PUTHIYA THEERANGAL - Review

REVIEW: PUTHIYA THEERANGAL

Dir: Sathyan Anthikkad

Camera: Venu

Music: Ilayaraja

Cast: Namitha Pramod, Nivin Pauly, Nedumudi Venu

FACTFILE: Puthiya Theerangal was announced as a romantic tale between a young girl and an old man, who treats her as his own daughter. As per rumours, after Nivin Pauly’s success in Thattathin Marayathu the storyline was altered and the young hero was given more importance. Sathyan has been writing his own scripts for a while now and here, he has directed the film, which has been scripted by Benny P Nayarambalam.

THE PLOT: Thamara (Namitha Pramod) is an orphaned young girl living in a seaside village. Her neighbor Mohanan (Nivin Pauly) loves her but as it happens with most romantic stories in films, he doesn’t have the courage to reveal his feelings. Sometime in between, Thamara adopts an old man named K P (Nedumudi Venu), whose whereabouts are unknown to all.

THE REVIEW: The first thing that will comes to anyone’s mind as the end titles start rolling for this disturbingly boring film is the doubt on what made director Sathyan Anthikkad to go ahead with this project!

A really ordinary story, which won’t excite the viewers a bit and is a failure on all accounts. That is Puthiya Theerangal for you. Bad script and execution, ordinary visuals and jaded music. Nedumudi Venu hams it up while Nivin Pauly comes up with an amateurish show. Namitha Pramod has nothing much to do but she impresses with her screen presence.

A forgettable misadventure from one of the most consistent directors in Malayalam cinema ever.

RATING: 1/5

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Romans and We’re No Angels

From the two posters, director Boban Samuel’s forthcoming film Romans and Neil Jordan’s 1989 film We’re No Angels starring Robert De Niro and Sean Penn were separated at birth!

No, we are not accusing of copying. The storyline of the Hollywood movie is about two thieves posing themselves as priests to save their skin. And we are not going behind the Romans team to know their storyline. We are ready to wait until the film comes on screen.

The shooting of Romans will start soon. And of course, we are sure that the similarities in the posters will not be there in the storylines.

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Industry ignore Thilakan even on his death

Legendary actor Thilakan who died on Sep 24 was almost always having an unpleasant relationship with many actors and technicians from the Malayalam film industry. And he never tried to hide his feelings though it always landed him in trouble. The all powerful film organisations had banned the versatile genius from acting in films for quite some years.

If everyone had imagined that it all will end with his death, the film fraternity’s behavior was rather baffling, to say the least. Some of the stars were queuing up to appear before TV cameras and to write lengthy memoirs, narrating their closeness with Thilakan. But most of them didn’t care to go to Thiruvananthapuram and pay their respect for the actor.

In fact writer-director Ranjith showed the courage to state that it is unfortunate to see many of Thilakan’s detractors expressing sadness only now. It was Ranjith who gave Thilakan a significant role in his Indian Rupee when the whole industry had sidelined the actor.

Not many representatives from the film industry were present at Thiruvananthapuram to pay homage to the departed soul. Worse still, it was working day as usual in many film sets. A minimum courtesy to give a holiday in respect of the dead actor wasn’t shown by most filmmakers.

It is sad that the same industry where Thilakan was a formidable force as a brilliant actor for all these years treated the genius actor like this!

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Rajesh Pillai wins Southspin award for stylish movie

Traffic director Rajesh Pillai receiving Southspin Fashion film award from Telugu superstar Rana Daggubati, for the most stylish movie of the year. The award function was held recently at Hyderabad.

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HUSBANDS IN GOA - Review

REVIEW: HUSBANDS IN GOA

Dir: Saji Surendran

Camera: Anil Nair

Music: M G Sreekumar

Cast: Jayasurya, Lal, Indrajith, Asif Ali, Bhama, Rima, Remya Nambeesan

FACTFILE: Husbands in Goa is UTV Motion Pictures’ second film in Malayalam, after Grandmaster. The film is an inspiration from the Bollywood comedy Shaadi No.1 or its Telugu original Sandade Sandadi.

THE PLOT: Govind (Jayasurya) is a chartered accountant, who is fed up with his wife Abhirami’s (Bhama) often silly looking religious belief. Jerry (Indrajith) is a lawyer, who is fed with his lazy wife Teena (Rima Kallingal). Arjun (Asif Ali) is an interior designer by profession, but is fed up with his wife Veena (Remya Nambeeshan), who forces him to learn for Civil Services exam all the time.

The three husbands decide to go for a trip in Goa. They meet an eccentric cinematographer Sunny (Lal) in the train. He promises to help them but only succeeds in making life hell for the husbands.

THE REVIEW: A lowbrow laugh riot, which may not be so funny. Confused? Well, that is the fact with Husbands in Goa. The actors try everything to make you laugh and you will end up cringing in the seats. But all said and done, if you don’t think much this film could be fine in parts.

RATING: 1/5

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TRIVANDRUM LODGE - Review

REVIEW: TRIVANDRUM LODGE

Dir: V K Prakash

Camera: Pradeep Nair

Music: M Jayachandran

Cast: Anoop Menon, Jayasurya, Dhwani, Bhavana

FACTFILE: V K Prakash had directed the film Beautiful, scripted by Anoop Menon and with Jayasurya in the lead, last year. The film was a big hit. The trio has come together once again to repeat the magic. Dhwani was earlier known as Honey Rose. She was launched by Vinayan some years before and has been doing some Tamil films.

THE PLOT: Dhwani Nambiar (Dhwani) is all set to write a book on Kochi. She is enjoying her freedom after a terrible marriage and she is ready to exploit her sexual fantasies. She finds a place in a clumsy lodge, called ‘Trivandrum Lodge’, owned by a rich businessman named Ravi Sankar (Anoop Menon). The inmates there are some genuinely modest people. Abdu (Jayasurya) is a recluse, who is eager to get laid. Then there are some equally frustrated men of all ages in the lodge and even more, including the housewife played by Devi Ajith and the prostitute played by Thesni Khan.

THE REVIEW: Beautiful was bold. But with Trivandrum Lodge it is sheer arrogance and the courage to getaway with virtually anything under the pretext of being “bold”. But how can this be termed bold? This is perversion, nothing less.

Every dialogue has been written to titillate the frustrated ones sitting inside the cinema hall. Of course, the visuals and music are fine but the only surprising thing about this extremely objectionable film is on how did the makers to manage to get it pass with a UA certificate instead of an A certificate for its obscene and irritatingly vulgar dialogues?

Not for the families. Only the highly frustrated may go for this one. The rest can skip this crap.

RATING: 1/5

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Thilakan becomes memory

One of the finest actors in Indian screen, Thilakan, died at 3.35 am on Sep 24 after a month of acute illness. He was 77 years of age and was admitted in a private hospital at Thiruvananthapuram. The funeral will be held at 4 pm today at Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram.

Thilakan made his entry into films after a remarkable stint in the theatre circuit. His first film was Gandharvakshethram and director Shyju Anthikkad’s forthcoming film Scene Onnu Nammude Veedu was the last one. He was conferred with Padmashri in 2009.

Films like Kolangal, Yavanika, Moonnampakkam, Dhwani, Rithubhedam, Jathakam, Sphadikam, Namukku Parkkan Munthirithoppukal, Perumthachan, Panchagni, Parinayam, Kireedom, Chenkol, Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal, Indian Rupee and Ustad Hotel displayed his amazing skill as a powerhouse performer.

The various films that revealed his talent will make him live forever in the minds of Malayali movie lovers.

We hereby express our heartfelt condolences on the death of this legend.

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Copied posters: Chapters from The Losers

Malayali filmmakers are desperately looking around for inspirations, it seems. After shameless copies like the recent Bachelor Party, here is the poster from the forthcoming film, Chapters. And then there is the poster from the 2010 film The Losers, directed by Sylvain White.

Take a look and decide for yourself how similar the posters are. Of course, the poster of Chapters has appeared in the social networking sites and may not be an official one. But the makers owe an explanation.

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HUSBANDS IN GOA - Preview

PREVIEW: HUSBANDS IN GOA

Genre: Romance/Comedy

Banner: UTV Motion Pictures

Release Date: 21 September 2012

Director: Saji Surendran

Camera: Anil Nair

Music: M G Sreekumar

Star Cast: Lal, Jayasurya, Asif Ali, Indrajith, Bhama, Rima Kallingal, Remya Nambeesan

DID YOU KNOW?

• Director Saji Surenkadran’s TV serial team of cinematographer Anil Nair and scenarist Krishna Poojappura have come together yet again, to make a laugh riot.

• Husbands in Goa is UTV’s second Malayalam production, after the hit film Grandmaster.

• The old hit number Pichakappoonkavulkkumappuram from No.20 Madras Mail has been remixed with Innocent playing the character called TTE Nadar from the earlier film.

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TRIVANDRUM LODGE - Preview

PREVIEW: TRIVANDRUM LODGE

Genre: Drama/Romance/Comedy

Banner: Time Ads

Release Date: 21 September 2012

Director: V K Prakash

Camera: Pradeep Nair

Music: M Jayachandran

Star Cast: Anoop Menon, Jayasurya, Dhwani, Bhavana

DID YOU KNOW?

• V K Prakash, Anoop Menon and Jayasurya had teamed up earlier for the blockbuster, Beautiful. Naturally the expectations are sky high.

• Anoop Menon became one of the most sought after scenarists in Malayalam after Beautiful. He says the idea for Trivandrum Lodge came to him from one sight of a gang, while at Shankhumukham beach.

• Dhwani, the heroine, is originally called Honey Rose. She was launched by Vinayan sometime back but has never found big success in Malayalam yet. She hopes that her fortunes will change after this film.

• Singer P Jayachandran is doing a role in the film.

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Puthiya Theerangal - Malayalam Movie Posters

Movie: Puthiya Theerangal

Director: Sathyan Anthikkad

Cast: Nivin Pauly, Namitha Pramod, Nedumudi Venu

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Rasaleela - Malayalam Movie Posters & Stills

Movie: Rasaleela

Director: Majeed Maranchery

Cast: Darshan, Prathishta

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Jyothirmayi in Houseful

Jyothirmayi, who has been away from mainstream commercial films for a while now, will be seen playing Tini Tom’s wife in debutant director Linson Antony’s Houseful.

In the film, Tini is a traffic constable while Jyothirmayi is a salesgirl at a textile store. The two belong to different castes but gets married. Though they have no kids for a while, the couple is blessed with four kids in her first delivery. The story is about how they bring the four kids up.

Jyothirmayi says she was never away from films and has been busy with films like Sthalam and Urava.

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Fahadh out of Vyshakh film?

Now, this one is a speculation based on some rumours. If the grapevine is to be believed, Fahadh Faasil is no longer part of director Vyshakh’s forthcoming project. Though the actor had agreed to do the role, the same dates were given to Lijo Jose Pellissery’s Amen. This has irked the director and he is now proceeding with another hero, as per insiders.

Vyshakh had similar problems during the making of his earlier project Mallu Singh as well. Prithviraj had done a high profile photo shoot for the film but later cited date hassles and Vyshakh went ahead with Unni Mukundan, replacing Prithviraj.

Now, who will wait and who will play the role eventually? Let’s wait and watch for now.

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Biju Menon in Thalathottappan

Anil P Vasudevan, who has assisted Shafi in films like Chocolate, Makeup man, Chattambinadu, Marykkundoru Kunjaadu and Veniceile Vyaapari, is making his debut as a writer and director. His first project has been titled Thalathottappan.

Biju Menon plays the lead in the film, produced by Sudheesh Pillai under the banner of Lakshminath Creations.

Manu Prasad and Nishad Koya, who had scripted Ordinary, are writing the screenplay and dialogues. Five young faces from Malayalam will be part of the project. Biju Menon is playing a friendly ‘Achayan’, who is called ‘Peppan’.

According to those behind the project, the film has a festival mood.

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ITHRA MAATHRAM - Review

REVIEW: ITHRA MAATHRAM

Dir: K Gopinathan

Camera: K G Jayan

Music: Jaison J Nair

Cast: Swetha Menon, Biju Menon

FACTFILE: Ithra Maathram is based on a novel with the same title by Kalpetta Narayanan. Writer K Gopinathan is making his debut with the movie starring Swetha Menon and Biju Menon.

THE PLOT: Sumithra (Swetha Menon) is a 38-year-old housewife, living in a village in Wynad. She lives with her husband Vasudevan (Biju Menon) and daughter Anasuya (Baby Malavika). When the story begins, Sumithra is dead. From then on her life, dreams and her feelings that not many knew about are being revealed through the anecdotes by several characters.

THE REVIEW: As it usually happens, when books are adapted into movies, there is a tussle between the written word and its visual presentation. It is seen in Ithra Maathram as well. But what eventually happens is that the film barely gets out of it all and makes an impact of its own.

The director tries a bit too much to give the film a serious tone. The lines then become too dramatic and some usual ingredients of the format get added to it as a result.

Still, the film does succeed in conveying certain noble thoughts to the viewer. Swetha Menon is good and the rest of the cast is fine.

RATING: 2.5/5

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MOLLY AUNTY ROCKS - Review

REVIEW: MOLLY AUNTY ROCKS

Dir: Ranjith Sankar

Camera: Sujith Vasudev

Music: Anand Madhusoodanan

Cast: Revathy, Prithviraj

FACTFILE: Techie turned filmmaker Ranjith Sankar made a spectacular debut with Passenger but his next film, Arjunan Saakshi turned out to be a turkey. Molly Aunty Rocks has been inspired from the life of his friend’s aunt. Revathy had said no to an earlier script of his as she had nothing much to do in it but was all excited to play this one. Ranjith turns producer launching his banner ‘Dreams N’ Beyond’. Molly Aunty Rocks is being distributed by Prithviraj’s August Cinema.

THE PLOT: Molly Aunty (Revathy) has rejoined her job as a bank clerk, after living in the US for almost 20 years. She is independent and her style is something new for the natives of the remote village where she has been posted. Things take an interesting turn when she has a showdown with a brash Income Tax official. She takes on the young IRS officer Pranav Roy (Prithviraj), which affects her and her family as well.

THE REVIEW: It’s a refreshing experiment with a middle-aged woman playing the lead, no two ways about it. Revathy excels as Molly Aunty and she is extremely likeable. The situations are clichéd at times but enjoyable. Sunil Sukhada’s IT official goes a bit over the top and that is when things get a bit shaky. Prithviraj sleepwalks through his role and the climax looks a bit preachy.

Still, this film needs to be appreciated for its bold stance and for its inherent sincerity.

RATING: 2.5/5

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CHATTAKKARI - Review

REVIEW: CHATTAKKARI

Dir: Santhosh Sethumadhavan

Camera: Vinod Ellampilly

Music: M Jayachandran

Cast: Shamna Kasim, Hemanth

FACTFILE: Chattakkari was originally made in 1974 by director K S Sethumadhavan, based on Pamman’s novel, scripted by Thoppil Bhasi. The film was a big hit and was made in Hindi as Julie in the following year. Both the films had Lakshmi in the lead role of an Anglo Indian girl named Julie. The film was known for its bold content, intimate scenes and also for its intense emotional content.

The new version has been directed by Sethumadhavan’s son, Santhosh. Revathy Kalamandir, who seems to have made remaking titillating films (Neelathamara and Rathinirvedam are earlier examples) a habit, has evidently gone behind this one for the same reason.

Shamna Kasim plays Julie, while Hemanth gets into Mohan’s shoes. Harikrishnan plays the silent lover, played by M G Soman in the original.

THE PLOT: Julie (Shamna Kasim) is a beautiful Anglo Indian girl, living in a picturesque hill station with her dad Morris (Innocent), an engine driver, mom Margaret (Suvarna Mathew) and siblings. Richard (Harikrishnan) is her friend and deeply in love with her. But she has eyes only for her friend Usha’s brother Sasi Warrier (Hemanth). The two share some intimate moments and the girl becomes pregnant. All those nice moments suddenly seem to end, as they have to face some stark realities of life.

THE REVIEW: It’s the same old tale with no real difference. No additions to the story and worse still, the emotional aspects take a backseat. This one has been made to show the girl in itsy-bitsy costumes and for some intimate scenes. And even on that account, this one is a disappointment.

Santhosh Sethumadhavan doesn’t show much of a talent, but Vinod Ellampilly’s visuals and M Jayachandran’s music make this film, watchable in parts.

Shamna Kasim is good and so is Suvarna Mathew. Innocent is perhaps the biggest misfit and he repeats his trademark style, trying to pass it on as Anglo Indian. Hemanth is boring and Harikrishnan has nothing much to do other than go around in a bicycle.

Watch the original, if you are a genuine movie buff!

RATING: 1.5/5

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BHOOPADATHIL ILLATHA ORIDAM - Review

REVIEW: BHOOPADATHIL ILLATHA ORIDAM

Dir: Joe Chalissery

Camera: Sameer Haq

Music: Mohan Sithara

Cast: Sreenivasan, Nivin Pauly, Iniya, Rajasri

FACTFILE: Bhoopadathil Illatha Oridam was announced with Sreenivasan and Rajasri in the lead. Nivin Pauly was penciled in to play a brief appearance. Then Thattathin Marayathu happened and the youngster became a sensation. And Bhoopadathil Illatha Oridam suddenly was marketed as a Nivin Pauly film!

THE PLOT: Madhavankutty (Sreenivasan) is a schoolteacher in a sleepy village. His beautiful wife Vimala (Rajasri) is always in full makeup, that too with a pink colored lipstick, even while searching for her missing husband. Murali (Nivin Pauly) is a jobless youth in love with a maid named Bhama (Iniya).

After a theft happens in the village, the sub inspector Idiculla (Innocent) and panchayat president Ezhuthachan (Nedumudi Venu) threatens Madhavankutty with dire consequences, if he doesn’t agree to be a witness for the crime. That is even before the culprits are nabbed!

THE REVIEW: Surprisingly inane and amateurishly executed, Bhoopadathil Illatha Oridam surprises you only with its absurdity. Experienced actors like Nedumudi Venu and Sreenivasan make fools of themselves in ridiculous roles. Nivin Pauly needs to be careful about his selection of films. Iniya and Rajasri overact like there is no tomorrow. Innocent seems to have taken his stature as a comedian a bit too seriously and he says expletives to make people laugh.

A silly film and a sheer waste of time. Even a review on this film would need more efforts than making this one.

RATING: 0/5

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My Boss - Malayalam Movie Stills

Movie: My Boss

Director: Jeethu Joseph

Cast: Dileep, Mamta Mohandas

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Mohanlal and Joshiy to make Lokpal

The duo is creating waves with the whopping success of their recent outing, Run Baby Run. Yes, we are talking about superstar Mohanlal and hot director Joshiy.

Now that Run Baby Run has become a huge hit, the two are joining together very soon to make a film, titled Lokpal. The script is by S N Swami, who is known for skills to come up with thrillers.

Mohanlal is currently completing Major Ravi’s Karmayodha.

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Bhoopadathil Illatha Oridam - Malayalam Movie Stills

Movie: Bhoopadathil Illatha Oridam

Director: Joe Chalissery

Cast: Sreenivasan, Nivin Pauly, Iniya, Rajasree

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