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!