Shejin H.S.

I was happy to watch Voice of Satyanathan yesterday at a Matinee show, there was a good number of audience. Rafi as a Director and Script writer has produced remarkable entertainers which were also huge hits and Dileep described as 'Janapriya Nayakan', the duo has charmed here. VoS has the tested and certified comedy gimmicks of Dileep and slapstick situations in Rafi movies but what elates VoS is a refreshing story pleading a decent connectivity with a common man and also with the right ingredients for an entertainer .There are a number of characters worthy of mention and were impressive. Thus a fair entertainer for family and others good to watch in Theaters.

First about 2018: To put it simply the 2018 Floods brought the otherwise diversified Keralites to a common platform and now the movie 2018 provides the Malayalee cinelovers a Theatre Experience they have been much longing for. Jude Anthany Joseph should be applauded or credited for recreating the 2018 floods on screen and making the viewer feel the agony, anguish, distress and losses caused by the floods through a cluster of distinct stories or characters in 120 minutes. Even though a viewer (especially me) would have watched the news and read numerous articles on the 2018 floods, the movie engrossingly makes one feel the floods and at times to whimper. Jude Anthany has taken a divergent route from his earlier feel good stories to a feel some real incidents with remarkable technical perfection. Also 2018 has the space, emotions and performance to cater to all the age groups of audience thus making it an ideal Rush Hour creator which Malayalam film industry was in dire need of. 😊

Seeing the not so promising reviews and an immense cutdown in shows, I decided Yesterday to find out what was wrong with Christopher. But to my surprise Christopher gave me a remarkable Theatrical movie experience. The audience numbered around 15 only and they were impressed. Maybe the film buffs are a bit prejudiced about B.Unnikrishnan (after Arattu) and reluctant about the violence against women. But to one's dismay the report released by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) in October 2020 says that a rape is happening in India every 16 minutes which cannot be neglected. The movie is based on some real and fictional events which are well coalesced on the brutal assault against women and how Christopher, a vigilante cop settles the assailants. Udayakrishna's script is well written to underscore the tagline, "An Autobiography of a Vigilante Cop" and has a good oscillation between the past and present events. Mammootty has portrayed Christopher quite gently and subtly, a distinct trait of Mammootty is to find novel ways of portraying a character as he has already essayed the role of a police officer some 25 times or more in his career but then also we get to see a new or different cop in Christopher. The movie accommodates the other ensemble characters and cast meticulously and all of them are given due space to perform and impress the viewer. Christopher may give a notion of supporting extra judicial killings and people favoring them but it points to why this becomes necessary and this is due to a loophole in our legal system as 'Justice delayed is justice denied'. Christopher presents a reformed work of B.Unnikrishnan and sets a class apart from his earlier works. In Christopher his direction his like the proverb, "Action speaks louder than words" and is bound to impress the viewer. After watching the movie I had feelings for Christopher as a tender viewer and wished there were one or more cops like him in our police departments. Christopher is well crafted and has a fascinating presentation, a movie worthy to be watched in big Screens.

Thank God I just got in time to get the tickets for Matinee as it was about to be houseful. The first twenty minutes of the film needs special mention as it was intensely gripping and fascinating, and looked all set to give a classic. But later on elements of drama and enigma steps in. The Director and the Writer should be appreciated for portraying the antagonist and the vengeance of the protagonist in a novel and intelligent way, the trepidation factor is also well disguised between psychological and supernatural elements. The character of Luke Antony is a fitting display of the style and acting finesse of Mammootty. The next strong characters are of Bindhu Panicker and Grace Antony and their performances were captivating. The rest of the characters in the film are also well defined and all of their performances were impressive. Mammukka's films in 2022 at the Big Screens and OTT had a kind of assortment in their subjects earned stupendous collection at the Box Office. Mammootty Company's Rorschach is all set to go more miles in that track and gives a curious and refreshing time for moviebuffs who are fond of Psychological or Supernatural thrillers. Hats off to Mammootty for delivering an exemplary work in his maiden production.

I watched Ponniyin Selvan on the release day itself. To be honest, I was disappointed with the cinematic experience of PS-1. Although the movie has its technical aspects like costumes, art work, visualization etc. fair, the film fails to grip or transport an ordinary viewer into the 10th century Chola Kingdom. PS-1 narrative is very much reserved and as such a viewer who knows the story of the novel Ponniyin Selvan may be able to catch the course of the movie and the intricacies of its various characters. Alternatively an innocent viewer has to be very attentive and curious to catch the various plots or course of the movie. PS-1 having an appealing and absorbing epic story and characters for a Pan Indian Film caters only to an elite class of audience and may not necessarily exhilarate or satiate a common man's cinematic experience. What I felt disheartening about PS-1 is that the many period films in recent times from various industries with inferior story calibers or quality have delivered astounding cinematic experiences and made a common man gallop to Big Screens. Hope Ponniyin Selvan-2 makes this up and delivers a better and improvised Cinematic Experience. Paying tribute to Jean-Luc Godard by mentioning his words," The Cinema is not an art which films life: the Cinema is something between art and life ". Thus PS-1 misses to give that vital cinematic experience between Art and life.

Mike took me by surprise as I went for this because it is produced John Abraham ( may be his first production in Mollywood ) and there was no other major Malayalam release. Three factors make Mike worth a watch. First is the performance from the lead casts Anaswara Rajan and newcomer Ranjith Sajeev. The last time I saw Anaswara Rajan on big screen was in Super Sharanya and I was disappointed with her performance. But in Mike she has done a formidable job and I was captivated by her performance. By her performance the character she portrays hopefully should leave an impression and feel on the audience. As his maiden movie and the hero Ranjith Sajeev's performance is praiseworthy as he has convincingly portrayed the two stages of his character. Next the director Vishnu Shivaprasad should be applauded for selecting a refreshing subject in his first film and keeping the mood of the film intact with the lead pair occupying about ninety percent of the movie. Then the next factor which elevated the feel and mood of the film is the music by Hisham Abdul Wahab ( his previous hit is Hridayam). Mike has a refreshing and relevant story and can leave an impression on its viewer.

First of all I have to appreciate Lal Jose for keeping his word that he will do a movie at the earliest with the winners and runner ups of Nayika Nayakan reality show ( 2018), maybe Covid-19 and the difficulty to get a producer made this to release now. Of course Lal Jose doesn't have to prove himself and thus Solomonte Thenichakal may not have the charisma of a typical LJ film but is watchable. Initially the movie goes on a casual mood and establishes the characters of Nayika Nayakan actors. Once the crucial incident happens and Joju George steps in, the movie changes gear and becomes more engaging. Joju George steals the show after his arrival and he is the game changer in the course of Solomonte Thenichakal. The actors from Nayika Nayakan have also done their parts substantially well. Solomonte Thenichakal has a fair amount of suspense, drama and twists but the recent overload if crime stories in Mollywood may restrict it's reach and appeal.

First of all I have to appreciate the director Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval for improving or maintaining that class in his first movie, Android Kunjappan. The film's story has a very live, relevant and necessary implication and is directed well enough to connect the viewers of all age groups and at the same time impress the critics. A brilliance of Nna Than Case kodu and it's direction is that in spite of handling a subject of grave concern the situations are laced in natural humour to make the viewers laugh out and maintain a feel good factor through its course. In Nna Than Case kodu we get to see a new mode of actor in Kunchacko Boban who has very well adapted to the dialect, body language and mannerisms of a reformed thief hailing from a Kasargodan village. Also the director has to be appreciated for selecting almost an entirely unfamiliar or new cast and making them to deliver enthralling performances, this may be to suit Kasargodan background. The tagline of the advertisements of NnaThan Case kodu in yesterday's newspapers asking the viewers to watch out for potholes while coming for the movie irked the State government and many of the organisations affiliated to the ruling party had come out in campaigns against Nna Than Case kodu. But I think this is only going to increase its popularity as any viewer who watches Nna Than Case kodu will not be able to leave the theatre without an Appreciation. Also Hats off to Kunchacko Boban for co producing Nna Than Case kodu and delivering an engaging, humourous, feel good Social Satire that should definitely arise the Audience to Big Screens.😊

Set in the time frame of 1965 to 1985, the movie as the tagline says is the story of lieutenant Ram but as Lieutenant Ram his lover Sita Lakshmi has also an equal or more significant part. Sita Ramam is a testimony to the fact that a good story is the backbone of a classic film. If not inspired from any work, the story and portrayal of Sita Ramam from the beginning to end is a novelty and the movie at any point doesn't divert to unnecessary drama or subplots keeping in tact it's classical nature. Although the story may be fictional, Sita Ramam has an intense realistic appeal and is well directed by Hanu Raghavapudi. Telugu movies in recent times are characterised by a freshness, grandeur or richness in storylines, locations and visualisation aided by good technical support, Sita Ramam has kept or raised that mark. The love story in Sita Ramam is heartwarming, poignant and as usual human establishments in a way complicate this love story and it is further aggravated by the ill fate of a soldier. A Soldier and lover is not new to DQ but he has essayed the character of Ram with a fine appeal of innocence, grace and charm. Mrunal Thakur as Sita Lakshmi is equally appealing and complements DQ. There are other impressive characters but in one way or the other their sole purpose is to establish the love story of Sita and Ram. The Cinematic Experience of Sita Ramam has the magic to immerse a moviebuff who has a liking for the classical love stories of twentieth century. As a sensitive viewer, towards the climax I was heartbroken and sentiments for Sita and Ram was pouring as tear drops. I left the theatre with a heavy heart. The last time a love story at big screen put me at a similar situation was in 2017, Mayaanadhi. Finally I have to thank Vyjayanthi movies and the entire team of Sita Ramam for making this love story a heartfelt and gratifying experience.