Women Empowerment : with a bit of Endosulfan

How Old Are You ? (HOAY)

Credits
Listin Stephen (Production) under the banner of Magic Frames
Roshan Andrews (Direction) | Bobby Sanjay (Story, Screenplay, Dialogues)
R Diwakar (Cinematography) | Gopi Sundar (Music & Background Score)

1996 to 1998 was a good time for Mollywood and the industry saw a huge shift in behaviour - scripts were being crafted for a lady who showed exemplary acting skills! If she has to return after a 14 years of silence, it has to be with a big bang. How Old Are You (HOAY) does do justice to that gala comeback of Manju Warrier to a large extend!

Nirupama Krishnan, used to be a fire-in-the-belly type economics graduate of year 1998. When the story starts, Nirupama is 36, a UDC clerk with the Revenue department a run-of-the-mill working woman who lives a very mediocre and mechanical life, supporting her husband Rajeev (Kunchacko Boban) and a 13 year old daughter Lakshmi (Amritha Anil). Rajeev is in an attempt to migrate to Ireland to pursue his dream job and Lakshmi is quite excited about the plan. Nirupama's lethargy, age factor, some stupidity that creeps in due to her innocence and carelessness (all interwoven by some interesting, unheard and amusing instances) stand in the way of Rajeev and Lakshmi's plans. Rajeev explodes, creating agony in Nirupama and leaves to Ireland taking Lakshmi with him. Nirupama’s journey to make a personal signature in her life is what gets unfolded later in the movie.

Bobby-Sanjay & Roshan Andrews combination has gifted us with excellent works like Notebook & Mumbai Police in the past. (I don’t think they did Casanova deliberately!) Not necessarily from the same combination, there were movies like Traffic, Ayaalum njaanum thammil, Ente veedu appoontem, Udayanaanu thaaram and more! These were movies that had a fresh breath of air, and exhibited a class in experimentation, delivering profound messages with a grace of subtility. This element is grossly missing when it comes to HOAY. The biggest setback of this movie is it storyline that sound like a fairy tale. The series of events in the movie go on a fantasy mode many a times – and the audience is on a mode where they watch the movie for Manju Warrier, without really getting involved in the theme. You have a great message to convey and have managed to rope in an actress who has amazing potential - but the makers seem to derail on how to do it. Quite similar to a case where you have bought a high end smart phone and haven’t activated GPRS on it!

The story covers a week’s happenings in the first half without drag, while it has to convey another 18 months in the second half it leaves you boring at times. Somewhere, there is a mix of messaging that happens – was it supposed to be chasing your dreams, empowering yourselves or doing organic farming? Didn’t the series of incidents happen for Nirupama’s good, rather than she going behind something and achieving it? What was her dream BTW? – Questions remain!

The highlights of the movie:

• Manju Warrier –OF COURSE! Thumbs up to the fine portrayal of Nirupama – where she has to laugh, cry, struggle and the lead actor is quite graceful in taking the audience along with her emotions. A good comeback. 
• Kunchakko Boban – steals the show as the male chauvinist Rajeev. It’s a treat to watch him do the character to perfection. 
• A few well-executed moments - Sasikala coming back to Nirupama's bedside at the hospital, Nirupama-President first encounter, Nirupama confiding in Sasikala after retrospecting her 14 years, Nirupama - Jayachandran friendship etc. being a few of them. 
• The casting team does a good work in the right pick of supporting characters except for one or two. Sidhartha Basu’s cameo was a great idea! Muthumani as Sasikala, Thesni as Rani, Vinay Fort as Jayachandran, Kunchan as the father-in-law – all do justice to the roles. Special mention to Sethulakshmi who plays Madhavi Amma, and Kalaranjini plays the mother-in-law role – both giving some chuckles on your face!
• Liked the makeup technique of adding it more on Manju’s face (since the theme is about age and expiry date) and leaving the other characters to near-mute makeup.
• Sameera Saneesh does a great job when it comes to costumes, except for one character! Manju’s saree collection is worth a mention.
• Gopi Sundar yet again proves that he is a specialist when it comes to background score. The BGM gives a fresh touch to many of the comedy scenes and adds to the emotions during the second half.
• Overall, one should be thankful to Bobby, Sanjay, Roshan and of course to Listin Stephen for making a comeback of Manju happen this way. If it were in the wrong hands, we would have had a sentimental melodrama! As the movie makes soaring profits, this young guy - Listin Stephen needs a round of applause for ensuring that he spends his money on good attempts that can definitely bring back multi folds of the investment. The industry will go places if we can create more Listins J
• Don’t know whether to write it as a good point – there are some dialogues and situations that are planted to ensure that the movie has a resemblance to Manju’s professional and her much deliberated personal life. It obviously goes an extra mile in attracting mass audience sentiments towards the movie. Not sure how much of it was required!

The not-so goods:

• The story line - there was a lot of scope in this movie to make it many folds better. More logic and natural course of actions would have made it really a deserving come-back for Manju.
• Off late our movie makers tend to depend a lot on social media. It may be a viral trend, but these threads may go outdated once new ideas become the trend! In other words, such movies may not live through ages. 
• On actors - Kaniha’s placement in the movie - characterization, appearance, costumes and her acting! It’s like you are a pure vegetarian ordering Idly-Sambar from a restaurant and spot a big lump of beef in it (pun intended!). Suraaj scene was unwarranted, and overdone
• The track – Vijanathayil, done by Shreya Ghoshal is pretty average and lacks clarity. Why Shreya? I think it is high time to stop using her like a vending machine that gives songs.

Verdict: This will fall into one of those rare movies in Malayalam that is totally focussed on women and hence will be remembered. For those who feel that they have kept aside their dreams, this movie is definitely recommended – women folks especially.
This probably is Bobby-Sanjay-Roshan-Listin’s movie for the masses. Sans the storyline, HOAY is a well rendered movie, and won’t leave you disappointed. Just that you shouldn’t think too deep into it. If you do that, it will leave you with a lot of irritations – quite similar to your frustration of eating a lot of pesticide filled vegetables daily, very well knowing the tale of its origin!

Fresh Catch

Movie Review : Mosayile Kuthira Meenukal - Malayalam

Credits:

Niyas Ismail (Production) under the banner of Frames Inevitable
Ajith Pillai (Direction)
Ajith Pillai, Vipin Radhakrishnan (Screenplay)
Abhinandan Ramanujan (Cinematography)
Prasanth Pillai (Music & Background Score)

Fresh catch! 

The swordfishes (kuthirameenukal) that come with mosa (Waves as per Lakshwadeep language) are known for being selfish. Debutant director Ajith Pillai, tries to convey the idea of selfishness and selflessness through the analogy of the lead characters to sword fishes. This is an average movie that makes you feel good towards the end of it.

The story starts from Alex (Asif Ali) narrating his own past as he sits trapped in a drainage during his effort to break out from a jail! Soon he meets Akbar (Sunny Wayne) who had followed his same route and together they try to escape. The presence of Akbar becomes inevitable for Alex, which leads him to follow Akbar and the two reach Lakswadeep, which is Akbar's native. Akbar's past, his love interest Isah (Swati Reddy) and the mission he is in right now, becomes the focus during the latter half of the movie.

When it comes to acting, Sunny Wayne essaying the role of Akbar with ease and proves again that he is worth considering for bigger assignments! Swati Reddy as the fallable in love, Isah does her job very well. Asif Ali, who in reality is in a support role is managed well, though he is still in the High School when it comes to acting. I would say it is a strategic casting considering satellite rights. Jojo Mala as Jailer Mathew is worth a mention. Janani Iyer was avoidable by all means!

The positives:

• Abhinand Ramanujam's cinematography that captures the stunning location - Andaman & Lakshwadeep, which is a welcome change. These places were so close and Mollywood hardly went there. The underwater and ocean shots also stood out.
• The freshness in the whole theme and casting of the lead characters.
• The usage of Lakshadweep dialect by a few characters, managed at the right levels in the script.
• A neat movie without adult content - as against the conventional definition of new generation, makes it good for families.
• Decent music and background score by Prasanth Pillai

The not-so-goods:

• A few unwarranted cuts and jumps in the script, seems to have planted to make it look a unconventional - makes it feel awkward to the viewer. (One close comparison could be you missing one of those obvious speed breakers on MC Road and thinking, who put it here!)
• Some bloody old cliches - especially when it comes to Asif Ali- Janani Iyer pair, typical see off scenes before a planned flight/ship journey, waiting time, "one year later" scrolls and all that! Yet another obvious one, a box of cash left unclaimed (we started seeing it from In Harihar Nagar)! Was that a message?
• Janani Iyer's unrealistic character and acting and a type-casted Nishant Sagar.
• @Prashanth Pillai - for this part of the world, I believe it is still a little too early to have a theme song for the lead pair. Good idea, but creates drag in the 2nd half.
• At the end of it, the movie may not leave a deep impact in you. As my co-viewer commented "oru punch illa" :) 

Verdict : All said, this doesn't fall under the avoidable category and Ajith Pillai can be happy for his entry to the industry. Recommended for frequent movie goers. If you want Thoovanathumbikal, Manichithrathaazhu or Ustaad Hotel being released on every Friday, keep waiting. 

Too raw!!! (Paaleri Manikyam)

Movie : Paaleri Manikyam – Oru Paathira Kolapaathakathinte Kadha (Malayalam)

Credits:
Subair (Varnachithra) (Production)
Ranjith (Direction, Screenplay)
TP Rajeevan (Original Story)
Manoj Pillai (Cinematography)
Sharath, Bijibal (Music)

A little too raw!!!

The first sexual harassment case in independent Kerala, that happened in 1957 - Novelist T.P. Rajeevan had made this as the theme for his novel and Ranjith does a movie adaptation with the same name – Paaleri Manikyam : Oru Paathira Kolapaathakathinte Kadha (Paaleri Manikyam : The story of a midnight murder) A good trend to look forward to – Of late, Mollywood falls short of movie adaptations of novels.

The protagonist – Haridas (Mammotty) is a private detective. All throughout his life, he had been haunted by the murder mystery of Manikyam that happened on the same night that he was born at the village Paaleri of Vadagara district in Kerala. Haridas and his crime analyst girl friend Sarayu (Gowri Munjaal) comes to Paaleri to with a sole aim to quench his curiosity – as stated by him, he doesn’t want to punish the culprit. It’s too late and all of the suspects and convicts seem to have been dead.
Haridas and Sarayu start traversing through old police records and folklores. They also get different interpretations of the incident from people like Balan Menon (Siddique), Kesavan (Sreenivasan) and KP Hamsa (Scriptwriater T Damodaran) who lived during the time of Manikyam’s death.
The story traces back to Cheeru (Swetha Menon) - a notorious village prostitute, and Pokkan her son, who is a village idiot. 21 year old Manikyam was married to Pokkan for just 11 days, when she was killed. One version of the story stated that she was raped and killed, another story said that she hanged herself on a tree, and yet another said that she fell in the paddy field and suffered a head injury, following an epileptic disorder. On the night when Manikyam got killed, the entire village had gone for a drama screening nearby, a temple priest’s body was found dead in the river and a godman in the locale had absconded. Interestingly, the name of an affluent landlord, Ahammed Haji (Mammootty again) is discussed many times during the investigation, but he never comes in the final list of convicts. Ahmand Haji is known for his crave for women!
The final conclusion was that Manikkyam was raped and killed by 3 men. The 3 culprits who were convicted for the case went scot free due to the lack of proper evidence. Haridas and Sarayu travel further, and the audience get to see the life of Cheeru, her special relationship with Ahammed Haji, Manikkyam’s marriage, the changes that her death brought in to the village and also the impact that the incident had on the political agenda of that part of Kerala. Finally Haridas succeeds in unearthing the real truth behind the murder.
There are only 5 actors in this movie, which Mollywood knows – Mammootty, Srinivasan, Sidhique, Suresh Krishna, & Shwetha Menon. There are more than 30 characters representing two generations popping in and out at different stages of the investigation. The cast includes theater artists who underwent a rigorous training workshop that made them fit to do the different roles in the movie. Ranjith requires special mention for this effort - the whole cast looks fresh and authentic to the time of the story. The director has also taken special efforts to make sure that the script contains the novel pretty well. The movie is gripping, except towards the end.
Camera by Manoj Pillai is a treat – it captures the village in 50s at its pristine looks! Bijibal’s background score does a heck of a job in maintaining the effect of a thriller. However, Bijibal and Sharath disappoint when it comes to the 2 songs in the movie.
Among performances – Mammootty’s Ahammed Haji leaves a lasting mark. The actor is probably at one of his bests, long since we saw the star doing a negative role, and that is a welcome change! The entire set of fresh faces does 100% justice to their respective roles. Sreenivasan on a small but serious role is very effective and Sidhique is his usual self. The charming Maithili who comes in the title role of Manikkyam, unfortunately has nothing to do other than some flesh exhibition! An OOMPH and a PHEW to Shwetha Menon - the actress seems to have matured enough to take up very challenging roles, especially the ones that require an attitude and quite a bit of exposure.
On the flip side, Ranjith seem to bulldoze people by telling things which viewers can otherwise realize on their own. He had messed up earlier movies as well (example, Chandrolsavam) trying to do this. At times, when Haridas comes and narrates finer details of the story, it doesn’t leave much room for viewer’s discretion – not really expected out of good directors! The technical effects used to show a double role towards the end of the story seem to be primitive and sticks out like a sore thumb.
Wonder how this movie cleared the censor certifications. If it were to be streamed on HBO, am sure it is going to get and L, S & V note – there are violations of language content, enough of more of sexual references and little bit of violence throughout the movie.
In order to prove that the hero’s extra marital girl friend is ultra modern, Gowri Munjal is asked to puff a cigarette in almost all the scenes that she appear – and it doesn’t come to her naturally. Avoidable idea!

Verdict: The movie per say is good and is recommended for movie buffs. Rich in visual, characters and content! Not recommended with family if your folks are sensitive and kids are inquisitive! It’s a little too raw and need not always leave the right tastes in your mind!

Too Short & a little sweet (Neelathamara)

Movie : Neelathamara (Malayalam)

Credits:
Suresh Kumar (Revathy Kalamandir) (Production)
LalJose (Direction)
M T Vasudevan Nair (Script)
Vijay Ulaganath (Cinematography)
Gokul Das (Art direction)
Vidyasagar (Music)

Too Short & a little sweet!

Suresh Kumar of Revathy Kalamandir is an intelligent investor. Rope in a good director and re-do an old movie, make it visually attractive, spend less on cast and more on songs, promos & marketing – it brings a good return! The 1979 movie penned by classic writer MT Vasudevan Nair and directed by Yusuff Ali Kecheri went un-noticed. What the producer and director attempted to is a commendable initiative – there are many movies of the past failed to get the attention that they deserved and we would be at an advantage to have them come back with a fresh cast!
After watching the movie, you feel like having read a short story - the thread that short and simple. The movie opens in 2009, where Kizhakkeppatt Malukkutti Amma, a lady in her 80s (Sreedevi Unni) is bedridden and is in search of a maid. The lady’s daughter-in-law Ratnam (Jaya Menon) and granddaughter Beena (Ratnam’s daughter) are visiting her. Apparently, Beena and Ratnam are at odds as Beena doesn’t seem to digest her mother’s re-marriage following her father’s death. Enter Kunjimaalu, their old maid (Asianet fame Parvathy) who offers support to take care of the old lady. She appears to be quite well settled, and updates Ratnam about her husband and children. As they converse the memories take both the ladies to their lingering and nostalgic past.
The cast changes as the movie goes to the flashback – Kunjimalu (Archana Kavi) is being brought to the Kizhakkeppat bunglow as a maid. She is well received and taken care of by Malukkutti Amma (Sreedevi Unni sans a wig). Shaarathe Ammini (Rima Kallingal) is their neighbor and Kunjimalu’s friend. Haridas (Kailash) Malukkutti Amma’s son comes home after completing his LLB degree. As heard in many other stories the young flirt tries to woo the maid. After a lot of initial resistance, Kunjimalu’s infatuation leads her to Haridas’ bedroom. Typical again, the matriarchal system suggests an early marriage for Haridas with his fiancé Ratnam (Samvritha Sunil). Kunjimalu is cheated and devastated, as Haridas seem to take everything for granted. An intelligent Ratnam, digs the past quite easily during the first few days of their marriage and confronts her husband!
Something peculiar in the neighborhood is a temple and the rare phenomenon of a blue color lotus like flower which blooms once in a while (and hence the name neelathamara). It is believed that when people do genuine prayers to the god, this flower blooms in the pond as a proof that the prayers got answered. The entire story revolves around this unique concept and is well linked to it until the climax.
Good things first: A great thought and attempt to bring back a rather un-noticed movie of the past. Lal Jose proves his class as a director. The theme is well laced with romance and sensuality, so that the new generation doesn’t really feel out of place while watching the movie. It also leaves a feeling of nostalgia among many. The director had been creative enough in visualizing how things would have changed after 30 years. Due attention have been given in re-creating the characters, and finding fitting replacements to each of them. Quite thoughtful that the character of Ratnam retains the voice of Samvritha Sunil, even in the older age. Kukku Parameswaran does a good job as costume designer.
Cinematography by Vijay Ulaganathan, Art direction by Gokuldas – both needs commendation as it serves a key role in recreating the 70s. Vidyasagar blows us off with 2 songs – Neelathamaree, and Anuraga Vilochananaayi. Casting is good - Archana was splashed on to the minds of Malayalees as a new sensation and she has taken all efforts to don the role of Kunjimalu to perfection. Sridevi Unni is excellent as Malukkutti Amma, Kailash is just fine as Haridas. Samvritha Sunil, who plays the well-read, smart and mature Ratnam of the 70s, steals the show even though hers is an extended cameo.
The negatives: The movie is too short of content. Nothing much to be shown as a movie and 2 hours is just more than enough for what is to be told. The end is rather abrupt - the audience doesn’t seem to come into terms with it, when the movie ends. Unfit to the character and weird in dialogue delivery, Rima Kallingal misses the bus in the role of Ammini - a character that was expected to leave a mark in the minds of the viewers. With all the homework done and extra effort to re-create the 70s, the director and crew commit an unpardonable mistake! In a long shot where Kunjimalu goes till the bank of the river to call Haridas, one can spot the high raise buildings of MES College, Kuttippuram, which came up in the late 90s!

Verdict: Don’t go with tall expectations! If you read MT, Basheer and the likes, you MAY like it!

Passenger - Malayalam Movie Review

When you dare to experiment, you end up being different!
I f you ask me what the Mollywood screen was lacking for the past few years – I would say innovation, new ideas and young talents. Unlike the neighboring Tamil big screen, which brought out many different movies (from M Kumaran to Anniyan to Mozhi to Subramaniapuram to Saroja) Malayalam audience were contented either watching 2 hour stereotype substandard stories or seeing their old superstars doing the same thing all over again. Here comes a talent to look for – Ranjith Shankar – with his first movie “Passenger” that brings something different on to the screens – a thriller – which we have been missing for years. A thriller that not just glues you to your seat for a solid 2 hours but drives in a social commitment message as well.Well…the storyline: Sathyanathan (Sreenivasan) is a typical average middle class guy working in the Finance department of a private chemical firm. He commutes by a passenger train every day to his workplace, and like many others has programmed his body clock to sleep and get up at exact locations. The initial set of scenes give enough lighter moments with the co-commuters of Sathyanathan (played by Harisree Asokan, Kochupreman, Anoop Chandran and T P Madhavan) discussing the political and social issues around them and interpreting it in the way that affects their life. Sathyanathan is also portrayed to be a temple festival buff and at home he has a nagging wife (Lakshmi Sharma) a TV Crazy mother (Valsala Menon) and 2 kids.As Sathyanathan’s life goes ahead on a preset mode, we also get to see a couple whose life is on the fast lane – Adv. Nandan Menon (Dileep) and Anuradha Nandan (Mamta Mohandas) who is a reporter for a channel, Right TV. The burning issue that affects the ruling party and Minister Thomas Chacko (Jagathy Sreekumar) is about black sand extraction from a shore village by name Marankara. The minister is accused for molestation of a social activitist from the place – Thankamma Rajan (Sona Nair). As Nandan Menon appears in court for the villagers of Marankara and Anuradha gets appointed by her channel to cover a live interview of the minister, the couple becomes a pain for the minister and his gang.On one particular day, Anuradha does a risky operation on the minister and shockingly realizes that the minister and his gang have deadly plans to wreck the state. Thomas Chacko finds out that his plans have leaked out and is now in bad need of Anuradha. At about the same time, Nandan and Sathyanathan meet for the first time (Dileep & Sreenivasan sparkles the screen with comedy) during a train journey when Sathyanathan happens to oversleep. The minister’s gang decides to use Nandan as a victim to bargain with Anuradha. When they carry out the ploy, as fate would have it - Sathyanathan gets drawn into it. The story takes a special turn here, and ensures that you are at the edge of your seat till the next 90 minutes.Sreenivasan handles the role of a typical, and finicky middle class guy – he doesn’t need any special training for that role. Dileep gives out a good performance in the subtle and to be underplayed role of Advocate Nandan, though the sophistication of a leading advocate is a little too far for him. Mamta Mohandas, who is known as a glam doll in South India steals the show gets a role with a lot of stuff in it. Among all others, the actress covers maximum length of the film roll and proves her worth. The smart, and adventurous TV reporter is carried out convincingly with ease, well supported by the voice from Vimmy Mariam George. Anand Swami (as goonda “anali” shaji) and Sreejith Ravi as his assistant are good. Sathyanathan’s co-commuters have done well, but don’t have much to do. Sona Nair overacts as Thankamma Rajan, while Manikkuttan and Lakshmi Sharma are forgettable. Casting seems to be thoughtful, we haven’t seen Jagahthy in an end-to-end villain role, Dileep in a subtle role, and Nedumudi as a taxi driver for very often. Mamta was a good choice for the lead role.A thriller that has no songs, has to be supported by a good background score and Bijibal does just that. The camera and edits also adds to the pace of the movie. The animations used seemed to be a little primitive.The entire movie is the brainchild of debutante Ranjith Shankar and he surely deserves a round of applause for that. The choice of the plot (a real time movie that tells about things that happen in 2 days), the way it is scripted, and the treatment given to the subject – all make the movie special. The best part is the movie talks about real places, real trains, and real timings. The movie delivers a very good message towards social commitment of individuals and re-iterates the fact that the power of truth stands above anything else. The prevailing social and political issues and how it affects the life of lesser mortals – are analysed and laid out in the most subtle, still powerful way.Aren’t there loopholes in the script – Yes there are. When Sathyanathan comes to Adv. Nandan’s house and picks up Anuradha’s call – the house is shown as empty. There isn’t even a single person around at a house in Ernakulam, where the family living in the house is accused for the death of someone – unbelievable! It sounded a little difficult to digest the fact that, when Anuradha finally meets the colleagues in her channel, she just walks away with them forgetting about Nandan. I am also interested in knowing what wireless connection she uses that makes her send such a big file so fast to her manager at Right TV JBut, Mr. Ranjith – we forgive you for such small things, for you have given something unusual to the Malayalam big screen.
Verdict: Go ahead!

Soft Drink - Served Chilled - Bhagya Devatha - Malayalam Moive Review

Movie : Bhagyadevatha (Malayalam)
Credits:
Sathyan Anthikkad (Script & Direction)
Rajesh Jayaraman (Story)
Sarath Vayalar, Ilayaraja (Lyrics, Music)
Venu (Cinematography)

Soft Drink, Served Chilled!

…you know what it is, you know how it tastes, but when you are thirsty and it gets served chilled – you like it! Much similar is Sathyan Anthikkad’s latest offer – Bhagyadevatha. His 4th consecutive and frantic attempt after Achuvinte Amma (2005) to bring in something good, gets him a few miles close to his usual standards. The family movie maker finally casts the family actor Jayaram after a break of 6 long years and chooses the picturesque Kuttanad as the backdrop of his theme.

The protagonist Benny (Jayaram) is an average Malayali with high ambitions, who thinks a lot of money can bring him all that he dreams for. What he is actually left with is a local cable network “star shine”, the responsibilities of running a family consisting of his mother (KPAC Lalitha), sisters Sophie (Lakshmipriya), Saally and their grandmother (Rugmini). Coaxed by Sadananadan Pillai, a local tourist guide (Nedumudi Venu), Benny dreams of buying a fishing boat and making it big in life. What he needs is 5 Lakhs and the short cut as suggested by Pillai is a marriage – the dowry can get him to his dreams. The camera now spots a charming Daisy (Kaniha) who is the daughter of two teachers (Venu Nagavalli, Vanitha) who is destined to be Benny’s dame luck. Benny and Daisy get married.

You can imagine most of the part that is to follow, except for one single twist! Daisy’s father is not able to keep his promises on the dowry. A frustrated Benny denies Daisy of everything in a married life, and gives her an interval of 3 months to get the money to him. Daisy, in the meanwhile becomes the apple of the eye for Benny’s family. 3 months gone, no money and Benny drags Daisy back to her home. The news that strikes Benny the next day makes him feel stupid for what he did. Daisy is in demand now. The rest of the movie portrays how he vehemently tries to prove himself in front of her and her family.

The message that the story tries to convey is age old - the same message was delivered almost 10 times better by the same director in Ponmuttayidunna Thaaravu (1998) and Malayogam (Sibi Malayil – Lohithadas team) (1990), though at two different levels of emotions. The movie doesn’t come anyway near them. The theme by itself goes inconsistent when Sophie’s wedding happens fully adhering to the custom of dowry!

Sathyan Anthikkad deserves credit in transforming a story that lacks innovations to a rather enjoyable two+ hour script. The director has ensured enough humor content to make it interesting. The director is successful in blending lot of issues to the main theme – Benny finding it difficult to sell of his farm land due to objections from local politicians, the heroine’s father struggling to get his loan sanctioned are real good examples of current social situation. There are 4 different marriages that get into the main storyline and each one is seen from a different perspective. The interlude of social reformation messages (a little less this time as compared to the previous movies) goes overly annoying in one scene where Benny tries to patch up with Daisy at her office. The goodness of the heroine could have been projected too much making it a melodrama, which (thankfully) the director has not done. The story best fits and must have run ages if it were put as a mega serial on one of those channels – and thanks to Rajesh Jayaraman for not doing it!

Casting and performances are the highlights of the movie. Jayaram essays the role of Benny with ease – happiness, cruelty, frustration, sentiments – all comes with ease to the experienced actor. For a change, he is presented better, thanks to the makeup. Director makes an extremely good choice for the heroine. The tall, fair and charming Kaniha seems to have understood the soft spoken, but smart Daisy completely and she deserves special credits for the lead role.
The entire supporting crew adds to the entertainment value. Venu Nagavalli seemed to be a perfect cast as Antochan – Daisy’s father. Mammukkoya, Santhakumari and Rashmi Nambiar as usual and nice neighbors, KPAC Lalitha as Annamma, Sreekumar as the foodie priest, Innocent as the forward minded drama artiste – all give good performances. Nedumudi Venu – as a business minded guide who manages to make more than a living, using his limited English knowledge – the actor is probably at one his bests! Special credits to the casting of Lakshmipriya as the infatuated Sophie – she has a good future in the industry. Narein is a wasted talent as Daisy’s friend and Bank Manager Sajan, while Samvritha Sunil looks stunning in a cameo.

Sad to say, Vayalar Sarath – Ilayaraja team fails to entertain on the music side. “Aazhithirathannil….” that is composed with a traditional “margam kali” base, seems to be good when you listen more. The song with Kaniha-Narain and Jayaram on the screen was not required – but is presented in a special way – quite a new idea.

Verdict: Average movie – Well enough to enjoy with your family.

It ain't all style! - Sagar Alias Jackie - Malayalam Movie Review

Movie : Sagar Alias Jackie (Malayalam)
Credits:
Amal Neerad (Direction, Cinematography)
S N Swami (Story, Screenplay, Dialogues)
Jophie Tharakan, Gopi Sundar (Lyrics, Music)
Vipin Mohan (Cinematography)

You aren’t too old to say it’s all style, are you?

Amal Neerad DOES NOT disappoint us completely with his 2nd attempt as a director. Sagar alias Jackie – is not as bad as it was bad mouthed!

The movie opens when a panicky Indu (Shobana) drives to the office of her father, - and the Chief Minister of Kerala (Nedumudi Venu). Apparently, her husband Manu (Manoj K Jayan) is missing and she has got a call asking for money to release him. The enthusiasm of the state head of police who rushes to solve the mystery is put down by Indu’s own brother Hari (Ganesan) who is against Manu and Indu, due to the politics at the minster’s home. Frustrated, Indu declares that she doesn’t need help from any of them to get her husband back and calls her friend – Sagar! Poooof!!! Electric guitars, slow motion shots, leather jackets, hummers, Dubai, Goa, guns and goons – for the rest of the 2 hours… and that’s Sagar Alias Jackie!

The hero gets introduced at Dubai, where he is helping Naina (Shivaji fame Suman) in a smuggling attempt. Sagar appoints his gang played by Jagathy, Vinayakan, Anu Anand and Sumit Nawal on the operation to rescue Manu. They trace Manu and reach Goa ruled by a don by name Rozario (Sampath) and his brothers. Sagar realizes that Manu’s kidnap was prompted most by his own deals, but however rescues and brings Manu back to the minister’s family.

The incident raises curiosity in CNN reporter Aarathi Menon (Bhavana) who tries to trace Sagar, without really knowing who he is. As Aarathi locks horns with Hari and threatens that his relationship with Naina will be revealed, she gets into the blacklist of the goons. Naina entrusts Sagar to keep an eye on her. As Aarathi survives an attack with the help of Sagar, she is all respects for him.

As the politics at the chief minister’s home end and Hari & Manu decide to join together, the villains led by Naina & Rozario see that as an opportunity to knock off Sagar. What follows is a real masala action, where the death toll of lead artistes crosses 7 (I don’t know when I stopped counting!) and ends in a rather predictable climax.

The bad things first: The script that goes pretty well in the first half slows down and leads to a very predictable, idiotic end of the movie, where the hero is almost made a super human. Technology is used, but the ideas as very primitive. Mohanlal-Bhavana pair – a little too much to digest on the first hand, and not to convincing that the hero was ready for a revenge when villains attacked her! Solo walks of Mohanlal – as many of the mail forwards mentioned, is a little overdone. Bala wasted in a guest role, while Shobana’s make up doesn’t help cover her age.

The good things: Lal – the actor who has done the re-incarnation of Sagar in the best way possible – Subtle expressions, strong dialogues – he’s unique. The director and script writer seems to have done an excellent teamwork in transforming Jackie to an international don. The lifestyle and body language changes, but the inherent character remains the same
Good thoughts from SN Swami to have retained a few characters/events from the prequel “Irupathaam Noottandu” – Sagar seems to have a say in politician families, Sagar still doesn’t support people who do drug and flesh trade, the press reporter doesn’t know Sagar initially, (Bhavana’s Aarathi Menon and Ambika’s Aswathi Varma almost follow the same pattern as they get bumped on to Sagar), few dialogues get retained from the prequel, and of course the Telugu speaking sidekick – Ashokan (Jagathy). The script writer seems to be successful in setting a standard for the character, which probably can be carried over like a Bond series! J The movie is technically very sound – cinematography, edits, and presentation. Casting is good, especially the henchmen and the villains. And of course, the style factor – many scenes seems to have a real Hollywood touch (the one where Bhavana escapes the villain attack, the entry of Rahul Dev with a sniper gun are all a few examples)

And it will be a crime not to mention a ravishing Jyothirmayi, - in near bikini costumes on the Goa beaches! Amal Neerad & Co. you have set a standard on Mollywood for an item number! Phew!

Debutant Gopi Sundar bags full credits on the background score – good remix of the old score by Shyam following throught the movie. However, he does an average work on the songs. “Vennilave” featuring the lead pair, is hummable.

Verdict: The movie was definitely bad mouthed that it is all style and no substance. It is very much bearable. If you like style, go ahead…you will not regret! Ugh…Am sorry, I forget that am speaking to people who made “Veruthe oru Bhaarya” the biggest hit of last year!