REVIEW: ARIKIL ORAAL

REVIEW: ARIKIL ORAAL

Not quite thrilling

Dir: Sunil Ibrahim

Cast: Indrajith, Nivin Pauly, Remya Nambeeshan

Imagine this situation. You are watching a nail biting whodunit but you can guess the suspense so early. What will you be thinking then? You would want the story to take some surprising twists and turns.

But sadly in director Sunil Ibrahim's Arikil Oraal nothing of the sort happens. The story goes in highly predictable lines. And if you have seen a couple of films of the genre, this one will turn out to be disturbingly silly.

Sidhu (Indrajit) has joined the Kochi office of an ad company. He stays with Icha (Nivin Pauly), who works in an upmarket restaurant and Veena (Remya Nambeeshan), their friend.

After a while, the trouble starts. Sidhu finds Icha's behavior strange. Why? Check it out for yourself.

The film has been packaged very well and is meant for those who don't think while watching a movie. The script is shaky and the performances are just about fine.

Rating: 1/5

Read More

REVIEW: KUNJANANTHANTE KADA

REVIEW: KUNJANANTHANTE KADA

An empty shop

Dir: Salim Ahamed

Cast: Mammootty, Nyla Usha

Writer-director Salim Ahamed had stepped into stardom with his maiden venture, Adaminte Makan Abu. Naturally, his next film, Kunjananthante Kada got into top headlines, right from the moment the film was announced.

The film had everything that a top-notch production required. Besides Mammootty as the lead actor, cinematography by Madhu Ambat, sound design by Resul Pookkutty, background score by Isaac Thomas Kottukappilly and songs by M Jayachandran all added to its publicity. But what the viewers saw on screen was a badly shaped mishmash of some random thoughts.

Kunjananthan (Mammootty) owns a shop in a sleepy village in Kannur. He is having a rather confusing relationship with his wife Chithira (debutante Nyla Usha). He is passionate about just one thing in this world and that is his shop. And the building is owned by someone else. He is shattered when asked to vacate the building for road development.

The whole story is based on a weak premise and things go from bad to worse as the film moves along without any real direction. What is Kunjananthan's issue with his wife? We never know. Even if it is not for road development, what if the building owner decides to evict his tenant one fine day? We don't know that either.

And to top it all, Chithira laments to her husband that if he had given her a patient ear, she wouldn't have told her angsts to fake ids in chat rooms. Huh!

Some of those who go by big names or are only looking for irritatingly "feel good" movies may like this in parts. Even for them, this could end up as a tough ordeal. The rest of the viewers can just ignore this silly misadventure.

Rating: 1/5

Read More

KAMAT & KAMAT - Malayalam Movie Review

REVIEW: KAMAT & KAMAT

Banner: Anto Joseph Film Company

Director: Thomson

Script: Siby K Thomas – Udayakrishna

Camera: Anil Nair

Music: M Jayachandran

Cast: Mammootty, Dileep, Karthika Nair, Rima Kallingal

BASIC PLOT: Raja Raja Kamat (Mammootty) and Deva Raja Kamat (Dileep) run a vegetarian restaurant chain. Some issues crop up as they try to buy the old Sree Krishna Vilasom Hotel in Palakkad. There they meet municipal secretary Mahalakshmi (Rima) and her sister Rekha (Karthika). From then on, some romance and fights will make the characters forget about everything else.

REVIEW: One of the worst films to have released during recent times. First, Mammootty and Dileep start their mimicry saying Malayalam mixed with Konkani in a silly way. Then the story meanders along aimlessly with nothing much to narrate.

Bad script, bad direction, bad performances, bad comedy… the list can go on and on. But what for? Is someone really serious about this film?

Why would an actor like Mammootty say yes to this film? Is Dileep an actor or a mimicry artiste? How come Siby and Udayakrishna manage to fool everyone else with their half-baked scripts? And did anyone ask Dhanush to act in Kamat & Kamat at gunpoint? He looks totally lost in the cameo.

Forget Kamat & Kamat like a bad dream.

FINAL VERDICT: A total waste of time and money. An absolute disaster!

RATING: 0.5/5

Read More

ARDHANAARI - Review

REVIEW: ARDHANAARI

Genre: Drama

Producer: M G Sreekumar

Dir: Dr.Santhosh Souparnika

Music: M G Sreekumar

Cinematographer: Hemachandran

Cast: Manoj K Jayan, Thilakan

DID YOU KNOW? Ardhanaari, produced by singer M G Sreekumar, is about the life of transgenders or ‘hijdas’, as they call themselves repeatedly in the film.

THE PLOT: Vinayan (Manoj K Jayan) is a man with the sensibilities of a woman within himself. His brother tries to kill him out of shame and his male lover ditches him. Vinayan goes to some Tamil Nadu village where people from his group live in a bungalow. He finds happiness and acceptance there for a while, but things tend to go from bad to worse soon after.

THE REVIEW: Though the film has a dramatic feel, especially with the dialogues, Manoj K Jayan’s terrific acting gives this film some merits. It has a documentary feel as well at times. But the brave attempt and the honesty of the makers to go ahead with a story on a group of people whom everyone likes to hate, needs to be appreciated.

Thilakan is good as usual but why did Maniyanpillai Raju played his role like a comic one?

RATING: 2/5

Read More

SCENE ONNU NAMMUDE VEEDU - Review

REVIEW: SCENE ONNU NAMMUDE VEEDU

Genre: Drama/more drama/even more

Producer: K K Narayana Das

Dir: Shyju Anthikkad

Music: Ratheesh Vegha

Cinematographer: Krish Kymal

Cast: Lal, Navya Nair

DID YOU KNOW? Shyju has earlier directed two films, Shakespeare MA (Malayalam) with Shaji Aziz and Oru Black & White Kudumbam, which was an eminently forgettable movie. Legendary actor Thilakan faced the camera for the last time in Scene Onnu Nammude Veedu. Now, what about showing that ‘this was Thilakan’s last scene’, during the film evidently to get more mileage? Those behind this one goes to that extent!

THE PLOT: Ottappalam Unni (Lal) is an associate director in films, all set to direct his first independent venture. He is the epitome of all virtues, is talented than everyone else, has a gang of idiots for company and has a perfect wife, a school teacher named Manju (Navya Nair). Unni struggles to make the film and if you haven’t guessed by now, he succeeds in the end.

THE REVIEW: Too melodramatic and modeled on some tearjerkers on TV. Shyju thrives on melodrama just like his earlier film. Why mull too much over a film, which is boring to hell?

RATING: 0.5/5

Read More

IDIOTS - Review

REVIEW: IDIOTS

Genre: Comedy/Romance/Drama

Banner: Sangeeth Sivan Productions

Dir: K S Bava

Music: Nandhu Kartha

Cinematographer: P K Varma

Cast: Asif Ali, Sanusha, Baburaj

DID YOU KNOW? This has been packaged in the style of some fast paced Hollywood thriller comedy. You have any clues where is the inspiration?

THE PLOT: A purdah-clad girl (Sanusha) approaches a stupid don. She would give some cool lakhs for killing the girl in the photo that she shows him. Now, we soon learn that the girl had actually given the quotation to kill herself! The don entrusts the duty with a juice stall owner (Baburaj), who can’t kill even a rat. In between, the hero (Asif Ali) appears out of the blue, as he tries to rob the girl’s apartment. The idiotic journey that happens in a night begins.

THE REVIEW: If you set your mind to watch a brainless comedy, well, this movie can be fine in parts. It has been presented in a fine way. But things look terribly idiotic most of the times.

Asif Ali continues with his bad acting and giving him a real competition is Sanusha, who could be the worst actor in the business right now, if her show in Idiots is considered. She wins the ‘who’s the worst actor’ competition here hands down. Baburaj repeats his Salt N’ Pepper act, but is good at times.

Why waste time on this film, unfortunately named Idiots?

RATING: 1/5

Read More

101 WEDDINGS - Malayalam Movie Review

REVIEW: 101 WEDDINGS

Genre: Comedy/Romance/Drama

Banner: Film Folks

Dir: Shafi

Music: Deepak Dev

Cinematographer: Alagappan

Cast: Kunchacko Boban, Biju Menon, Jayasurya, Samvrutha Sunil, Bhama

DID YOU KNOW? Shafi and his brother Rafi (of the erstwhile Rafi-Mecartin duo) along with two other individuals have produced the film. The story is by Shafi and the screenplay and dialogues are by Kalavoor Ravi Kumar.

THE PLOT: Krishnankutty alias Krish (Kunchacko Boban) is the son of an idealistic Gandhian. But Krish is a fraud by nature and has a childhood enmity with Antappan (Biju Menon). Krish is forced by his dad to get married at a group wedding, where he is supposed to marry Abhirami (Samvrutha Sunil). He sends an effeminate dancer named Jyothish Kumar (Jayasurya) in his place. Antappan and Rukhiya (Bhama), a nice girl, too reaches the place to be part of the wedding.

THE REVIEW: Irritatingly predictable and plain boring, 101 Weddings never really strikes a chord with the viewer. The scenes are a rehash of the usual comedy sequences that we have come across in several films of the genre.

Kunchacko repeats his trademark style, Biju Menon sleepwalks through the role and Jayasurya hams it up like there is no tomorrow. Alagappan’s visuals are fine and Deepak Dev’s songs are just about fine.

Go for this only if you have nothing else to do.

RATING: 1/5

Read More

JAWAN OF VELLIMALA - Malayalam Movie Review

REVIEW: JAWAN OF VELLIMALA

Dir: Anoop Kannan

Camera: Satheesh Kurup

Music: Biji Bal

Cast: Mammootty, Sreenivasan, Asif Ali, Mamta Mohandas

FACTFILE: Anoop Kannan, who has been assisting Lal Jose, makes his debut with the Mammootty film. The hero, who has been going through a disastrous phase for sometime now, is producing the film.

THE PLOT: Gopi Krishnan (Mammootty) is the dam operator at Vellimala dam, located at some high range area. He is a former jawan and has a peculiar problem. He can see ghosts during the night!

Varghese (Sreenivasan) takes charge as the executive engineer there, Koshy Oommen (Asif Ali) comes there to settle some long pending bills, Anitha (Mamta Mohandas) is loved by the people as a welfare officer and chief engineer Chacko (Baburaj) comes there to have some drinks.

What’s the storyline then? Better ask scenarist James Albert or director Anoop Kannan. Even they won’t be sure about what they were trying to say.

THE REVIEW: Jawan of Vellimala could very well add to Mammootty’s continuing line of flops. With no script worth mentioning and amateurish direction, the film ends up as a colossal bore. Mammootty just sleepwalks through his role.

Satheesh Kurup’s visuals are good and Biji Bal’s music is good in parts.

RATING: 0.5/5

Read More

AYAALUM NJANUM THAMMIL - Malayalam Movie Review

REVIEW: AYAALUM NJANUM THAMMIL

Dir: Lal Jose

Camera: Jomon T John

Music: Ouseppachan

Cast: Prithviraj, Prathap Pothen

FACTFILE: After the debacle of Cassanovva, scenarist duo Bobby and Sanjay of Traffic fame, are back, this time with director Lal Jose and teaming up with their dad Prem Prakash who is producing the movie.

THE PLOT: Dr.Ravi Tharakan (Prithviraj) faces a tough situation after an emergency operation done on a kid goes wrong. He flees the hospital but his car turns upside down. Now the flashbacks begin. Ravi was an irresponsible doctor even after passing out from the medical college. His friendship with Dr.Vivek (Narain), his romance with Sainu (Samvrutha) and the transformation in his life, thanks to the influence of Dr.Samuel (Prathap Pothen) is being told then.

THE REVIEW: Ayaalum Njanum Thammil is an okay film at best. You just can watch the visuals as it unfolds but even after the film ends; it is tough to understand what its makers were trying to say! A half-baked script, narrated in style without much imagination and in an unconvincing way by Lal Jose. That is the impression the viewer might have.

Prathap Pothen is top notch, Prithviraj is good but everyone else are just there are “set properties”. That includes Narain and the three girls. Samvrutha’s romance with Prithviraj is colder than a well-made cold coffee with ice cream. Can someone please explain what is the transformation in Prithviraj’s character that these guys are talking about?

The Kalabhavan Mani drama goes on to several episodes and turns out to be too clichéd and predictable.

Jomon T John’s visuals are fine and Ouseppachan’s music is not so fine.

RATING: 1.5/5

Read More

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

Read More

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

Read More

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

Read More

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

Read More

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

Read More

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

Read More

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

Read More