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.