Published in Metroplus, Kochi dated May 12
By PREMA MANMADHAN
In the entertainment industry, what happens if every movie that is released is slapstick? Or, serious tragedies, or issue-based ones, one after another? Or cloying romance, in a line? Yes, we would all get bored.
So every movie has space, as everyone wants a mixed entertainment experience. The different genre of Priyanandanan's fourth directorial venture, ‘Bhakthajanangalude Sraddhakku' gets into an interesting bracket. It's a satire, the parallels not very difficult to gauge.
Burning issue
Two burning issues that rock Kerala are locked into ‘Bhakthajanangalude Sraddhakku'. One is the trend to build empires around godmen and godwomen and the other, the problem of alcoholism, and how lives are ruined. Intertwined with these two topical issues is the global issue of corruption, which plays a side role in the movie.
Priyanandanan tells it straight, there are no sub-plots to distract you. Neither is the narrative made complex by flashbacks or incomprehensible cinematic grammar. Why this subject? Says Priyanandanan, “This fad of going behind godmen is something that's happening all over Kerala and I felt the masses needed to be told about the goings on inside these institutionalised places, and the misconceptions, whatever the religion. Piety is something very different. What better way to drive home this point than cinema?”
Religion and complications that develop in connection with it seem to dog Priyanandanan's movies. In ‘Sufi Paranja Katha', his last film, it was a case of a woman married to a man from a different religion and the role played by faith, inculcated at an early age into a person. In ‘Bhakathajanangalude Sraddhakku', again it is faith, but born of superstition and mob psychology. Alcoholism is the catalyst that takes the story to its climax.
The low budget movie is to be seen, digested and pondered over. Kavya Madhavan plays the central character, a role that is the envy of any actor, where a plethora of emotions come into play. She has done fairly well, but could have done much better.
Casting
Irshad, the guy who plays the lead, who came in from the stage, steals the show. Untouched by the stylised body language of the stage, Irshad has taken to the cinematic language of ordinary behaviour well. “I was able to use the potential of Irshad only because the producer allowed me to cast him, an actor who has had to play small roles so far,” says Priyanandan. The cast of ‘Bhakthajangalude Shraddakku' incudes Indrans, Kalabhavan Mani, Vanitha, Geetha Vijayan and a host of small time actors who have given of their best. The story that keeps its freshness and purposefulness alive till the fag end suddenly turns melodramatic in the finale. Bijibal's background score is commendable and the sound track has freshness. The three songs contribute to the narration, one will agree.
Priyanandanan, who has a staunch stage background has proved his mettle with his earlier movies. ‘Pulijanmam' bagged the National award for the Best Feature Film in 2006 and its protagonist was Murali. Murali won the National Award for Best Actor for his performance in ‘Neythukaran', also Priyanandanan's film.
Showing posts with label Malayalam film. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Malayalam film. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Monday, November 30, 2009
Neelathamara, film review
(This was published in the Hindu Metroplus, Kochi, dated November 30) R emakes always draw a high degree of curiosity interest. How is it different from the original? The actors are compared, the technicians, music and most of all how faithful it has been to the original. To tackle the last part of the doubts, if it is as faithful to the original as possible, then why make another film at all?
Well, one goes to see a Kathakali performance, knowing the story well, even the dialogues and the ‘padams' perhaps. Then what is it that draws audiences to such performances?
The Ambika link
Let's evaluate the overall effect of the new batch of artistes and technicians. The one link that Ambika has with the new Neelathamara, directed by Lal Jose is this: her brother Suresh Nair acts the role of Apputtan, a negative character. Ambika can definitely be proud of her kid brother who has made this cameo role memorable, with his apt mannerisms.
The woman-centric film that Suresh Kumar, of Revathy Kalamandir, dared to make, rather remake, is an experimental one in many ways. “The producers' association decided to make small budget movies and this is the first one after that decision. Neelathamara cost us under Rs. 1.5 crore. The decision to make movies with new faces was also implemented. After the first day, we are happy that the cinegoers have accepted this small movie with open arms,” says a visibly happy Suresh Kumar, who saw the film 14 times in his youth. Such was its romantic draw. “There's one person who saw it many more times than me: Suresh Gopi, who saw it 27 times,” Suresh Kumar laughs.
M.T.Vasudevan Nair, director Lal Jose and producer Suresh Kumar
Where the first ‘Neelathamara' ends, the present one opens. The remake is actually the flashback. MT has woven a topical twist to his old script which jells well. Sreedevi Unni who dons the mother's role stands out for her natural acting.
Archana Kavi has that vulnerable look and understated emotions that go well with rural girls. The male protagonist is played by Kailash. The smaller characters like the caretaker, the man under the banyan tree and the old servant leave an impression with the viewer.
Carefully cast characters
The young set of characters and the old ones are very carefully cast. When you see a dentist among the credits you wonder why, but Jaya had dentures similar to Samvrutha's fitted in to bring about the similarity.
Rima Kallingal did not seem comfortable in the role of Sharath Ammini. Every character, howsoever small, is a crucial link in the chain of events unfolded in this super-star script.
The short movie (less than two hours) has wonderful photography by Vijay Ulaganathan. Lal Jose has proved that he can handle quite a handful. Cheers to the small is beautiful credo!
Prema Manmadhan
Well, one goes to see a Kathakali performance, knowing the story well, even the dialogues and the ‘padams' perhaps. Then what is it that draws audiences to such performances?
The Ambika link
Let's evaluate the overall effect of the new batch of artistes and technicians. The one link that Ambika has with the new Neelathamara, directed by Lal Jose is this: her brother Suresh Nair acts the role of Apputtan, a negative character. Ambika can definitely be proud of her kid brother who has made this cameo role memorable, with his apt mannerisms.
The woman-centric film that Suresh Kumar, of Revathy Kalamandir, dared to make, rather remake, is an experimental one in many ways. “The producers' association decided to make small budget movies and this is the first one after that decision. Neelathamara cost us under Rs. 1.5 crore. The decision to make movies with new faces was also implemented. After the first day, we are happy that the cinegoers have accepted this small movie with open arms,” says a visibly happy Suresh Kumar, who saw the film 14 times in his youth. Such was its romantic draw. “There's one person who saw it many more times than me: Suresh Gopi, who saw it 27 times,” Suresh Kumar laughs.
M.T.Vasudevan Nair, director Lal Jose and producer Suresh Kumar
Where the first ‘Neelathamara' ends, the present one opens. The remake is actually the flashback. MT has woven a topical twist to his old script which jells well. Sreedevi Unni who dons the mother's role stands out for her natural acting.
Archana Kavi has that vulnerable look and understated emotions that go well with rural girls. The male protagonist is played by Kailash. The smaller characters like the caretaker, the man under the banyan tree and the old servant leave an impression with the viewer.
Carefully cast characters
The young set of characters and the old ones are very carefully cast. When you see a dentist among the credits you wonder why, but Jaya had dentures similar to Samvrutha's fitted in to bring about the similarity.
Rima Kallingal did not seem comfortable in the role of Sharath Ammini. Every character, howsoever small, is a crucial link in the chain of events unfolded in this super-star script.
The short movie (less than two hours) has wonderful photography by Vijay Ulaganathan. Lal Jose has proved that he can handle quite a handful. Cheers to the small is beautiful credo!
Prema Manmadhan
Monday, August 24, 2009
Puthiya Mukham, puthiya bore
Phew! Saw Puthiya Mukham. Got a headache watching the terrible angles of the camera. Wide angle shots for every frame almost does not exactly calm you. Wonder why this love for wide angle shots. It looked like a camera was placed at the disposal of this chap and he went berserk! And then I thought whether it was the Malayalam version of Crouching Tiger Hidden Lion.
The story is strange, stranger still its execution. Prithviraj has had to deal with a bad script, but he has tried to redeem the movie, but in vain. Meera Nandan is quite plumpy and therefore has lost the lovely shape of her face.
Priyamony has oomph and despite the bad role, brought some freshness to the movie, though she cannot dance to save her life.
Bala looks merely like a thug and does not rise above that. Two songs are good, the one by KK and the title song, okay.
What stands out like a sore thumb is the camerawork. Diphan, the director needs to apprentice with a good director for some more time. Hard earned money gone down the drain, and worse luck, all that time, my God!
The story is strange, stranger still its execution. Prithviraj has had to deal with a bad script, but he has tried to redeem the movie, but in vain. Meera Nandan is quite plumpy and therefore has lost the lovely shape of her face.
Priyamony has oomph and despite the bad role, brought some freshness to the movie, though she cannot dance to save her life.
Bala looks merely like a thug and does not rise above that. Two songs are good, the one by KK and the title song, okay.
What stands out like a sore thumb is the camerawork. Diphan, the director needs to apprentice with a good director for some more time. Hard earned money gone down the drain, and worse luck, all that time, my God!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Bhramaram Review
Al last, Malayalam movies are getting out of the rut. Am so glad. Bhramaram is yet another different movie that has hit the cinemas. It falls into different genres actually: thriller, sentimental, topical, cerebral and family movie, or all of these. The work of the entire team has brought out a mind blowing result:The camera (Ajayan Vincent who is Jayanan Vincent's brother and son of veteran Vincent), acting (Mohanlal, Suresh Menon, Muralikrishnan, in that order), apt sound (Mohan Sithara) and the suthradhar of it all, Blessy (bless him for thinking out of the box and working towards realisation of his visualisation) He says two cameramen declined when they saw the locales, rough terrain in the high ranges of Kerala. The city shots have novelty written all over them. Blessy has exploited up to 60 per cent of Mohanlal's talent. So far he has brought out hardly 45 per cent, I believe. Jayanan Vincent's camera makes you sit on the edge of your seat. Only at the end of the movie do you realise the meaning of the title. Flaws there are, but very very few. Year 2009 will be a landmark year for Malayalam cinema. Would that more and more directors think out of the formula.
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