Best Actor--ബെസ്റ്റ് ആക്ടര്‍

Director
Martin Prakkat
Cast
Mammootty,Sruthi,Lal,Nedumudi Venu,Salim Kumar

There are people in our midst who just can't get out of the charm of the silver screen.Many people still act before a mirror,bursting with enthusiasm,wanting to showcase their talent to the world(whether they have it or not).Some people make it,some don't."Best Actor" is a tribute to those hopefuls.To the guys who run from one set to another,shaping their lives around cinema,begging for a chance.

Mammooty is Mohanan,a simpleton school teacher who really wants to make it big on screen.Whatsmore Mohanan is backed by his whole enthusiastic family,who encourage him in every step and believes in him.We have seen Mohanans in plenty of films as a side character,but here his life is the subject.

Best Actor is a simple movie,a bearable comedy.Mammooty fits perfectly into his role.He never loses control over the character.When an established actor plays the role of a wannabe,we tend forget to the latter.But Mammu never allows you that.While Mohanan's innocence and his struggles touch you,his ingenuity in dealing with situations make you laugh.
Lal&co. sparkle as the likeable goons.The new girl doesn't get enough screen space,the director just wants us to know that the protagonist has got a beautiful(?) wife.The kid playing Mammu's son is really cute,fills his role nicely.



Never take this film for a realistic work,its not.If you step into the theatre with no great hopes,you will come out with a smile.A smile..not offering anything more than that.

Rating
2/5

Yugapurushan--യുഗപുരുഷന്‍

Direction: R. Sukumaran
Cast: Thalaivasal Vijay. Mammootty,Kalabahvan Mani, Devan, Babu Antony, Jagathy Sreekumar

Yugapurushan is a period film about the life of Sree Narayana guru and his impact on the socio-political landscape of Kerala.The theme is holy to Malayalis,the Guru already a avatar for the redemption of the downtrodden.Hence any film on the Guru's life wouldn't have much new to tell the well informed Malayali audience.Still people would enjoy the experience of watching the true Guru in the age of phoney swamis.

So the film has the right reason..but is that enough?..Is a good intent enough to make a theme into a good film?..No.Thats what the makers of Yugapurushan fail to understand.They are force feeding the audience at many points, pushing the guru into a magician's role.That would be an insult to a man who raised to the level of the Gods by selfless service to mankind mixed with the Sanathana Dharma and spiritual knowledge of Bharath.He didn't sport a suit and try to be an Ambedkar,instead he created an awakening in the minds of the people.He realized 'defeat' is a feeling,a feeling which a Dalit is driven into in his childhood itself.

The scenes of Guru pushing a fishing boat stuck in the sand with a touch,he making a tiger disappear..huh..I would say it would work with the overtly faithful,but not infront of audience looking for say.."artistic enlightenment"
Inspite of these glitches this film gives an insight into the Guru's life and most of the part it is a wonderful experience.More than anything I would thank the director for casting Vijay as Guru.He knows who he is potraying and does his job with grace.Yes,such roles require a grace that transcends mere cinematic ability,Vijay has that.He has a dignified look too.

Some frames of the film are brilliant and some out of an 'SNDP' publication.Frankly at some point there is a tendency to rollover other great reformers..which is say 'natuaral' from a devotee.
The film is part cinema,part documentary,part propaganda but overall the film survives on the message it gives.Its relevance transcends time and points fingers at what happened to the legacy of the Guru.
The cast is really good,but I need to get my hands on the make up man[:X].Smearing ash on face(only) doesn't make anybody a Dalit.Though caricatures should be expected, there is an overflow here.So I would say there isn't much new..but the life and work of Guru is such that nothing new needs to be added.

This film has the right intent, a good cast.A mix of realism would have made the film global,but guess we aren't ready for that yet.Here the message is global..the film isn't;.
Anyway brilliant effort.

One of favorite lines from the film..the Guru reacting to the wails of a poor untouchable being lashed.."അടിച്ചു അടിച്ചു ഉണര്തട്ടെ.."(let them be awakened by pain)


2.5/5

Ividam Swargamaanu--ഇവിടം സ്വര്‍ഗ്ഗമാണ്

Director:Roshan Andrews
Lalu Alex,Mohanlal,Shankar,Thilakan,Priyanka,Jagathi Sreekumar

This is the 3rd film from Roshan Andrews.Having watched his first two films,we as viewers do expect films with substance from him.And here again we are not being disappointed Ividam Swargamaanu is a film with a social message,an insight into the times we live in.
I was a bit unsure about my ticket's worth when I started watching the movie.There were characters put in it just for the sake of it.Here the social message is given so much importance that director fails in tailoring his characters.All characters are just tools that take forward the message,but one..
Lalu Alex ROCKS!!..
His attire,expressions,words leave a lasting impression on the viewer's mind.Jagathi does a good job as a master counterfeiter.His character is a thesis into the world of counterfeiting.Good job there!
I hate to say this being a great admirer of Mohanlal,but the film would have gone well without him.(though he showcases his fluidness in an action scene).Mohanlal didn't look fresh,he seems to doing a stage show when he is supposed to act.From an actor of his calibre this isn't what I expected:(
The film kicks alive after half an hour,and then there is no stopping it.The scenes are funny,informative and insightful.
And on a personal note I liked Sreenivasan's character here,his words mean a lot to me.


3.3/5..could have been better

Pazhashi Raja -- പഴശി രാജാ

Direction: Hariharan

Mammooty,Sharath Kumar,Padmapriya,Kaniha,Manoj K Jayan




They say the movie cost the producer 26 crores..well I would say they have spend the money..
They have invested a lot of money in shaping up the Kurichya tribal settlements and stuff

The war scenes r good,but many of the numbers are much cliched..

Hariharan watched many movies b4 making this film it seems..Lord of the rings,Kagemusha,Last Samurai

Do u remeber Legolas the elf moving down the rope and firing arrows..when Manoj's Thalaykal Chanthu borrows heavily from LOTR.The fighting sequences show resemblance to Last Samurai(particularly the end)

The one actress who bowled me over is Padmapriya with her astounding perfomance..she rockz!!..her slang bears a striking resemblance to Revathy's in Kilukkam..
She moves more fluidly than all male actors put together.

And yes..Sharath Kumar was good.He stole the limelight from Mammooty in this film,his looks and expressions making Mammooty look like a teetotaller.
Mammooty must has been selected for this role for his looks and sound.He has got nothing else to offer here.The film is nowhere near Vadakkum Veera Gadha.While the former broke stereotypes,the latter fixed them.The short dark Pazhasi Raja has had a makeover.Shouldn't have happened,it betrays reality.

The Kaniha was 'dead weight'.(Her talent seems to be elsewhere;) ).While his followers are preparing for battle Hariharans Pazhassi wastes time pleasing his wife(No wonder the Brits won)

The English actors employed are a disgrace..they looked like they were forced to act


The film is pretty long at 31/2 hours..but is a good experience provided u can stay away from howling Mammoonju fans..


2.5/5

Swa Le -- സ്വ ലെ

Cast:Dileep,Gopika,Salim Kumar,Innocent



I approached this film cautiously.I was afraid this would be yet another film which would make us hope to decieve.The starting 1/2 hr almost confirmed my fears,it was a mix of amateurish moves,colorless jokes,and cliches.
But 1/2 an hour into the film,u feel life rushing into the script,the camera work becomes great,the cliches disappear to give you potshots into a film with a fresh story with good direction and script.

Dileep sparkles in his role as 'Swa le',Gopika supports him well.Innocent does his job with ease.
Salim Kumar is just brilliant.,along with Jagathy Sreekumar.


The film puts in a lot of questions into one's mind,but saving us the blushes of watching yet another cliche.


The film is brilliant and beautiful,but I would disagree with director for the last scene.
The entire message of the film(it has one..) is killed by the last scene.




Watch this film,encourage such films..it isn't an art film,but a good film with life and message in it.


3.5/5

Paleri Manikyam--പലേരി മാണിക്യം

Direction: Renjith and crew

Cast: Mammooty,Shwetha Menon,Mythili,Sreenivasan,Sidhique



The story is about a murder involving the brutal rape of a 20 yr old girl in Paleri,a place in North Malabar.

The film starts with its haunting title track..the horror experienced by the poor girl seeps into us,her innocent eyes,and beautiful smile haunts us and leaves a trickle of tear somewhere inside.The main problem with films with an old time line is an over dependency on cliches.But this films grows from that.Yes the director employs cliches,but they are not caricatures,they are characters with life in them.

Mammooty is superb as the negative character in Murikkum Kunnathu Ahmad Haji,a cold blooded feudal landlord.His entry into the film is cool,the single frame showing him in a single thorthu infront of his house prints the image of a cold blooded feudal lord into our minds.

The film tends to compare the contrast between the world in 50s and now,with Mammooty's relationship with his 'friend',who..happens to be criminal analyist of some sort,who also happens to be Mammooty's friend's wife,who also happens to share his life(?) now.Well she is employed so that Mammooty has somebody to narrate the story to.

Now enter the girl who plays Manikyam,she doesn't have much screen space as a character,but her eyes,her beautiful innocence drives the film.She needn't utter a word,her eyelashes and smiles speak for her and her poor tormented soul.Great pick!!

Each small character plays out perfectly,the village crack(Paleri's supersub conscious),the communists of that era,landlord,henchmen of the Haji etc.
Sreenivasan plays an 'original' communist(Paleri's superconscious)in the film,a hot blood,filled with dreams of a new proletarian era in the 1950s.His relationship with his former mentor leads to some very interesting thoughts being shared(great work Renjith!!).

Shwetha Menon is also great.She plays a seductive young woman in a frame and transforms effortlessly into an old hag in another.While she is seductive in each frame while shown as a young woman,she transforms completely into an old hag in other frames.Its not just make up,it shows her calibre as an actress.

Overall the film is a wonderful piece of art..I could point out flaws,but I am not going to do that..cos you have to watch this film..its an experience you shouldn't miss!Go in with the right frame of mind..just follow the sad song on the title track it lulls us into the 50s..the dark roads of Paleri with its hidden beauties and dangers.


4/5