B Jos

Fabulous and stunning. If you have ever loved cinema, please watch this on a big screen. I have seen some excellent movies over the past few months. I mean excellent. And ever since the movie announcement, I have been waiting to watch this movie. The last few films of LJP have been OTT releases and I wanted to make sure I give him my money. Just take my money and leave, you brilliant man. This movie received so many negative reviews that it made me doubt the film and myself before entering the theatre. However, after watching it, I knew “I was Chosen”. There is a dialogue in the movie, “What you see is the truth, all unseen is a lie, everything you have witnessed is a lie and what you are about to see is the TRUTH”. Malaikottai Vaaliban is the truth. Reasons why I loved it and my interpretation of some bits that made me love it even more: 1) This movie is an Indian Western: Like in a Hollywood movie, the hero arrives at a new town, challenges someone to a duel, and wins the hearts of the town's people. This could be the synopsis of the movie, short and crisp. 2) Story Trajectory and scale: An urban legend often exaggerates the feats of a hero, such as 100 soldiers against a hero with a knife killing them all. This movie is one such urban legend. I am using a little Hindi for context; imagine someone saying. “Abey udhar se rocket or machine gun. Par apna hero….bhaiiiiiii……..chaku liya…aur aise feka…wuup wuuup wuuuup…aur khatam. Gala kaat diya villain ka…ek number. 3) Beautiful Shots: Just Beautiful. 4) Excellent BGM and Score: "The score is perfect with the right number of songs." 5) Symbolism: Watch it and you will know. 6) Performances: "The casting is spot on, with a huge and diverse cast where everyone is perfectly suited for their role." This might be Mohanlal’s best movie in the last 5-10 years. He doesn’t need to act much in this movie, him being there is enough, it says it all. 7) The Direction: LJP. 8) An Ode to Mohanlal: This movie is a tribute to one of the greatest actors of all time, if not the greatest. It is not just an ode to “Mohanlal”, but to his journey as a whole. Watching this film feels like an act of idol worship, and I mean that in the best way possible. If someone were to introduce or explain the phenomenon that is "Mohanlal," this movie would be the perfect way to showcase how he came and conquered all. No one will ever be able to do this ever again because there is only one “Malaikottai Vaaliban” and there is only one Mohanlal. I could go on and on about other things but then, when would I stop? So, I stop here, absolute poetry.

Garbage ..that should say it all.