ODIYAN. The expectation was that big. And the hype went on and on so that people expected the moon. That is the problem and the reason probably why there was so much of badmouthing happening.
Odiyan is actually an okay movie. Honestly. Made in the conventional mould, director Shrikumar Menon, an adman, is a debutant in the feature film category. Given that, the opening scenes are riveting.
Odiyan stories abound, in the Malabar region and this is but one story of perhaps the last Odiyan. Unlike ghost and yakshi stories, the Odiyan was real and people knew who it was. But when and how he would strike was the surprise that people dreaded. The equivalent of a modern day goonda. At night, in the dim light of a coconut palmleaf torch, the Odiyan, who came dressed in oxen garb or any other animal, could literally spring a surprise and frighten a man into a faint or cause him to fall and hurt himself. That was all that an Odiyan did. Now that's the background of the story.
Mohanlal, the Odiyan, (Odiyan Manickan) is huge, supple and has made many enemies in the village. His role is larger than life and he lives up to it. The emotional scenes do connect with the viewer, trolls notwithstanding. He makes the fights convincing. The climax is another story altogether. Only the dialect that Mohanlal speaks sticks out like a sore thumb. There is nothing North Kerala or Palakkadan in his speech. It is Mohanlal talking. That could have been corrected at least while dubbing. The other characters like Siddique speak a differrent dialect. He is very good. Manju Warrier's dialogues too are not true to the region.
The crass villain is played by Prakash Raj in his usual style.
Through a series of flashbacks the story of Odiyan Manickan's life unfolds, of how he had no choice but to inherit the profession of his forbears, coaxed by his grandfather, played ably by Manoj Joshi. Some of the villagers, conventional all black or all white characters make the story happen. Of them Manju Warrier is the best. Sparks of her performances in Kannezhuthi Pottum thottu or Kanmadam are visible. Background music is very good.
The climax is....well...unpredictably botched up.
Mohanlal fans will love it. Others can see it for its traditional folklore content.
Odiyan is actually an okay movie. Honestly. Made in the conventional mould, director Shrikumar Menon, an adman, is a debutant in the feature film category. Given that, the opening scenes are riveting.
Odiyan stories abound, in the Malabar region and this is but one story of perhaps the last Odiyan. Unlike ghost and yakshi stories, the Odiyan was real and people knew who it was. But when and how he would strike was the surprise that people dreaded. The equivalent of a modern day goonda. At night, in the dim light of a coconut palmleaf torch, the Odiyan, who came dressed in oxen garb or any other animal, could literally spring a surprise and frighten a man into a faint or cause him to fall and hurt himself. That was all that an Odiyan did. Now that's the background of the story.
Mohanlal, the Odiyan, (Odiyan Manickan) is huge, supple and has made many enemies in the village. His role is larger than life and he lives up to it. The emotional scenes do connect with the viewer, trolls notwithstanding. He makes the fights convincing. The climax is another story altogether. Only the dialect that Mohanlal speaks sticks out like a sore thumb. There is nothing North Kerala or Palakkadan in his speech. It is Mohanlal talking. That could have been corrected at least while dubbing. The other characters like Siddique speak a differrent dialect. He is very good. Manju Warrier's dialogues too are not true to the region.
The crass villain is played by Prakash Raj in his usual style.
Through a series of flashbacks the story of Odiyan Manickan's life unfolds, of how he had no choice but to inherit the profession of his forbears, coaxed by his grandfather, played ably by Manoj Joshi. Some of the villagers, conventional all black or all white characters make the story happen. Of them Manju Warrier is the best. Sparks of her performances in Kannezhuthi Pottum thottu or Kanmadam are visible. Background music is very good.
The climax is....well...unpredictably botched up.
Mohanlal fans will love it. Others can see it for its traditional folklore content.
