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.