

Between his boozing sessions, Shivaraman (Mohanlal) rarely has his mind in place. He is a man living with the memories of his beloved love Priya who was tragically killed with the connivance of his parents. Soon he falls into despair and for liquor; always drinking around at home and at the Bars across the town. He is but not alone in his boozing sessions. Often he has the company of Chaandy kunhu (Jagadhi Sreekumar). Boozing often ends up in a fight with the fellow drinkers and they both enjoy such an end to the drink.

Presently a thorough alcoholic, Shivaraman was a busy advocate in his past. It is the tragedy of his love that derailed him. Once, half drunk as always, he happens to receive an SOS call from a girl named Parvathy (Parvathy Melton) who was kidnapped for ransom setup by her own well wishers. He goes out to rescue her easily finding out the Bar (locations of most he is already familiar) which she gave as the landmark to the building she was housed by the kidnappers. It is with this rescue that the story takes a turn.

She was in more danger than he thought, unable to go back to the home she belongs to, due to the threat from own family. The rest of of the movie is built around the efforts by this veteran lawyer in trying to save her from the clutches of imminent danger. For this, he goes onto live at her own home claiming that they are husband and wife.

Movie moves between comedy, fights, and love that Parvathy and Shivaraman develops once she is under his care. Jagathi, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Salim Kumar team handled the comedy department well and Parvathy seemed at ease with her dancing and she also brings yet another new face to Malayalam cinema and that's refreshing to the viewers; a beginners troubles are sometimes felt in her acting though. Movie is worth a watch although the story is far from anything special.

5 marks out of 10.

Vinodayatra - Journey of Vinod.

Cast       : Dileep, Meera Jasmine, Mukesh, Innocent and others.
Director : Sathyan Andhikad
Music     : Ilayaraja

Exasperated with his son’s irresponsible behavior and lack of seriousness in life, father decides to send Vinod (Dileep) on an expedition to better his knowledge of life.

He ends up with his father’s role model son-in-law Shaji Raghavan (played by Mukesh). Instead of reforming himself, he gives Shaji sleepless nights. Shaji is an Irrigation department engineer who is very systematic and truthful. Shaji and Vinod’s sister Vimala (Seetha) live next to a dam site (scenic location) as part of his job.

Shaji was shocked to learn that Vinod is being sent to him to learn from his good persona and tries his best to stop it. However by the time he was starting to make an effort at stopping Vinod’s visit, he was already on his way to Shajis home in search of overhaul of his character. Once in Shaji's home, he creates maximum troubles for Shaji though unintentionally. It peaked when Shaji was manhandled by the local people for one of Vinod’s bad deeds.

Finally Shaji manages to find a job for Vinod in a retired IGs (Nedumudi Venu) house for writing his autobiography. Personal assistant who is forced to get fish from the market, he is quickly disenchanted with the new job. However, on an official journey to Trivandrum, Vinod meets Anupama (Meera Jasmine). Though he lands in a fresh trouble, meeting with Anupama turns out to be a turning point in the film and Vinod’s learning of life. He learns more about life from her than his father’s role model son-in-law eventually.

An engineering student forced to stop her studies, Anupama although young, faces difficult problems due to her family’s circumstances. Murali does justice to his role as Anupama’s father. Vinod meanwhile gets close to her and is amazed by her abilities and strength of character. Rest of the story is focused around their relationship. Soon we come to the end of this Sathyan Anthikad story which is a good fun ride most part of it.

Dileep, Meera Jasmine, and Mukesh put up a good show in Vinodayatra and the fun is added by Innocent, Nedumudi, KPAC and others.

Similarities can be drawn to Sathyan’s recent hit Rasathanthram on both the location and story but the treatment is a little different and the cast has done a good job. Also, in both movies Meera's character becomes a turning point in the story. In a film, it is imperative that the story stays focused and that it is taken forward with minimum surprises. That alone will win the audience in the end.

Highlights of the film are good acting by the lead cast, good visuals, and also the comedy department. Overall it is an average film.

5 marks out of 10.

Classmates Deserve Applause.

"Ente Khalbile Vennilavu Nee.."

With the songs becoming super hits and a dream team led by Lal Jose and Prithviraj in their very best, Classmates is already on its way to becoming an all-time hit.

A special kind of narration in which the past and present is very differently mixed and used, film deserve accolades for its fresh treatment, songs, and a popular 'college life' theme. Movie starts of with the 1991 Chemistry batch meeting again. Apparently Chemistry batch has a lot to tell.

Storyline: Classmates from the batch arrive on a special party launched by Prof. Iyengar (Balachandra Menon) in memory of his son Murali (Sunil) who died tragically while still in college. Sukumaran (Prithviraj) is now a diamond merchant in Mumbai, Satheesan Kanjikuzhy (Jayasurya) an MLA, Pius (Indrajith) now in the Gulf, and Thara Kurup (Kavya Madhavan) is a professional dancer.

The story revolves around the politics, love, other minor and major incidents common in any college campus. Sukumaran and Thara Kurup were frequently up in arms over trivial things. However one day he happens to forcibly retrieve her from the clutches of the police.

Though confronting each other all the time, their enmity was a facade about to fall. Their love story forms the pillar of this campus tale. The way their affection was first revealed in itself was very different. We expect their relationship to flourish from here. However fate had other things in mind and they part ways soon.

We are seeing them again much later in life for this get-together mentioned in the beginning and there was more story waiting to be revealed. In fact story is told in a flashback.

Later on a more interesting sub plot which was concealed within the story was revealed. Here, Murali’s death and the mystery around it formed the core. His death which was first thought to be under normal circumstances had something more attached to it.

It is quiet a delightful story which many of our college lives might have to tell.

Many people who have seen the movie have spoken of having gone back in their mind of those beautiful old college days. In that opinion of film going public may lie the very success of this movie. Jagathi Sreekumar as Estappanachan came out with a commendable performance too.

Film moves between fun, love, and politics. Scenes in the hostel canteen and campus have all been fun. Role of Rasiya (radhika) have been uniquely blended into the whole story. Murali as Prof. Son brings out with tremendous performance too.

6 marks out of 10.

Vadakkunnathan has powerful performances:

Director:  Shajun Karyal, Producer: Baba Creations
Cast:        Mohanlal, Biju Menon, Padmapriya, Babu Namboothiri, Murali, Kavya Madhavan
Music:      Ravindran, Lyrics: Girish Puthenchery

With Raveendrans magnificent music and Mohanlal’s superb performance as highlights, Vadakkunnathan is a decent achievement.

Vadakkunnathan draws comparison with the previous Thanmatra in its theme and development. Similarities may be coincidental and it is however rather weak in comparison to the perfection of Thanmatra.

Film starts with a group heading for Haridwar. (Kaviyoor Ponnamma as Rukmavathy Amma) and son (Biju Menon as Prabhakaran) has arrived there to immerse the ashes of their supposedly “dead” son. However, mother finds that his son is alive and tries to get him to return home. He has no such interest however and tries to escape her grief-stricken and repeated requests. Haridwar is very well picturised and the scenes of Ganga as always a sight to behold.

Iringennoor Bharatha Pisharody (Mohanlal) is a professor at the Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kaladi. He is a scholar in Vedanta and his deep knowledge in Sanskrit is well known. Bharathan Mash as he is widely known is considered one of college’s best teachers.

His relation with (Padmapriya as Meera) whom is in love with is very intense and they are very attached to each other. Although he has often been a very serious and sometimes bizarre character, eventually their marriage is fixed.

Being his uncle’s daughter she was meant for him with the blessings of the family. On the day of the marriage, Pisharadi disappears mysteriously from the scene leaving a letter behind. Crux of the story revolves around this disappearance.

(Babu Namboothri and Murali as Meera’s father) is Bharathan uncles. Both have enacted their role exceptionally well. Viswanathan (Shammi Thilakan) is his brother and his sister is Bhama (Kavya Madhavan). Sankaran kutty Maash (Risabava) is Bharathan’s colleague with whom he is never easy going. Bharatahan at times showed a weirdness in his behaviour and manners which made most people who were close to him uncomfortable.

Highlights of the movie is Raveendrans music. Songs such as ‘Kalabham Tharam’, ‘Gange’, and 'Orukili Paattumoolave’ have become hits much before films actual release recently.

Mohanlal as Bharatha Pisharody is faultless. Padmapriya has done a commendable job too. Biju Menon and Kaviyoor Ponnamma played their parts well. Kavya Madhavan as Bharathans sister played her role impressively.

Shajun Karyal deserves to be appreciated for the overall accomplishment of the movie. Girish Puthenchery does a pretty good job of the screen play.

6 marks out of 10.