The Rainmaker

Movie: Sagar Alias Jackey Reloaded
Language : Malayalam
Date: 26-3-2009

Review

Cinema is a Visual Medium. When this Visual aspect of cinema is exploited to add richness, style and grandeur, it can create right ambience for a scene and leave remarkable impact. Amal Neerad's much awaited and celebrated 'Sagar Alias Jackey' succeeds in exploiting this visual aspect to a good extent but falters to be a better director.As always I am not going to divulge the story details here. I am directly going in to the +ves and -ves of the movie.
The Positives:

Eye Pleasing Visual Treat
Amal Neerad for sure is an excellent Cinematographer and there is no ways to that. There are elaborately rich back drops. From sky scrapers and clear blue skies of Dubai to the beaches of Goa, from the mountains of Ladakh to the resort locations in Kerala, the camera is eye pleasingly rich. The slick cuts, the slow motions, the motion freezes. U name it and its all there. Technically and visually it can give any bollywood movie a run for its money.

Heart Racing Style Quotient
Like me, while watching DON, Billa or the corporate looks of Ghajini (both Tamil and Hindi) if you have wondered whether such styling will ever come to Malayalam Cinema, then your answer is here. SAJ oozes style in each frame. SAJ rides a cool Black Hummer and a Red Ferrari. He flies a plush private Jet. And carries Versache and Armani with elan. The suit look. The ruggid jeans look. The Malayali Mundu. Its all there. For me this is the best Malayalam cinema has done in terms of styling. I felt proud to see that happening on screen.

Lively Music
I have liked all the 4 tracks of SAJ on audio and the 3 of them on screen have been picturised well. Jyotirmayi sizzles on the beach in 'O sama'. 'Vennilave' is foot thumping. The Final SAJ title song is nice watch during end credits. The background music is almost well done especially the use of the signature tune throughout the movie. It jars in some scenes when the BGM 'Sagar Sagar' is repeated in hollow sound.

The Ultimate Cool Dude
Lal rocks as SAJ. As the pillar stone around which the movie revolves, he carries the role with elan. He looks comfortable looking the stylish DON. The role doesn't demand much of his acting skills but he does complete justice and looks great!!. Only looks wooden during the ‘Vennilave’ song. The Action scenes have been convincingly done. But he looks bulky in the intro scene walk. Undoubtedly, a style icon performance.
Other notable performances are from Shobhana and Bhavana. Sampath Kumar is the best among Villains.

The Negatives:
Too much for the Camera
Amal is so much in love with the camera that by the time he finishes his slow mo in many scenes, he fails to carry the audience with him. This guy needs some lesson that a slow mo adds to the mood of the scene and its not for killing the interest of the viewer. Take for example the scene straight after the interval. Lights come on. Suman (the Villain) is walking in to meet Lal to negotiate some deal. He does a Slow Mo walk before the scene starts. A simple plain scene right after the interval begins with a slow mo intro! I guess thats too much. This was just for an example.

Nothing Novel with the story
If you are looking for anything new in the story, then its not there. Its almost an ‘EN’ rehash. With the journalist girl friend, Chief Minister’s son and twisted friendship all right in place here as well. And for the same reason it may not have its heart in its right place. SAJ is never challenged. He always reigns supreme. The audience may not experience the raciness and gripping edge of the seat action.

Lack of a Tighter Screenplay
Screenplay falters at many portions mainly due to the Camera which seems to be having its on life. The Audience has to wait for the camera to finish its antics and the real scene to be started. Many a times u are ready for action but the camera has still not finished its antics. A tighter screen play which could have overcome these faults with the director could have made the movie racy.
Finally to conclude, SAJ is a almost fine for a one time watch. It won't hurt you or make you feel completely sorry for having seen it. Its no racy, edge of the seat action either. And if you like Style, Rich Locations, the SAJ songs or even Lal, then you may have scope for a second watch also.

My Verdict : 3/5 and an 'ABOVE AVERAGE' rating for 'Sagar Alias Jackey Reloaded'.
'Sagar Alias Jackey Reloaded' - Stylish Razzmatazz!