Mummy & Me Review [2010]

Young director Jithu Joseph in his second movie 'Mummy And Me’ seems to have been interested in all kinds of social anxieties, loneliness and depressions that the new age teenagers from nuclear families are subjected to, in the current scheme of Kerala culture. He has constructed a script taking into account the credibility and fear factors associated with chat friends, to single child's who shows dichotomous characters, overtly reacting to much of the things at the same time surreptitiously fearing social exposure and falling into anxieties seeing their peers having fun, going out and partying. A noble intention off course, to create a movie with a message, but the director seldom displays the deftness to intelligently pack all associated chores for an engaging movie.

The movie has Urvashy as Clara, the ''mummy'' and Archana Kavi (‘Neelathamara’ fame) as Jewel the daughter, with two opposite characters mostly due to their generation gaps. While Clara is an imposing mother who wants her daughter to listen to and follow her in every ways, Jewel is more a new generation college girl roaming all round in her bicycle, with earphones plugged on. She likes the companions of internet than anyone in her home. Rahul (Kunchacko Boban) is Jewel's senior in college, the son of Thomas and Mary, the family friends of Joseph and Clara. Though Rahul is also a single child, he shows more maturity and doesn’t like to expose his love that he has for Jewel. Often he plays the role of her guardian in college and gets involved in all kind of fisticuffs with other college rowdies.

The scheme of daily fights at home between the mother and daughter concerning Jewels' dress codes to hair setting styles makes Joseph (Mukesh) to play the referee between the ever feuding home mates. To prevent Jewel from spending more time outside home mostly on internet, Joseph presents Jewel with a PC. She immediately finds a chat friend in an anonymous 'Ameer' who starts reforming Jewel like anything into such an extent that she eventually falls in love with him, even without seeing him. The film goes on to tell how the parents with the aid of a psychologist try ways to get over the newer crisis that their daughter has got into.

The USP of the movie is a simple, uncomplicated and identifiable story. But what could've been narrated in a concise format is stretched so much that it starts to test the patience of the viewer. What could have been an interesting cinematic experience, gets into a preachy tone with the arrival of a psychologist (Anoop Menon) who appears in every third sequences in the later half, to dig out his explorations into the case. The screenplay relies on the same old tricks and the same old situations, but the director manages to make you smile at times, without the aid of any comedians in sidetracks, but with the witty, well timed dialogues. Especially towards the second hour, the pacing of the film gets slower, and the big problem with the movie here is that you just don't feel the pains of those whose life has gone upside down. The lack of onscreen camaraderie between the characters played by the lead players is another major pitfall in the presentations.

Anyhow, the plus points of the movie include Mukesh and the new child artist playing Jewel’s younger brother in admirable roles with their intense timing of wits. Archana Kavi plays to the demands of the role but doesn't reach up to the promises she offered in her debut movie. Kunchakko Boban is very natural and shakes his legs well in the couple of songs. Urvashy looks jaded and her makeup is over the top, though she has some moments to relish. Shari, Lalu Alex and Janaardhanan are in their usual roles.

’Mummy And Me’ has some beautiful songs by debutant Sejo John, the pick being ''Aarume…'' which is also well picturised. The other four songs also give the feel that, the young musician is here to stay. Jeethu has found some good locales for the movie, but the cinematography by Vipin Mohan remains just ok. The grading is average and the great loss in transfer during digital projection also seems to have taken the hearts of the tones out, in the initial reels.

All in all, ‘Mummy And Me’ has some good messages which may appeal to the family audience. Though it has some sunny, pleasant moments, don’t preset your mind that you are going to watch something unusual.

Malarvaadi Arts Club Preview [2010]

Vineeth Sreenivasan has a very good track record in Mollywood, as a successful play back singer, album producer and a hero in a couple of well made films like ‘Cycle’ and ‘Makante Achan’. And now, the talented youngster is all set to prove himself as a movie director, calling shots for his debut film made in the title 'Malarvadi Arts Club'.

Following the trends of recent movies in other languages of the south and Bollywood with fresh faces and rustic backdrops, ‘Malarvady Arts Club’ also narrates the spirit of fun filled youthfulness.

The story of ‘Malarvadi Arts Club’ is mainly about the ties and adventures of five friends in a village called Manassery in North Malabar. As they have reached an important point of their lives, having completed their studies and are in the lookout for a job, they have no other place for a hangout than their old children’s club. The Club is at the edge of destruction with new generation children showing no interest in group activities, other than those related to their studies. The five some decides to somehow run the Club and organize better activities with the help of the local men. ‘Malarvadi Arts Club’ follows the hilarious attempts of the quintet, to establish themselves and their club in their silent hamlet.

“Malarvadi Arts Club’ will present five well groomed newcomers, with the characters of the movie named after them. The five men in the film are good at heart, but with different temperaments”, says the young director, who presents his five heroes. Prakashan, who is having the thickest beard in the group, is the most impulsive one while Praveen, the guitarist is the most reserved one in the group. Santhosh, the soft spoken lad is the most financially sound guy among the quintet. Purushu is the romantic hero whose discourses swing between foolishness to seriousness. And then they have a Kuttu, a tenth standard drop out, with no real talents, but the most essential team member. Janapriya Nayakan Dileep is expected to come up in a cameo in the flick.

The cast list of the movie also includes Nedumudi Venu, Jagathy Sreekumar, Suraj Venjaramood, Salim Kumar, Kottayam Nazeer and two fresh faces as heroines, Revathy and Geethu.

While P Sukumar is in charge of the cinematography, the director himself pens the lyrics for the songs set to music by Shaan Rehman. Produced by Dileep in the banner of Grand Productions ‘Malarvadi Arts Club' will hit theatres in July.

Malarvaadi Arts Club [2010]

Direction : Vineeth Sreenivasan
Producer : Dileep
Music : Shaan Rahman
Lyrics : Vineeth Sreenivasan
Starring : Vineeth Srinivasan, Jagathy Sreekumar, Nedumudi Venu, Suraj Venjaramood, Salim Kumar and others

Track List :
01 Manyamahajanagale [Vineeth Sreenivasan, Sachin Warrier, Rajesh Menon, Rakesh Kishore & Sharath]
02 Kaathukaathu [Shaan Rahman]
03 Lavan Kashmalan [Vineeth Sreenivasan, Shaan Rahman, Rakesh Kishore & SHareth]
04 Innoree Mazhayil [Rahul Nambiar & Vineeth Sreenivasan]
05 Changaayi [Vineeth Sreenivasan & Sujatha]
06 Snehame [Rajesh Menon]
07 Aayiram Kaatham [Vineeth Sreenivasan, Sachin Warrier, Shaan Rahman & Divya.S.Menon]
08 Manyamahajangale [Karaoke]
09 Lavan Kashmalan [Karaoke]
10 Changayi [Karaoke]

T.D. Dasan Std VI B Review [2010]

For all those film festival buffs who had been the ardent fans of the Iranian films, that narrated simple emotional stories with children, this one is indeed a treat. Debutant director Mohan Raghavan has created an unusual Mollywood movie exactly in the same league of festival winners, with his debut film 'T D Dasan, Standard VI B'.

The movie has debutant Alexander as T D Dasan, who lives with his mother Chandrika (Shwetha Menon) in a sleepy village near Chittur in Palakkad. Chandrika who is deserted by her husband Diwakaran long back, works in a local matchstick factory and is struggling to get both ends meet. One day, while searching for something in his mother's trunk box, Dasan gets an address of his dad who walked out of their house when he was a year old. Dasan immediately writes one letter to this address explaining all his woes and pains for not being with his father. The letter reaches Keystone Villa to where it was addressed and where Dasan's father Diwakaran was working as a driver.

But as of now, the house is inhabited by an ad filmmaker named Nandan (Biju Menon), who lives there with his only daughter Ammu (Teena Rose), a little prodigy and a short story writer. She gets affected by the innocence of Dasan's lines and starts writing replies to Dasan, as if they were written by his dad. The reply to Dasan comes to him as every sort of blessing, an only chance of reconnecting to his father .But very soon the myths, surrounding the village and coincidences were to take his story to a different turn.

The soft social commentary that runs all along, addressing the anti-coal war to the social forestry promotions that never take a preachy tone, is the highlight of the movie. The marvellous direction coupled with sensitive writing makes Mohan Raghavan, the most impressive debut in recent times. The director gloriously continues his experiments with narratives allowing the ad maker Nandhan to think wild around the frame of the letter addressed to a long gone father.

His attempts on finding its possible later half, for a feature film is constructed inside the narratives in a charming way, never dissuading any interests from the original story. The movie upholds the belief on human values and at the same time gives the multi layered diverse viewpoints of village and town, reality, myths and fiction, and that of children and grownups.

The movie which is definitely a brilliant outcome, is supported by everyone from its lead cast of children, who are spontaneous in their acting .Others including Biju Menon, Vatsala Menon and Shwetha menon plays their parts to true extremes.

The only song by Sreevatsan J Menon is another great piece of work, after his songs for ‘Laptop’. Sreevatsan's BG scores are also a treat to hear. The camera work by Arun Varma and editing by Vinod Sukumaran also needs special mention. So is the art work by Sunil Kochanoor and costumes by Rasak Thirur.

At the same time, It is also of great regret to say that the reviewer was only able to watch the movie in his third attempt, the first two becoming unsuccessful due to the need of a minimum audience to run the show in the release centers .If this is the fate of sensible, brilliant Mollywood movies in Box Office, we are damn sure that no kind of producer agitations or financial regulatory measures are going to help the industry from a possible destruction.

The connoisseurs of good cinema, it is high time for you to stand up and parade inside theatres to help such honest sensitive ventures that are going to be the worthy mascots of our industry, everywhere.

Pokkiriraja Review [2010]

Debutant director Vysakh presents in ‘Pokkiri Raja’ nothing less that ‘double bonanza’ for lovers of mainstream Malayalam Cinema. Bringing together Mammootty and Prithviraj in equally important roles, he strives to successfully appease and satiate die-hard fans of both these actors in a film that’s colourful, entertaining and above all, loud.

‘Pokkiri Raja’ is the story of two brothers, Raja and Surya, the sons of Madhavan Nair, a teacher with a very good reputation. But family feud, especially between Madhavan Nair’s Kunnathu family and the rival Puthiyara family, leads to some unexpected developments and Raja gets arrested for murder, of course one that he did not commit.

This and subsequent developments lead to the straining of relationships between Madhavan Nair and Raja, who then leaves home (after serving his term at the juvenile home) and reaches Madurai, where he becomes a ‘goonda’. He grows up to become ‘Pokkiri’ Raja, a goonda with his own way. In the meantime Surya also grows up as a tough guy. Madhavan Nair fears that Surya too may follow Raja’s path and become a goonda. Hence he sends Surya to Ernakulam, to stay with Surya’s sister Rugmini and brother-in-law Sugunan, who is a sub-inspector. Surya lands in trouble after he falls in love with Ashwathi, who is the daughter of City Police Commissioner Rajendra Babu. It’s then that Pokkiri Raja turns up and things take a new turn.

The film belongs as much to Mammootty as it belongs to Prithviraj. Mammootty excels as Pokkiri Raja, eliciting loud applause from ardent fans. Prithviraj as Surya gives a power-packed performance. The duo together breathes energy into the film as a whole. Shriya Saran gives ample support as Ashwathi while Nedumudi Venu as Madhavan Nair, Siddique as Rajendra Babu, Suraj Venjaramoodu as Sugunan etc do justice to their roles.

Cinematography by Shaji and slick editing by Mahesh Narayanan happen to be among the highlights of ‘Pokkiri Raja’, a film that goes full pace from the first frame to the last. The songs are all colourfully picturised and well choreographed. Udayakrishna and Sibi.K.Thomas, the scenarist duo, though in a very predictive formulaic stuff, have put in all the ingredients that would go into the making of a full-fledged commercial movie.

Vysakh as a debutant director has made a decent entertainer and the young man is definitely destined to go places in mainstream Malayalam cinema, if he can select more sensible plots. All in all, Pokkiriraja is a full-length entertainer, which will give you your money’s worth, if you are not in the type of a thinking serious film buff. A Paisa vasool stuff indeed, for all the lovers of all colourful, mindless racy films!!

Mummy And Me Preview [2010]

After a small gap from her last movie 'Bharya Swantham Suhurthu', versatile actor Urvashi is back with the new movie 'Mummy And Me' directed by Jithu Joseph after her well applauded debut in 'Detective'.

The movie is also the second one from Archana Kavi, who made a famous debut last year with M T Lal Jose team's 'Neelathamara'. While Archana appears as the daughter in the movie, Urvashi is her mother. And as you surmise, the movie is all about this nuclear family consisting of a mummy and daughter and their dad, who loves each other a little bit more and are more engaged in each other's activities.

Archana Kavi is Jewel in the movie, the only daughter of Joseph (Mukesh) and Clara (Urvashi), who according to everyone in their neighborhood, is leading an ideal life. Jewel is bubbly new age girl with open, positive relations and friends. But Clara is a conventional mother who is always in the lookout to find fault with her daughter and to correct her in every petty issue. And this leads to complaints and worries, back to back which is killing the peace of the small, ideal family.

Meanwhile, Jewel falls in love with Rahul (Kunchacko Boban) her senior in the college and longtime friend. Rahul is also a single child much adored by his parents Thomachan (Lalu Alex) and Mary (Shari). This new relations is a new start for fights in Jewel's home between her and her mother. Attempting a story about generation gap, ‘Mummy And Me’, scripted by Jithu Joseph takes a careful look into the new age homes with single children, where intense caring and possessiveness leads to least expressions of love. Anoop Menon, Sudheesh, Janardhanan, Jeevan and Arun also appear in key roles of' Mummy and Me' while Suresh Gopi is also expected to appear in a surprising cameo in the movie.

'Mummy And Me' introduces a new music director Sejo John and a lyricist Shelton Pinero to Mollywood. While Vipin Mohan cranks the camera, V Saajan does the editing. S B Satheesh handles the costume department of the youth flick which offers a lot of chances to introduce trendy costumes, while Sabu ram is in charge of Art.

The movie expected to be in theatres this May, is being produced by Joy Thomas Sakthikulangara under the banner of Jithin Arts, who had earlier made the super hit movie 'Hello'. ‘Mummy and Me’ is distributed by Max Lab.

Oru Naal Varum Preview [2010]

After five years Superstar Mohanlal and Sreenivasan are coming together for a movie in 'Oru Naal Varaum'. The hit pair who had created some of the best run hits in Mollywood was last seen together in ‘Udhayanaanu Thaaram' which was also a acclaimed hit.

Directed by T K Rajeev Kumar, the movie's highlights include its Bollywood heroine Sameera Reddy, who is debuting into Mollywood.

’Oru Naal Varum' is another satirical humorous story by Sreenivasan, telling the fate of a citizen trying hard to build a house of his own amidst the harsh regulations of Town planning Office. The movie has Mohanlal as Kulappully Sukumaran, who has come to the capital city to support his daughter's studies. He and his daughter are staying in a rented flat in the city premises. Sukumaran had been staying away from his wife Meera, who is an I T Professional, working in another city.

After being with the limited facilities of a rented flat, Sukumaran finally decides to build one house of his own. But within very few days he realizes that building a house in a big city like Thiruvanathapuram is not as easy as he thought it to be. The first person who remains as a big block before Sukumaran is the town planning Officer played by Sreenivasan.

Here starts the plight of an ordinary citizen who is forced to run after files paying bribes and offering presents to every officers on the way, to help him to realize his dream. Deeply rooted in the current day social circumstances of Kerala, 'Oru Naal Varum' will be another big movie that will be remembered for long just like Sreenivasan's previous satires like Sandhesham and Gandhi Nagar Second Street.

It is after 15 years that T K Rajeev Kumar has been able to get Mohanlal for his movie, the last being 'Pavithram'. The movie which will stick to light narratives without any complications, will also feature Nedumudi Venu, Siddique, Lalu Alex, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Kunjan, Kottayam Nazir, Dinesh Panikkar, Devayani, Nazriya and Baby Esther in other key roles.

Playback singer M G Sreekumar has composed the music of the film, while Murukan Kattakkada has written the lyrics. Manoj Pillai is in charge of the camera work, while National Award winning editor B Ajith Kumar would handle the editing. Seral Kuruvilla does the artwork while Kumar Edappal is in charge of costumes.

'Oru Naal Varum' is produced by Maniyan Pillai Raju under his won banner. The movie which was completed in a single schedule at the capital city, will be brought to theaters by Damor films by the first week of May.

Alexander The Great Review [2010]

If Murali Nagavalli’s debut venture ‘Wanted’ had too many loose ends that did more harm than good to the film, his second film ‘Alexander The Great’ stands out as a well-directed, excellently scripted and good film that touches chords in your heart.Manoj Varma aka Manu, who is the son of Pratapa Varma, has his business in Dubai. But everything is going wrong for him and his business. He is in deep financial crisis. It’s then that his mother advises him to go seek the help of his father. Manu goes to meet his father Pratapa Varma, who has been living away from them, after having parted ways with Manu’s mother. Pratapa Varma lives with his siblings and other relatives. Manu meets him and returns. Soon afterwards Pratapa Varma passes away. His eager relatives await the reading out of his will, which however disappoints them. Pratapa Varma has given the major share of his property to Alexander Varma, who’s his son too, born to a woman in Mumbai. The clauses in the will are such that it’s almost important for everyone else to get rid of Alexander. Manu decides to go to Mumbai and seek out Alexander and then get him to sign on documents giving his share to Manu, of course by resorting to cheating and unfair means. He meets Alexander’s mother, gets her signature and then makes inquiries about Alex. He is told that Alex was first jailed for murder and is now in a mental asylum. Manu, his uncle Krishnan and his lover Bismitha go to meet Alex at the mental asylum. Alexander is very much an interesting character. With the doctor’s consent, Manu takes Alex with him and sets off, determined to get the papers signed by him. But the trip with Alex turns to be revelation for Manu.

The character of Alexander Varma is very much different from those many characters that Mohanlal has been doing of late. The film doesn’t present him as a star playing to satisfy his fans, but as an actor who does a character of substance. Mohanlal does justice to the role of Alexander Varma, though at places there seems to be something lacking in his performance. Bala as Manu is OK while Saikumar appeals in the very few scenes in which he appears, as Pratapa Varma. One wonders why scenarists and directors are so bent on casting Jagadeesh in dunce-like roles. Of course he has excelled doing such roles, but of late he has started overdoing it and the directors and scenarists too seem to have made it a habit to cast him in such roles.

Nalla Paattukaare [2010]

Direction : K.S Sivachandran
Producer : M.S Sundaram
Music: Sharreth
Lyrics : Gireesh Puthenchery

Track List:
01 Oh Neelambale [Najin Arshad, Durga & Sannidanandan]
02 Chambakka Chundane [Shikha]
03 Laayi Laayi [Vani & Yasin]
04 Amme Mookambike [Swetha - Start Singer]
05 Muthukkili [Vijay Madhav & Gayathri]
06 Aalaapam [Gayathri & Najim Arshad]
07 Chambakka Chundane [Sikha & Somadas]
08 Sharab Pattin [Pramod]
09 Nilave Nilave [Vivekanandan & Bitty]
10 Amme Mookambike [Sonia]
11 Aalapam [Gayathri]

Oru Naal Varum [2010]

Director : T.K Rajeev Kumar
Producer : Maniyan Pillai Raju
Music : M.G. Sreekumar
Lyrics : Murukan Kattakkada
Starring : Mohanlal, Sreenivasan, Sameera Reddy, Nedumudi Venu, Suraj Venjaramood, Devayani & Others

Track List:
01. Paadan Ninakkoru - M.G. Sreekumar & Chithra
02. Oru Kandan Poocha Varunne - Vidhu Prathap
03. Maavin Chottile Manamille - Swetha
04. Naathoone Naathoone - Mohanlal & Rimi Tomy
05. Paadan Ninakkoru - Chithra
06. Pranayanilavu - Nishad & Preethy Warrier
07. Maavin Chottile - M.G.Sreekumar
08. Paadan Ninakkoru (Karoke)