Movie : Neelathamara
Language : Malayalam
Date: Nov, 27, 2009
Review
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Do you remember the bed time stories during childhood, which your grandma used to tell you? Simple, down to earth stories. These did not have any complexities and had the flavor of human beliefs. It did not need too much imagination nor knowledge but only a clean mind which can be like a clean sheet of canvas ready to be painted by the various colors of such stories. Lal Jose's latest movie 'Neelathamara' is one such story. Simple to the core, 'Neelathamara' will appeal to you provided you have a mind for the same.
Delicious Simplicity
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'Neelathamara' has the story of a servant girl who believes in the folklore that God will answer ones questions with an unusual Blue Lotus that would blossom in the temple pond. The usual love story between the son of the house and the servant girl, the miseries of the girl and so on, 'Neelathamara' has much that you have seen before but it has the simplicity and truth to its characters which are rarely seen in the movies nowadays. The audience almost expects something that challenges their mind each time they see a movie nowadays but 'Neelathamara' is nothing challenging. It’s not intended to be. It’s all about the simplicity of a story told at its own lovable pace.
True to Life Characters
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'Neelathamara' has characters that really pulled out of real life. Hence, if the love story between Kunjimalu and Das never seems touching, that’s because it’s exactly meant to be that, as its always the love story of Kunjimalu only and not the other way around. Hence, Kunjimalu is never melodramatic. Through crisis she is always subtle. And hence, Das is always the guy who wants to take advantage of a girl. So he invites Kunjimalu to his room the first time he talks to her. Its clear that he was never the good hearted hero. And hence, Ratnam always knows that Das as the life gifted to him by her father. So she is bold enough to thrash him on hearing his stint with Kunjimalu. Though Ratnam is angry with Kunjimalu as any wife would be but she hence understands her plight being a woman.
We can go on and on but its without a doubt that most characters of 'Neelathamara' are real, honest and not fake. Kudos to MT Vasudevan Nair for yet another collection of beautifully written characters.
Performances
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Archana as 'Kunjimalu' is the show stealer in the movie. She is simple and slowly by the end of the movie, she would have stolen your hearts. Samvratha Sunil as 'Ratnam' packs impact in a smaller yet bold role. Kailash as 'Das' never much looks the good boy which he was never meant to be. He is above average with a good voice. Reema is somewhat irritating and wasted in the usual walks from the pond to back home.
Technical Crew
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Lal Jose has done justice to the script written perhaps a bit too much as well. His handling of the sequences is true with the pace of the story. He has been able to extract creditable performances from the cast especially new comers. Cinematography is superb and one of the best reasons to watch the movie. Lighting is superbly done in night sequences. It looks poetic. Music is lilting with 'Anuraga' being one of the best melodies of the year. The Ghazal during the sad sequences is aesthetically shot. There is no injection of unwanted comedy, drama to increase the length. Its sharp as much as the script demands. 1 hour and 45 odd minutes.
Negatives
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Lal Jose looks too much in awe of MT, so much so that he spoils the end. In whatever way you want to see, the end looks abrupt and not well done. Its this aspect that possibly makes a bravely (due to its simplicity) 'Good' movie to stay at an 'above average' level because the end of the movie is always one of the key points in the whole scheme of things. Lal Jose leaves it as if straight out of a novel or a literary ending. Forget a cinematic conclusion; 'Neelathamara' never gets a satisfying end which is a dampener. The director doesn't rise above the story or the script to end it and may have lost the holistic picture by doing that.
All in all, imagine a movie completely shot only in a traditional Kerala home with probably the room in the first floor, the wooden stairs leading to it, being major location spots. The temple pond, the Blue lotus being major factors in the story. Probably its too difficult to even imagine something as simple as that in the modern world. That is simply the beauty of 'Neelathamara'.
Verdict - Rating - 3.25/5, Opinion - Above Average
'Neelathamara'- Simple Poetry.
Movie : Kurbaan
Language : Hindi
Date : 21,Nov. 2009
Review
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Some movies try to be so serious on the theme that it leaves you wanting for some entertainment by the end of it. Renzil Di Silva's directorial debut 'Kurbaan' is one such movie. It addresses the issue of terrorism, revenge, punishing the innocents in the name of 'Jihad' and about the American Invasion of the Muslim world. All these issues are addressed without shying away but the way it has been shown leaves you wanting for some fresh air and entertainment.
Sparkling Moments - Few and far in-between
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'Kurbaan' has some sparking moments on screen. Though you expect it to happen, the chilling sequence when Khalid aka Ehsaan (Saif Ali Khan) reveals his identity to Avantika (Kareena) after she sees their crime, is a wonderfully handled sequence. Also, the classroom session by Ehsaan in to which Riyaz (Vivek) walks in for a debate. The explosions involving flight and subways etc have been convincingly shown.
Kareena - Saif - Vivek
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Kareena puts in a strong performance as Avantika. From a girl who tries to explore the world of criminals to a lover haplessly admitting her being cheated, Kareena excels in the best role of the movie. Though her character goes in to a dip at certain portions of the movie, hers is easily the performance of the movie.
Saif puts in a performance with lots of restrain but looks aged in the initial portions. Saif's performance at best can be termed as above average. Vivek also is good in some sequences and average in others. Especially his forced accent sounds plastic.
Negatives
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Renzil has been able to produce a fairly engaging fare up until the intermission but after that its a down hill graph with some interesting moments here and there. Perhaps better direction could have saved the movie.
From the moment Vivek tries to explore the terrorists by joining their gang, the movie goes in to unwanted territory. And with such a serious theme at hand, such escapades make viewers loose interest. As every character in the movie starts turning out to be a terrorist, one is looking else where for some fresh air and entertainment. By the end of it, who cares what happens to the mission or these characters.
Music is not importantly handled. 'Shukran' is the only track that leaves an impression. Even the seductive song by Kareena seems forced upon.
In short, 'Kurbaan' is an average fare becasue of being too serious about its subject. Its not boring to death but one doesn't feel interested beyond a point.
Verdict - 2.5/5 as Rating
Average as Opinion.
Kurbaan - Some movies are written so seriously, one just desires for some fresh air.