Jickson – Google

Some impressive featurettes, some mid ones, and some duds. Some impressive featurettes, some mid ones, and some duds. MT's stories have stood the test of time, enough to warrant an entire episodic series in 2024 featuring a star-studded cast. However, these stories are also for an audience who are fans of his literary works, regardless of whether all of them hold cinematic value or not. In Manorathangal, we get nine different stories in the form of featurettes. The following is an individual breakdown (based on what I've watched so far, in whatever order-will be updating slowly): Olavum Theeravum: Directed by Priyadarshan and starring Mohanlal and Durga Krishna, this one has an age-old plot that already got a cinematic adaptation in 1970. In this rendition, more than the plot or the performances, it's Santosh Sivan's cinematography that stands out. Mohanlal and Durga Krishna are alright, but there isn't much here that elevates it to the status of an exceptional black-and-white throwback. (2.5/5) Kadugannawa, Oru Yathra Kurippu: Even when we get Mammootty in the lead role, Ranjith's version of this story lacks the emotional intrigue that you generally associate the filmmaker with, especially when he tackles slow-paced drama. Vineeth's performance is the key highlight here. (2/5) Kazhcha: Shyamaprasad is one of the finest directors in Malayalam who can handle minimalist drama yet still keep you hooked. I really enjoyed the story of Sudha (a fantastic Parvathy Thiruvothu) and how she dealt with a situation that was, in those times, considered taboo. In today's times, the story finds less relevance, but once again, Shyamaprasad's signature is clearly visible. The same apply to Ouseppachan's music and Nimish Ravi's cinematography. (3.25/5) Shilalikhitam: This is undoubtedly the better Priyadarshan effort here, which unmasks the cruelty (or to put it better, lack of empathy) behind the "conventionally" kind and hospitable nature of villagefolk in Kerala. Biju Menon is in superb form, and even the child actor who plays his daughter is solid. (3.5/5) Sherlock: Right up Mahesh Narayanan's alley, the story of an alcoholic who moves to a wintry city in the US is safe in the hands of none other than Fahad Fazil. Nadiya Moidu also lends ample support, but the titular cat turns out to be an absolute scene-stealer. His interactions with Fahad's Balu, especially in a scene towards the end, had me on edge. The aesthetics of the house also give off that lived-in feel, and Fahad navigating unemployment and de-addiction with a suspicious cat in the house is as interesting as it can get. (3.5/5) Vilpana: Turned out to be a total miss in my books. Other than Madhoo's everlasting beauty, there isn't a lot to admire here. Asif Ali's wig was distractingly bad and Bhagyalakshmi's dubbing was not at all convincing. This has better potential to be a radio drama than an anthology featurette; Aswathy Nair's direction lacks finesse. (1/5) Kadalkkaatu: Another featurette that's better suited for a stage drama. Here too, you're likely to remember the cinematography than the plot or the performances. With performers like Indrajith and Aparna Balamurali, I might have expected a more layered output. (1.5/5)

I just saw the movie and there actually is a strong political message showing how pathetic the situation is at the time and how little it has changed, though it is subtle and maybe you didn’t notice it? The texts in the opening and closing highlight the cynical stance and it also comes to light in the dialogue. I’m surprised how much you misread the film. It is a commentary on colonialism. Thought it should be noted in all fairness. It does have a bro quality, but overall, it was interesting and exciting, especially for a French film that usually have very little action. I personally really enjoyed it and would see it again.