The Rainmaker

Movie : Pakal Nakshatrangal
Language : Malayalam
Date : 04, Dec 2008

Review:
I believe that a review is not only an analysis of the movie but also a faithful recommendation to the readers on whether to watch the same movie or not. And if most of my friends (who are casual movie goers) ask me about PN, I would not recommend the movie to them. There is a strong reason for the same. As mentioned above, most of my friends are normal movie goers who watch it for fun, entertainment and time pass.

PN is not for this bracket of people. But if I stumble upon someone who is a serious movie buff and can be patient enough to challenge his movie watching instincts, then PN is a worth watch.
PN has released during an interesting year. TK, TP, PMT, GM all have been 'serious' cinema with popular leads. Even from that elite list, I would place PN below TK and definitely above TP. TK cud navigate the thin line between art and commercial successfully where as PN is an uncompromising depiction of a philosophical thriller.

PN has an eerie feel to it in many portions. It gives you minor shocks here and there. The narrative is adequately paced in many parts and slow other times. BGM could have been used more effectively. The total running time is 1hr and 50 mins. 1 hr before the interval and 50 mins after. So, if you feel that at places the movie is slow, then its all within this small duration of the movie.

I feel that the strength of PN lies in 2 facts. One is the towering presence of Mohanlal as an actor. I think even if the theme was unrelatable and tad experimental, it was a treat to watch Lal's performance. Watch that scene in which he speaks to the Homeo Doctor after making love and also in the scene that he speaks to her about the mysterious women on the phone. The naughtiness in his expressions and the aura surrounding his personality is exhibited in the best possible way. Lal has single handedly made Siddhan an amazing character on screen and one of the best leading roles this year. Many a times u feel its his most enigmatic role, in terms of acting, since Thanmatra. His character feels a bit incomplete especially his family side else it would have been contender for awards with more range of expressions.

To all Lal Fans: If you can be patient enough to sit through through 1 hr 50 mins, perhaps you can see what magic in the name of acting, can Lal still brings on screen.

The second strength of PN is the thriller design that it has. Anoop searching his father's killer keeps you on tender hooks many a times. Anoop's performance is creditable. It’s amazing to see such a serious and challenging script coming from his young mind. Anoop is a great promise for the future of Malayalam Cinema apart from just acting.

The main -ve of the film is its direction which many a times gives a feel as a deliberate attempt to brand the movie as an ART movie. Unnecessarily slow at many times. Unnecessarily made to look as for the festival crowd at parts.I am sure that the same script in the hands of a master director like Padmarajan would have made a better and more acceptable version of what it is now. Even Blessey could have been tried instead of Rajiv Nath.

Suresh Gopi's character adds to the eerie feel. I felt his many scenes are good if you begin to accept and compromise on the supernatural. Especially his scene after interval with Anoop is good. But the scene in which he sits outside his house speaking to spirits is laughably amateurish.
The concept that all the dead souls have a world of their own and that death itself is a new birth is philosophical. Such themes need to be presented in a more acceptable manner for the general public. I think a master director would have beenrequired to guide the script.

The message I took home was ‘Pakal Nakshatrangal’ in a different sense. Siddhan's wife was omnipresent in his life but he could never value her. She made him understand the same. So as its hinted towards the end by Anoop, such people in our lives are Pakal Nakshatrangal, who give so much to our lives but whom we take for granted each day and ignore as stars in the day.

My rating for Pakal Nakshatrangal is 3/5.
A recommendation of ‘Watch it if you are a serious movie buff'.
Its heartening to see that Malayalam Cinema is attempting to make a come back.

Movie : Dostana
Language : Hindi
Date : 17th Nov, 2008.

Review:
To say that 'Dostana' is a suger coated candy will be an understatement. Its a 4 layer suger coated candy with an extra whiff and gloss.If anyone is looking for the cracking time you had seeing 'Kal Ho Na Ho', then you are sure to be disappointed.I was anyway not expecting a great or path breaking movie but was looking for a movie similar to the hep culture and present time wit and jokes just as KHNK (except that climax mush).

The 'gay' episode in KHNH has been taken and expanded to in to a full blown movie. This angle entertains in the beginning and succeeds to an extent but too much of only this makes one wanting something else also in the movie.In KHNH we had so many other funny moments and gags. Isn't it? But the majority of the funny moments in Dostana are based on this far fetched gay angle. It becomes a bore when its too far fecthed.

But Dostana is high on todays LOOKs. No two words about that. I think look wise you can rate this movie 4/5.Miami's lustful beaches rock as always. Priyanka looks fab. Abhi is cool. John is Rocking and Shilpa sizzles in a cameo. Just as Dhoom2, which was rich on styling and looks, Dostana is high on the today's LOOK quotient.
Dostana many a times takes its viewers for granted. There is no attempt to show the necessity of the moment which pushed John and Abhi to the extreme situation of adopting the gay angle. Thier criticality of getting the apartment at any cost shud have been driven home more convincingly. Also, when Bobby appreciates Priyanka for her good work at Fashion Show, she immediatel falls for him. Thier love angle seems completely difficult to connect to.

In the second half, the wooing becomes an excercise. First Abhi woos Priyanka and I really liked that scene. Then we almost guess that John is goingto do the same. He does it with Kuch Kuch Hota hai which I felt was quite unimaginative.Then its Bobby's turn. Tedious.!!!

But Dostana has its moments of fun. The gay jokes work to a point until we realise that its too much and they don't have anything else in the movie. The three friends angle has been quite uniquely shown with John, Abhi and Piggy Chops.Dats really cool. John and Abhi working to break Bobby and Piggy's affair is fun to watch.

And lastly, My favourite thing in Dostana. The MUSIC. I really loved it. My favourite track is 'Maula Maula (Khabar Nahin)'.But its closely followed by Desi Girl, Jaane Kyu and Shut Up and Bounce. Well picturised songs and ffot tapping music.Way to go Vishal and Shekhar!!
John and Priyanka are the best in the movie looks wise (which is very important aspect of the movie). Abhi and Priyanka are the best Performance wise. Abhi being the clear winner.

With today's Look in place and the music, I feel that the audience would be hooked on to the screen just for that even though there is not much mettle in the movie.
But if you expect anywhere close to KHNH you will have to come back after watching Dostana and see KHNH once again on the DVD to have that fun.
So for me, I think is 2.5/5 - AVERAGE rating for Dostana.
This is just for the MUSIC and the Looks .!!!

Movie : Twenty 20
Language : Malayalam
Date : 05, Nov 2008.

20-20 - Heart Racing, Pulse Pounding Spectacle
20-20 the movie, is so racy that by interval, I was thinking when was I so much excited in the recent past. Pat came my answer. It was either the Rafa-Roger Epic Wimbledon Final this year or the moments when I took the world’s highest rollercoaster at Las Vegas.

Yes, 20-20 is as thrilling an experience as a joyous and dreadful rollercoaster. The pace is palpable at times. Its a great entertainer for the most parts of it. You puff, pant, cheer and move to the edge of your seats for major portions of the movie.

Mam - Lal : The Dream Machine
Just as Roger and Rafa in the Epic Wimbledon Final, Mam and Lal are on exquisite display of talent. Take a bow Malayalam World, here are two of your greatest sons showing off their acting skills. Mam Lal are 'Magic' as they match foot for foot, punch for punch and word for word trying to outplay and outclass each other in one of the most memorable on screen duals that I have ever seen.

I think they live their characters in such a way that they send a very strong message..... to the audience, to the FANS, to Malayalam Cinema and to themselves.

There are no 'super human' situations for Lal. No mustache twirling and slow mo walks. There are no 'forced upon' dance numbers for Mam and flower pattern shirts or dialects.There are just 2 superb well written characters. And both of them ROCK and how!!Thats the message. Give them great characters and not stereotypes and they will ROCK your world.

A word for the FANS of both camps. Just watch Mam Lal in their combination scenes. Neither of them is least intimidated by the presence of the other. Instead both of them thrive on it. They have great chemistry and friendship in real life and that comes on screen. If they can work magic together, the camps shud minimum be able to peacefully co-exist.

The Third Demon
Imagine the Mam Lal explosive mix on over drive and to that you add another a third equally rivetting character. Thats in short, Suresh Gopi as Antony Punnekkadan. I think the most unexpected performance is from Gopi. He truly stands his own in front of the Ms. Chases them, Races them and matches them to the T and shows us why he is still the best bet as a fiery police officer. I admire the way he has stood his ground. Antony Punnakkaden Spits Fire.

There lots of others who leave a mark. Sreenivasan, Salim Kumar, Dileep, Jayaram, Innocent, Bhavana, Manoj K Jayan,Siddique, Shammi Tilakan, Indrajeet, Madhu and so on. It never seems crowded coz the focus is always on the big 3.The first 20 minutes has a comedy track which may seem unnecessary but nevertheless wait increases anticipation for the Big 3.

Technical Crew:
Hats off to Joshy. 70% of the movie is so racy that many a times u will gasp for breath. Till the point Jayaram starts the flash back, its a superlative pace. After that it slackens a bit. The climax is a dampner. But Joshy has shot it in a way only he could have. I mean its a unique feat. The editing is great. Background Score Apt.

Sibi Udayan, take a bow. No one expected this from them and they have come out all guns blazing. The script is water tight for most parts. Its almost IPL kind of excitement. Sachin pitted against Dhoni. Dhoni pitted against Sehwag. It was something Indians never felt till IPL. Its the same sensation. May be they named it '20-20' for the duals as above and also for the 3 hr power packed entertainment.

Negatives:
The biggest negative is the climax. Its so predictable and cooled off. Its the usual climax for any multi starer revenge drama. From ‘Sphodanam’ to ‘Tashan’, All such movies have this climax. All out baddy bashing. There is no surprise element. Such a dampener that the very last line of the movie when everything is over is " Ennal nammaku ini Angottu neengam".!!!! May be they didn't know how to end the movie.

Music is another sour point. 'Hey Diwana' is catchy only coz of Nayan Thaara. She burns the screen. But u might have surely heard better fast numbers. 'O priya' is well shot to Tamil standards but song is nothing great. Credits song for the old malayalam actors is a good idea but that song again is not good.

There are also some gaping holes in the script towards the end.

The building jump is not such a dampner. Its a jump from the 3rd floor, I guess and the situation is electric.The Mam Lal fight is also superb. Of the star introductions I liked Mams but Lal after court scene is supreme. That is Lal's real introduction!!!

All in all, I am going with 3.5/5 and a 'Very Good' Rating for 20-20.

Its the best Entertainer I have seen this year.

And the last word to Mr. Daniel Craig. Sorry Mr. Bond, You are 2 days late. Our BONDs have come and they have created an Explosion. I am so drained off that I have no room for you. Better Luck Next Time.

20-20 - Get Your Seat Belts on.!!!!!!!

Its Heart Racing and Pulse Pounding Spectacle.

Movie : Kurukshetra
Language : Malayalam
Date : 10th Oct,2008

Review:
The ‘Mindset’
I have always felt that while watching a war movie, the reviewer should always keep his patriotism aside, till at least the end credits start rolling. Especially, if it’s a war movie involving India, I always make it a point that I keep a control on the patriotic quotient rising inside me and don’t allow that to judge the movie. This is because, after all, every war film is a ‘movie’. And we are here to judge how good the movie is at the end of the day and not the patriotism (which is undoubtedly always good). The patriotism should only act as a supplement while making the final judgment about the movie.This is exactly the same mindset I had when I started to watch ‘Kurushetra’.

The ‘Movie’
Now, on to the movie. ‘Kurushetra’ definitely has its moments. And I truly believe that moments make a war movie (even more important than for a normal movie). Those moments which pack a punch in your hearts. In such movies, you know that these ‘moments’ are being well planned and plotted. For example, when the character Bineesh (Chotta) and his watch come in to reference in the first half, you clearly know that it’s a plot being made for some war ‘moment’ involving him in the second half. Similarly for the soldier who collects ‘Milk Maid’ bottles and the soldier who sends money to build his ‘home’ and so on. But that’s perfectly fine, when something is being done in a good way you tend to give the reigns of your mind to the director and float along on his ways.

Major Ravi has succeeded in many of these so called ‘war moments’. He has gone beyond the ‘usual limits’ to pack those punches. These moments come back to you even after the movie. For Example - The corpse of the soldier who sends money to build his house is taken and kept inside his newly finished house before cremation, is truly going ‘beyond the usual limits’ to pack the punch. So even if you expected the ‘plot’ but this breach of limits is a surprise. I frankly thought that this cremation scene would end where the shot of the new house was shown. Ravi went beyond to leave a mark.
The scene where Mahadevn and team bury the Pak corpses with full honor is another impressive scene. They are wrapped in Pak flags and using proper rituals. Again beyond the limits and packing the punch.

The ‘Milestones’
There are 2 milestone moments which are the clinchers for me. First is at the start of the movie and the Second at the very end. I will elaborate on these.As the movie starts, the scenic Kashmir is shown and credits starts rolling in. Everything looks normal and as usual credits go on till the one for the ‘Producer’. The movie goes on after that. The credit for the ‘director’ doesn’t come immediately. A border confrontation with Pak military is shown. An Indian Soldier is shot and as he falls his cap flies in the air. Freeze!. On the screen we have the cap tumbling in the air and the blue sky in the backdrop. And then the director’s credit appears. Wow, that’s a moment for you!!!

The second one is when you feel that war is over and everything is won. Mahadevan calls his commander and says that his team won’t retract back and leave the 17kms which they have caught in the battle. He says that if he is ordered to return that land for which 13 of his soldiers have died then he would himself die that moment. That’s a clincher for me.

With this movie, Ravi has shown us that he is deeply love with the subject that he is filming and also he has improved a director by leaps and bounds.
The fighter jet’s shoot down sequence in the first half and the last 20 minutes of war sequences are top notch.
The cinematography is good but not as impressive as ‘Keerthichakra’.
Music is fine and evokes the right kind of emotions. ‘Jwalamukhi’ is my pick. Background score is competent.

The ‘Minuses’
Ravi has got many things going right but at the same time he has got many things going wrong as well. When many of those soldier stories evoke some sort of compassion they still don’t choke your heart. And some don’t leave an impression.Just read this situation. As corpses are being carried back to the basement during the battle, a lady army doctor awaits to certify each of them as dead. She and her husband (who is also on the battle filed) have been away from each other due to their fight over careers. She has got her posted to the battle field to meet him. Unknowing that he is one among the batch of corpses she opens the file to sign the corpses as dead. Stop!
Impressed? I think you might be. But just see this piece of story in Kurushetra and it has been reduced to tale which doesn’t create the same impact. Mainly because Biju Menon (who plays the above husband) never evokes any compassion in the story. He is just there for the sake. And the worst is the lady who plays the wife. She is so plastic that it will make you shudder in despair. How could the director commit such a casting blunder?
The same goes for the story of Manikuttan and his lover army nurse. First of all, he never has a part that leaves an impression and secondly the lady actor is pathetic.
Also, the audience is not given a picture on the progress of the war. The terrain and strategy is discussed by Mahadevan once in detail. That’s all. Its never brought in to the picture as the war progresses. Like how many posts captured and how much is left etc? Some clever strategy planned etc. None of this happens. The only saving grace is Siddique’s last cunning act using the communal tag.

Also, as the movie beings we are irked to see that everyone in the team is a Mallu. There is only one Punjabi shown and a few North east guys here and there. As Mahadevan speaks to his non mallu superiors (during the war plan sequence) many a times he does it in Malayalam and they seem to be nodding. This language problem keeps irking your senses much throughout the first half.

In the forum, there were some views of it looking as a documentary. I didn’t get this feeling any point in time.
Regarding performances most of them are competent. Also it’s a refreshing change to see some young people instead of the usual Malayalam war movies with heavily pouted middle aged men in the army.

The role is a cake walk for Mohanlal. He is competent but comes to his own in the last scene which I spoke in the beginning. I liked him in that scene and evoked compassion. But his Hindi is poor. I liked his body language better in Keerthichakra.

The ‘Finale’
After a long review, now to the verdict. Kurushetra is a good movie. It impresses in many parts and many things could have been better as well. I feel that its below the first Ravi movie, Keerthichakra. For me it features among the better movies of the year…. TK, KS, PMT, TP, VOB and MB in that order.
For moments that pack a punch and quite a few of them for that matter. For many casting misses and many things that could have been explored like war tactics etc (only Ravi could have done it).

With all this, I have a 3/5 and A Verdict : Good for Kurushetra.
Go and give your heart out to those ‘moments’ which will pack punches in your psyche!!.

Movie : Thalappavu
Language : Malayalam
Date : 28th Sep, 2008.

Review
Many Movies are always comparable to others for some reasons. 'Thalappavu' and 'Thirakadha' are movies like that. Not because I saw them back to back but I think even if these 2 movies were released years apart, I guess they would have been compared. I will tell you why. The most obvious reason can be that both movies have Prithviraj but my strong case are other reasons.
1. Both follow a narrative pattern which keeps shifting between different periods in time.
2. Both movies are towards serious in nature.
3. When we begin watching Thirakadha, we feel that its Prithvi's story and by the end of it we know that Malavika stole the show and she keeps haunting you days after the movie. In the very same way, from the start, Thalappavu looks like Lal's story but Prthivi is the guy who comes back to your memories when you first think about Thalappavu, days after you have watched it.

Now to the movie.
Thalappavu is a good work of cinema and it stays just as that. It is 1 hour and 45 minutes in length and the first half is just 45 minutes. The story and the ambience is nice. Photography is good. Direction is good as well considering that Madhupal is a first timer.
As usual, no discussions about story in the review

I have a few things that I have noted about this movie. I think as a viewer, the movie is a bit too serious, almost to the brink of being branded as a so called 'art movie'. In direct contrast, Thirakadha was also serious but it was a more interesting watch even at 2.5 hrs length.
I think the Script could have been better. The reason is that few minutes in to the movie, the whole sequence of events can be guessed and after that there are no surprises except for some power packed scenes by Prithvi and Lal.

But I am not taking anything away from Thalappavu. Its a good movie experience for serious movie lovers. Lal's performance is good and as expected. I expected the same kind of performance from him and thats what I got. The girl who acts as Lal's childhood love is surprisingly good and her transition from teenage to adulthood is nicely potrayed by her.Rohini was loud in some scenes.

The scene stealer for me is Prthivi. He has fire in his eyes and potrays his character well. There are some scenes or shots of Prithvi shown as Memory shots about prithvi which Lal thinks. All those scenes come in detail in the second half. All of the are brillant especially the one in which he extends a hand to Lal to get him up from where he has fallen in a stream. His face shines with light in that scene.Also his smile and attitude are that of a revolutionary who knows what he is doing is right. But his hair do and the wig used needs some bettering.

The references to Jesus Christ are poignantly done. I really liked that. The first scene when the part from bible is being read where Judas betrayes Christ and the person who betrays Prthivi walks out. And Prithvi looking at Jesus's sketch in the market. All those are scenes of substance and director needs applaud. I think he wanted to potray the naxalite as a noble man by showing references like these.Violence part is a totally different issue.

Music is OK for the movie. There is only 1 song but background music is competant.
I think Thalappavu deserves credit but it could have been much better. May be some people would like it this way.But for me, I felt that it could have been more entertaining (not the comedy, song ,dance kind but Thirakada kind of serious entertainment). There is nothing much of a suspense or some events that surprise you as the movie progresses. The appearance of Prthivi as spirit with scar on his face does scare you a bit. That too only for the first time but the moment he (in his spirit avatar) starts making long dialogues on the corruption in today's system, I think even that surprise element is lost.

But I am not going to take anything away from it. Its a good movie and much better than so called masala movies off late in Malayalam.
RATING : I am going with 3/5 and a tag - "STRONGLY RECOMMENDED FOR SERIOUS CINEMA LOVERS" for Madhupal's Thalappavu.

This Onam is truly is the brightest that 'Malaylam cinema' has shone for years !!!

Movie : Thirakadha
Language : Malayalam
Date : 20th Sep, 2008

Review:
Initial Thoughts
Long after I had finished watching the movie 'Thirakadha', I had this question in my mind (which was also hotly debated in this forum) about who is the hero of the movie. For a first few seconds, I felt that it was Anoop but my mind refused to rule Prithvi out. Then I felt the opposite that Prithvi is the hero but again my mind could not rule out Anoop. And while all this was going on, I felt that I should reinvent the question. After all is it that necessary to decide who the hero of a movie is?? I don't think so.

For 'Thirakadha' as a story and a film, there are 3 main characters. Akki (Prithvi),Ajayan(Anoop) and Malavika(Priya Mani) and of these 3, two are male and one is a female character. The whole point I am trying to make is, here is a movie which cuts away from the stereotype. Why can't we just live with the fact that here is a movie which has 2 so called 'heroes' and a 'heroine' without a usual triangle.Yes, I think an audience only gets a kind of movie that it deserves. And we should start to show some maturity as an audience to accept that all movies should not necessarily have only 1 final hero and 1 heroine.

Ok now to the movie, Thirakadha. Undoubtedly its the best Malayalam movie I have seen this year. I would rank it way above VOB, PMT and Madambi. I have the reasons for it.

Strengths
The first reason is a refreshing premise for a plot. Secondly the performances. Thirdly the script, screenplay and direction.The story has been widely discussed in the forum so I am not going in to it. The first half is nice and clean. I don't think it’s boring neither is it too good as well. But the second half takes the movie to a different level.The post deterioration images of Malavika are stunning, disturbing and engrossing. The back ground score is haunting and effective throughout the movie.

Director's corner
The script has a nice pace which is required for this movie. Direction is competent. Screenplay is good but i have a suggestion for Renjith. The scene in which Ajayan sees Malavika in the hospital, as he enters the camera should have taken shot of Malavika as seen by Ajayan once and then pan to Ajayan's reaction. Now, the reaction is first shown and Anoop has not done that desirably well. The same reaction has been handled well by Prthivi when he peeks in to Malavika's hospital room in Nagercoil.

Performances
Anoop as Ajayan
About the performances, first about Anoop as Ajayan, my rating as 3rd best performance in this movie. I think i didn't like him in the first half. I felt that they shud have reversed the roles. Prithvi shud have been Ajayan and Anoop shud have been Akki. May be Prithvi wanted to avoid the backlash of him imitating the superstars etc. But by the second half, I guess Anoop manages to ooze confidence. He brings the mannerisms of the 2 Ms in a very suttle manner in some shots which is good but fails at some critical scenes like the shot at the hospital discussed above. Overall good,competant and tad unexpected.

Prithvi as Akki
The 2nd best performance by a very narrow margin to Prithvi as Akki. ‘WOW’ dats the only word I have got to describe him in the movie. His performance as the writer in serach of a story is superb. His best scenes are with Anoop in his caravan and the one which he says to Samvratha that he has become the part of the story that he was seraching for and as its real life he cud not control the script of the same.Prithvi, Are you listening??And now a personal message to Prithvi. When I saw u in Nandanam, I felt that u were just a young boy. When I saw u in vellithira, I hated you. When i saw your interviews, I hated you more. I felt that here was a overconfident man who is out to dethrone my 2 personal prides (the 2 Ms, I like them immensley). But with Classmates, Chocolates and few other movies, you made me sit up and take notice. I always felt that watever it may be, Prithvi can never make the 2Ms to admire something that he has done. It can only be the reverse. But now I feel that I have been proven wrong and how!!!!!. I am happy that you are in the 20s, the same as I am.(I will grow along and see you becoming the superstar). I am happy that you will be the future of Malayalam cinema. With 'Thirakadha', you have not only put in a stupendous performance but has given more to the movie than just mere acting. For giving directors the strength to make such themes, and to stand back and take the role of the writer and not Ajayan. I salute your spirit!!!

PriyaMani as Malavika
Lastly, the best performance of the movie. Charming Seductress to a Haunting image, Priyamani delivers a knock out performance as Malavika. It’s a refreshing change from Meera Jasmine, who is sterotyped in 'Dukhaputri' roles and is screaming and shouting all around (Though I have liked some of her performances). Priyamani does a bit of overacting in some of the first half scenes but that can be granted as potraying the young age of the actress. I really don't find anything much objectionable in the movie. She is bold, vulnerable and admirable all at the same time. Tell me another Malayalam heroine (Nayanthara included) who would have done this role in 'malayalam'(not in tamil). Her dubbing is top notch (Don't know if she has done it herself). She has a haunting smile that stays with you even after the movie. When she appears first time on screen as cancer struck and the old smiling shot of hers is shown, I literally had goose bumps. What a cinematic moment!!!!

Weakness
Negatives - The music is a big letdown. None of the songs are catchy. After a lot of thinking, I guess Alphonse (coz of Big B) or even Jayachandran (coz of Akale) wud have done better for this theme. Even Laptop had better songs than this movie.And I didn't find the first night song objectionable. There are more vulgar songs in Tamil and Hindi movies which are being shown on Tv umpteen times a day. This song has been aesthetically done.And I heard in a TV interview in which Priyamani said that Prithivi had roped her in for the role saying that it’s the role of a lifetime. Prithvi's involvement in the movie much beyond his own role is quite evident in the final movie.

Audience
And finally, the icing on the cake. The audience. They were silently watching throughout the movie. There were no boos or kooval for any silent scenes,. Can you believe that?? And finally the clincher, there were claps from the audience at the end of the show. I literally I couldn’t believe whether I was watching the movie in Kerala. Many guys walking out were telling their friends that they liked it. I felt that finally we are growing out of Alibhais and Annan Thampis.

Rating - So after a long review, 4/5 and 'MUST WATCH FOR SURE' tag for Thirakadha’.

We need a change in Malayalam cinema and we need to be the torch bearers for it. So find some time and go and watch this sincere attempt to change things for the better.Watch it and applaud this effort for a change in Malayalam cinema.Remember -"An Audience only gets that cinema which it deserves". Lets cultivate the culture of better cinema.

Movie : Rock On!!
Language : Hindi
Date : 30th Aug,2008.

Review
If I say that ROCK ON!! Rocks then you may be misguided to think that its a rocking party through out the 2 hrs and 30 mins of the movie. I really do not want to give that perception. So I have found a better word. ROCK ON is like SWEET POISON.

POISON coz it grows on you slowly and takes you over. Story is obviously about a group of friends,their dream about music, their compromises in life and about the magic they create under a band named 'MAGIK'.ROCK ON has a pace thats really on the borderline of being boring and fine. So its up to you have some patience during some parts of the movie. Pace especially slackens in the later portions of the first half.But did I like the movie? Yes, I did.

I am no big fan of Rock music. Probably haven't even heard a rock song in full length. But yet I loved the movie. The common feeling the group has towards music can be related to if you have ever shared good music with any of your friends. Their compromises and trails all are relatable. The music is top class and adequate for the movie. Cinematography is top notch giving the movie an international feel.Direction is superb except for the pace of the movie at some places.

My favourite tracks from the movie - ROCK ON, Tum ho to, Socha Hai, Tumhari Meri Baatein. And I han't heard any of the songs before the show.
The rock concert scenes are truly amazing. You feel that you are actually attending a rock concert. I really loved the rock concert scenes.Performances are top notch. I think bollywood has gone a long way ahead in casting. JTYJN and now ROCK On. Casting has been Spot On.

Farhan Akhtar is the top notch. He lives and breathes the character of Aditya. He is a true rockstar when on stage. Lu kenny as Rob and Purab as KD are superb. Arjun Rampal as Jo is fine but is a wooden in some scenes. Prachi Desai is good as Aditya's wife.

ROCK ON has been compared by other reviewers to Dil Chahta Hai and Jhankar Beats. I don't feel so. ROCK ON is different from DCH coz ROCK ON is more serious cinema. There are very few lighter moments in ROCK ON.Don't expect funny moments as in DCH. You won't find it in Rock On.Rock on is different from Jhankar beats coz its again more serious and rock on is about rock music.

ROCK On elevates Indian cinema to truly international standards. Hollywood's best movies have always been successful in taking different themes and slowly drawing the audience to that theme in the movie.ROCK ON is such a movie.To me its the best movie of the year, till now. I hope you go with an open mind and really fall in love with ROCK ON.

I am going for a 4/5 rating. 1 point is lost for pace of later portions in first half, some scenes of arjun rampal and for not having a bit more comic scenes.

So 4/5 and MUST WATCH tag for ROCK ON.

Watch it to witness Indian cinema rise to the best in business.
Go fall for this Sweet Poison named ROCK ON.

Movie : Veruthe Oru Bharya
Language : Malayalam
Date : 13th Aug,2008

Review
Somewhere I had heard that a successful script has something called a 'RASACHARADU'. I am not sure how to translate that in English.I think that would mean a sequence of entertaining events. The main thing with VOB is that sometime after second half, like 20 mins in to it the saw called 'RASACHARADU' breaks and from there on the movie doesn't remain the same as it was till then.

VOB is entertaining especially in the first half. At the end of first half, you may not feel over the top and overjoyed but still its fine.Script is tight and the sequence of events captivating enough. Performances are competent. But after the now famous 'Manji..' song the movie beginsto fall apart.

Direction is good.Akku Akbar has tried and succeeded to bring out the film in to its full form. The script and screen play are good except for the last 30-45 mins. How I wish they had taken a different route in the last 30 mins. Music is good especially the Manjil song. Cinematography is competent for the theme.

Performances:
Jayaram is good. His character is irritating at times. Sometimes it even makes u feel whether its too far fetched like when in the Amusement park. But still he plays it with élan that u leave ur logics with him and the director. But the script has been at fault again. The movie has shown him completely as a chauvinist and at the end when the Psychiatrist describes him as craving for love etc it becomes complete U turn.
Gopika is good. But if you ask me whether its excellent. Then the answer is No. Sangeetha in CVS and Manju Warrier anyday wud better this. Her complete absence after she leaves home leaves a vacuum at much desired portions. But over all she does good.
The actress who has done the daughter's role is also refreshing provided her dialogue delivery.Suraj is cool with his one liners.

About being preachy, its not that much of an issue. The movie indeed has a good message about 'Women being the security of a house'. But I felt irked about the 'internet' portion in Rehman's word of advice to parents. Coz thats not related to the story. Mobile misuse was the only issue there.At that point it looked preachy for a second.

There is no problem in the story getting serious towards the end but the way Jayaram's paranoic behavior is depicted is completely mishandled. There are sequences which may be hair raising for you. The climax is poorly handled. Suddenly you feel that the entertaining, family drama is turning in to a needles phycological and even horror movie.

But let me put this straight, VOB is not one of the best movies that you would watch this year. No where close but for the entertaining first half, theme and presentation it can be summed at best as an AVERAGE fare.I am really sorry to say this. Coz I really wished that this movie was good and entertaining and a classic revival for malayalam cinema and all. But sorry to say that it doesn't happen even with all the grace marks attached.

As someone summed it up during the return journey to home. It was a nice chance which was lost. It could have been superb, good etc but sadly its average.

Its 2.5/5 and AVERAGE rating for VOB.

Its worth a 'dekho' if you have the habit of watching most of the movies that get released.

Movie : Madambi
Language : Malayalam
Date : 24th July
Review:
Small things make a world of a difference - Thats what I felt when I walked out of the hall after seeing Mohanlal's latest outing on Silver Screen named "Madambi'.Let me put it this way. What I felt is that 'Madambi' has subtle freshness throughout the movie. And that subtle freshness keeps growing on you and by the time the movie is over if you ask your genuinely that the reason why you may have liked it.
There is freshness in small things like for example look at the casting. Just imagine the same movie with Kaviyoor Ponnamma as Lal's mother and Saikumar in Sreeraman's role. I bet you wouldn't have liked the movie as much or atleast I wouldn't. Coz haven't we see those combinations umpteen number of times?

I am not going to discuss the story in detail here as I don't wish to be a spolier. But the story is good enough. Holding the brooding secrets of a familyand living a life of hatred within the family is a good theme, I feel.
Now let me come straight to what I wanted to discuss more. Mohanlal as Gopalakrishna Pillai.See, I have hated him in the list of the movies below:Thandavam, Natturajavu, Onnaman, Baba Kalyani, Praja and may be some more clones of these, whose names I have forgotten.But trust me Mohanlal in Madambi is different from the ones in the above list. His character is neatly etched out and moreover his performance is ernest.Let me tell you the scene or shot which changed it all for me.After the fight in which his arm gets bruised mohanlal comes home to an angry mother.The first long dialogue is KPAC lalitha's where she scolds him and says that her younger son is right.Cut and there is a full frontal close up shot of mohanal in which he says that he has been suffering for them.That particular shot just watch his performance. Look at those eyes. I think it says it all. Also, many other scenes like the one which his mother removes her ornaments for reasons I don't want to discuss as a spolier.
Also a small word of appreciation for his costume designer. I don't if its a new guy in this movie but it looks good. For first time in recent times, some of the shirts he wore looked impressive and contemporary.
I think he is genuine and his performance is Ernest. More so I had seen people saying that its like 'Balettan'.I differ here as well. In Balettan he was just suffering through out the movie. It was like pls all of you come and hit me and I will keep mum kind of thing. But I think he lives the character in Madambi than in Balettan. I think its his most Ernest performance after Thanmatra. (I am not trying to compare the movies pls).

Now the rest of the cast. I felt that Ajmal did a fair job but was stiff in parts. I had read someone is FK suggesting Jayasurya for the role.I don't think so. The only other person I felt cud have been casted would be a delicious combo that you would like to hear. Prithvi raj :)
Ajmal's pair is a goner. KPAC Laitha is good. Sreeraman is also adequate. Kavya Madavan is fine. Suraj has some nice one liners.Music is adequate and my favourite is 'Ente Sharike' which Roopa from SSG has sung. It stays with you even after the movie.

Finally I think B.Unni did a good job. For all the subtle frshness, casting winners, script and dialogues, he has done a good job.If you look at it very very critically, Madambi is an 'Above Average' movie but my mind wishes to give it grace marks coz it cud have been easily another Natturajavu or Thandavam.

So its 3/5 and Rating of 'GOOD' for Madambi.
If ICV (which i didn't like much) can do a 75 days, Madambi sure can do a 100.
-ves in the movie : Cliches' that cud have been avoided. Waring families. Girl from the opposite family. band of brothers as villains etc