The Rainmaker

Movie : Passenger
Language : Malayalam.
Date : 05 May 2009

Review
A director or script writer who can read the minds of the audience is an asset to any movie. Debutant director Ranjith Shankar's 'Passenger' can sure boast of this asset. There is a scene in the first half of the movie, when the do-gooder Good Samaritan SathyaNathan (Srinivasan) takes a taxi to reach Dileep and Mamta's home at Ernakulam. While this scene was progressing, my friend who was watching the movie, turned to me and said " Evanentha Pranthundo?" attributing to the selflessness of Srini's character. Minutes later the taxi driver played by Nedumudi Venu asks Srini the same question "Ethokke cheyyan Ningalkentha Pranthundo'. For me that’s a winning stroke by a script writer who can read the audience's mind.

A tight script
Passenger is engaging for almost 80% of its length. Soon after the interval, as the 'suspense plan' is exposed, there is nothing much left which you can't predict after that. But still the movie is fairly gripping even after that. Needless to say that the first half is really superb with its suspense and flow of narrative. Towards the end you may know how the movie may end but watch closely for the different layers which Renjith throws in his script, its really well told.
Minutes after the opening scenes, at the North Railway Station, Srini walks past Dileep and the 2 strangers cross in slow motion, unknowing the events which will entwine them in the near future. Strangers whom we walk past can be linked to our lives in an unknown way. One such moment from a well written script.

Philosophy and Ethics
Renjith seems to be an upright man with lots of hard hitting righteous views. At least that’s what his central characters speak in the movie.So Srini is an ordinary man who still believes that the rotten system can be changed if we keep trying. Mamta and Dileep are fighters for the rightful. An ordinary man can still remain who he is and do extraordinary things. Thats what Renjith wants to convey and he does well in that.Hope he keeps the fire in his belly going.

A Director for the future
A director who doesn't compromise in an entertaining movie is someone who holds promise. In the second half of the movie, Srini stops the train to help Dileep. The co-passengers ask him the reason for stopping the train and he explains and asks for their help to save Dileep. In a compromised movie, the co-passengers would have jumped with Srini to help Dileep out but in a realistic situation that wouldn't happen. That’s what happens here. They try to gang up against Srini for stopping their journey. Now that’s uncompromising.

Also, Renjith doesn't want to have the Good Samaritan glorified at the end (not even by his unrecognizing family). Now that could have been a cliché again but he doesn't compromise here as well. It’s a very promising directorial debut and a director to watch out for the future.

Performances
Srini is the central character through which the director speaks. Upright, honest, selfless and yet an ordinary man to the core, Sathyanathan's character is really well developed. In a surprising move, Mamta Mohandas has a good character as a challenging TV reporter.She does it well and has almost equal footing as Dileep in the movie. Dileep does his part well and should be applauded for making the choice to act in this movie. The performances from all in the cast including Jagathy, Sona Nair should also be attributed to the director’s fine talent in extracting these.
Negatives
The message which Renjith wants to convey was subtle at most places except one which is the last dialogue by Dileep.It was pathetically preachy and may surely get booed by the audience. It was completely not required. Dileep was really over the top in the last scene. The message could have been left to be Subtle.Everything in this world needn't be mouthed. The unsaid is even more precious. The audience could have understood the message by themselves.
Also, some people may question the logical viability of the 'suspense plan'.Technically, the animation work for the 'suspense plan' could have been better. Lighting in the day sequences in the train and the lighting in general could have been more realistic. Frame looks too bright at many places.
To cut the long story short, Renjith Shankar makes an impressive debut. The movie is well made and a good experience. A new age realistic movie and a small step towards better Malayalam contemporary cinema.
My Verdict - 3.75 / 5 and a 'VERY GOOD' rating for this thriller.
Passenger - Inspiring the Ordinary to be ExtraOrdinary!!!!!