Which Malayalam film did you watch recently ? [Archive] - Page 2

kid-glove

15th September 2010, 04:50 PM

Who won the award then?

mammootty...no qualms about it coz that was a fabulous performance as ahmed haji in paleri manikyam...but any yardstick one uses to compare it with the bhramaram perfo and pick one over the other is injustice! :cry:

bhramaram is a national award contender perfo, if not winning, atleast deserves to be second best which i think is where it will end up, coz the northies will prefer Paa over this n give it to AB, just like they overlooked tanmatra for Black in the final round! i don't know if there are any arthouse performances that is above bhramaram in 2009, but if Paa perfo is what wins it, i'l b depressed again :oops: and boycott national awards which of course has become a joke of late, but still.... :cry:

Neither won. :hammer:

And what you dread had happened. :x

vishwwa

19th September 2010, 12:36 AM

I just watched this old movie, Kakkothi Kaavile Appoppan Thaadikal. No subtitles, so I had to rely only on my Tamil to understand the Malayalam.

Even then, I think this is now one of my favourite movies -ever- and I think it's an utter shame that such a movie is so hard to find. the story is very simple and honest, it's like a fairy tale. a young girl is kidnapped at a young age, but rescued by gyspies who raise her as one of their family. the story is about how she befriends an orphan, by chance, who has a connection to her past and her old family.

i highly recommend this movie...it is the opposite of everything that is wrong with movies these days.

Really appreciate the effort you took to get and watch this movie. And yes it is a gem.
The movie is by director Kamal, an excellent director especially during his early career when so many wonderful movies(in the late 80s-90s). But amongst scores of great directors he is relatively underated IMO.

His best films imo are the 'Kakkothikavil' and 'Unnikale oru kadha parayam'. They are simple movies yet beautiful,poetic and flowing like a serene stream and are able to just sail smoothly deep into our minds.

I will say u try to see 'Unnikale..' as well. Some other works from Kamal i suggest are
Ulladakam, Mazhayethum munpe, Shubhayatra.

There are many more of Kamal's very good works from that period.

prashanth12

19th September 2010, 05:19 AM

vishwwa

I would love to watch your recommendations. I just wish (old) Malayalam films were easier for me to find. And I wish more of them came with subtitles, though I guess that is too much to ask. Nevertheless, I will plow on...and maybe improve my Malayalam in the process...

As I continue my Malayalam film spree, I recently watched Kilukkam, which several people have recommended me with fond memory. Liked it very much, though the revelation halfway through the story makes you question some of the behaviours in the first half. Regardless, it is so enjoyable that you don't even notice...very nice, clean entertainer, with well-written characters. I can see why it was so successful...

jinju

2nd October 2010, 01:15 AM

kid-glove

2nd October 2010, 01:17 AM

Hey! Welcome back Jinju. You've been AWOL for a month. :)

jinju

2nd October 2010, 01:28 AM

thanx k_g, have been traveling...

though he missed the award, happy n' relieved that he's back to where he belongs at the Kerala BO with his latest Shikkaar! Though not a great film by any means, a neat commercial flick, well packaged, and man, some of the stunts in the climax, only lalettan possible in malayalam even today (even with that ever-bulging paunch of his :D !)...watched it twice already!

ajaybaskar

8th October 2010, 11:05 AM

In Ghost House Inn

Much better movie than the 2nd part. Worth a watch!!

raghavendran

18th October 2010, 08:46 PM

THIRAKKADHA
rather boring film to b frank...i liked the film upto prithivi's attempts of unveiling the mystery behind ajayan and malavika...but it turned out to b rather dull film after that...and the ending was too predictable..that guy who acted as ajay was so irritating..prithvi had very little to do(its for him i saw the film)..so was dissapointed wid that too..writnig part was honest..butthe entire plot wasn interesting enough.. :?

my next moviei am goin to watch in another 2 days is devasuram...really excited..bcas of lallettan.. :bluejump:

complicateur

24th October 2010, 09:58 AM

I've begun a series of articles in the Chennai edition if the Indian Express on the late 70's to early 90's Malayalam cinema. First up: PadmarAjan's Aparan (http://epaper.expressbuzz.com/NE/NE/2010/10/24/ArticleHtmls/24_10_2010_414_016.shtml?Mode=1). Comments thoughts and brickbats are appreciated.

Murali Srinivas

24th October 2010, 10:07 PM

Deepak [or should be Deepauk?],

Have you covered only the story or done the review also? Or as you said will it come in parts?

Good begining. Expecting more from you.

Regards

Murali

complicateur

25th October 2010, 12:45 AM

I am writing about one film or so a week. It'll be about a film and the prism through which I viewed the events that transpire in it. This and my second piece which is due soon dwell on the story a little heavily because I am not sure how many people have seen and remember them.
When I write on Namukku ParkkAn Munthiri thOppugaL or Amaram or Kireedam I may decide to take a more tangential approach. I have an open canvas in terms of content but a word limit to adhere to.

Sudarsh

25th October 2010, 02:16 AM

I just watched this old movie, Kakkothi Kaavile Appoppan Thaadikal. No subtitles, so I had to rely only on my Tamil to understand the Malayalam.

Even then, I think this is now one of my favourite movies -ever- and I think it's an utter shame that such a movie is so hard to find. the story is very simple and honest, it's like a fairy tale. a young girl is kidnapped at a young age, but rescued by gyspies who raise her as one of their family. the story is about how she befriends an orphan, by chance, who has a connection to her past and her old family.

i highly recommend this movie...it is the opposite of everything that is wrong with movies these days.

Great to hear that you liked it despite the language hurdle.."kakothi kavile" is a true gem of a movie and one of the best from kamal (director)..i watched it with my parents when i was in 4th standard.. :) ..
i was so lucky to grow up watching all those great gems ..the 80's - and the early 90's in malayalam were really such a wonderful period when great films used to come one after another..

I envy you :twisted: :P... give me some gems also :lol: ... I saw a bit of kireedam malayalam and my god its totally different from tamil the acting from thilakan and mohanlal is class. I seriously need to watch all those good malayalam films.

Sudarsh

25th October 2010, 02:20 AM

My parents saw the movie Alexander The Great and i saw some portions of it while eating dinner.... Mohanlal has done an amazing job in acting as Alexander he is so funnyyy.... White shirt white shirt where is my white shirt :lol: ... He is a legend there will never be another Mohan Lal.

Sudarsh

25th October 2010, 02:22 AM

Movie : LOUD SPEAKER
Cast: Mammootty, Sasi Kumar
Direction: JAYARAJ

Wiki link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudspeaker_(film)

IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1521023/

He is from village, doesn't know english, walks bare footed, speaks out straight and loud, befriends people easily with his humourous stories.

The other is a Wealthy US-Return, Retired Research Scholar, Has everything but still lives alone.

One lives in a roofless house seeing stars above..goes to sound sleep in seconds ..

The other, an Astrophysicist who researches on stars.. but ends up with sleepless nights..

When both of them meet we start to think..

"Life is so simple that sometimes smart people fail to get it."

When MIKE (the villager) says "Vidhyaabhyaasam undu.. pashye... VIVARAM illaa .." referring to a few college students... that sums up the situation.

Good movie.

I loved this film its so touching the friendship between mamooty and that old man. Both have done a great job. Malayalam cinema really is one of the most creative in the world.

Sudarsh

25th October 2010, 04:40 AM

Hey guys can i please becoma a part of this group because I love malayalam films and I am partly malayalee because I'm a palakkad tamizh. Count me in your group :wink: and please tell me some good films I can watch soon... New or Old doesn't matter :D I am a big fan of Mamooty, Mohanlal, Dileep, Suresh Gopi, Kalabhavan Mani, Prithviraj, Cochin Haneefa, Vincent Asokan, Rajan P Dev, Mamooka and some other mallu actors. My favourite directors are Lohitadas, Rajasenan, Blessy, Sathyan Anthikkad etc.

vishwwa

26th October 2010, 12:33 PM

ajaybaskar

26th October 2010, 12:35 PM

Plum

26th October 2010, 02:57 PM

compli, a little disappointed as you spoilt the film for me. Nevertheless, purely as a write-up, good start.

Q: indha popular malayalam channelsla padmarajan padamE pOdaradhilayE....?

ajaybaskar

26th October 2010, 03:12 PM

Couple of days back, Kairali tv had telecast 'Innale'. Otherwise, yes, no PR film whatsoever..

Plum

26th October 2010, 03:17 PM

or, rather let me phrase this thus:
none of the offbeat movies of 80's 90's I get to see - well, I only watch the prime weekend slots so I guess I am at disadvantage but thappi thavari kuda adhellAm varudhA theriyala...definitely not in Surya and Asianet. I dont know about the asianet pluses and the specialised movie channels

ajaybaskar

26th October 2010, 03:19 PM

Asianet Plus and Kairali often telecasts 80s, 90s movies. So does DD. But in Chennai, local cable operators dont provide these channels.

great

27th October 2010, 12:17 AM

Robinhood. Pretty boring movie.

Latest movie reco, pls.

Sudarsh

27th October 2010, 01:48 AM

Robinhood. Pretty boring movie.

Latest movie reco, pls.

Robinhood was actually good its a lot better than some of the Masala tamil films and I actually enjoyed it. It was very different and I think what carried the movie is the beautiful scenery notice how they have made kerala look like the best place in the world by shooting at all lavish rich locations that was a very smart idea. They haven't even shown one bit of poverty. Considering the budget they used for that film they did a good job. Prithvi acted well.

Sudarsh

29th October 2010, 08:26 PM

Hi guys I am trying my small attempt at singing Pariyathe Ariyathe song from mohanlal's film. Please share your honest comments and thanks for listening.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT9ImJFeESE

P_R

31st October 2010, 08:15 PM

Brahmaram on Asianet

What a fantastic actor ! Tour de force 'mbAingaLE. :clap:

kid-glove

31st October 2010, 08:22 PM

Ah, glad you got to watch it. :D Paa-ku enna koraichal-nu sanda pOttinga :lol:

P_R

31st October 2010, 09:04 PM

Murali Srinivas

1st November 2010, 12:24 AM

Pranchiyettan & The Saint

Waiting for it and got to see it today. Ranjith has done it again. How to make a good film based on a simple story line. Like all Ranjith films this too has two layers. If the situational comedy that breaks out in the first half arising out of the machinations of the people who surround Francis to get him some sort of recognition makes you laugh, the second half which delves deep into Francis's emotional foray has been presented without going melodramatic and laced with streaks of humour.

The very format of story telling is done in a novel manner. Making the Saint Francis considered to be one of the disciples of Jesus as a character in the movie and presenting the story as an interacton between the hero and the Saint is done nicely.

Mammootty again shows why he is considered to be one of the best actors of India. A very de-glamourised role [not in the physical sense though] with zero percent heroism, he does it with elan. And as only he can, he handles the Thrissur slang so well. Here's an actor who walks that extra mile to support novel ventures whenever he spots one [Film has been distributed by his own company Play House].

Like earlier KB movies, the supporting characters in Ranjith's films will have a prominent part and here too the same thing happens. Priya Mani and Khusboo do it without much trouble though their screen time is less. After a long time it was good to see Innocent dish out a decent performance.

In spite of Malayalam cinema too walking the Masala path in recent times, it is heartening to see such ventures are also getting their due.

Regards

P_R

1st November 2010, 01:14 AM

There are two famous St.Francis' in Roman Catholic religion/.

Neither of them were disciples of Jesus' 12 apostles.

St.Francis of Assissi's time was around the 12th century.

The one famous in India is St.Francis Xavier (the first Jesuit in India). His time was 16th century. He was the one who converted TN's coastal fishing community into catholicism.

Not sure who is presented in the movie though !

kid-glove

1st November 2010, 02:40 AM

Ah, glad you got to watch it. :D Paa-ku enna koraichal-nu sanda pOttinga :lol:

I am very sori nE :-)

I understand your most righteous anger.

I wish I could understand every word of what Mohanlal spoke. He was just jaw-droppingly splendid. (The number of his films I have watched can be counted on one hand, so this may not be his best etc. but whatever)

I thought the screenplay meandered (and thus squandered much of the story). The film relied completely on his performance. He is such an extraordinary talent.

To borrow the words of the bride : he roared and rampaged.

BachchA.... :lol: saapdei

While not one of Lal's best by any means, it's still a performance of (and we know that we're in hands of) a master.

You should also watch Mammootty-Renjith film, Paleri Manikyam, with one of the three characters (Mam does a triple role) feat. Mammootty in top form (IMHO!).

directhit

1st November 2010, 06:51 AM

jinju

1st November 2010, 08:42 AM

P_R, ur post on bhramaram made my day :notworthy:!

sad that the minority of jury members did not agree with the majority of the film lovers! anyways, more than such manipulated awards n juries, the mere knowledge that such a performance has made an indelible mark on the viewers even across borders will be more satisfying for an actor n his fans like me! thanks again....spot on with the assessment of bhramaram...a flawed screenplay/slack direction lifted by an amazing perfo!

raghavendran

1st November 2010, 08:48 AM

You should also watch Mammootty-Renjith film, Paleri Manikyam, with one of the three characters (Mam does a triple role) feat. Mammootty in top form (IMHO!)...going to watch it..

P_R

1st November 2010, 07:55 PM

P_R

1st November 2010, 08:05 PM

...a flawed screenplay/slack direction lifted by an amazing perfo!

The highlights were his change in tone, demeanor, ambivalent expressions (that leave you in suspense) command complete attention.

But then there are also many scenes where he is just not doing anything central but you are just rewarded for keeping your eyes on him.

There was a scene in the crowded bus he has him arm stretched to accommodate the guava seller woman and boy. So his left hand reaches into a marigold seller's basket. He (half drunk/sleep deprived) picks up a flower, sniffs it and throws it back.

All as a passing action in the midst of a conversation. Excellence.

:clap:

Murali Srinivas

1st November 2010, 10:35 PM

Thanks Prabhu for pointing it out. My mistake. As pointed out by Anoop, it is St.Francis of Assissi [Anoop, thanks]. The price one needs to pay for posting in semi sleep mode after midnight.

Regards

kid-glove

4th November 2010, 01:43 PM

Chithram on Asianet.

kid-glove

4th November 2010, 01:45 PM

Pliss to excuse: Sathileelavathy on KalaignarTV or Chithram on Asianet #RealDilemma

directhit

4th November 2010, 02:23 PM

You should also watch Mammootty-Renjith film, Paleri Manikyam, with one of the three characters (Mam does a triple role) feat. Mammootty in top form (IMHO!).
After reading Murali Srinivas' post I was toying with the idea of going to the theatre to watch it. KambENi sariyillai so I missed it. Asianet-la pOdumbOdhu pAthura vENdiyadhu dhaan. Neengalum Hamam company serndhavarnu nanaikkiren, irundhaalum indhaanga link :P

http://www.veoh.com/browse/videos/category/entertainment/watch/v20170767F5TpR7Ny

but no subs here as well..

jinju

5th November 2010, 10:14 PM

Raghav, Thirakkadha was one of the better films of that year actually in malayalam...not great cinema, but definitely good...maybe u expected a "prithvi film" which it definitely was not! in fact, prithvi was applauded that he lend himself to a "not so commercially viable" project in which he was just sort of a second lead/guest appearance, but then he couldn't say no to Renjith, one of his mentors! i certainly revisit this somewhat controversial film allegedly based on the kamalji-srividhya relationship...also, ther r some inside jokes about some of the directors/stars (Ms mainly) of malayalam industry which keralites can relate to, and so it becomes more spicy for them, eg:, the director who is shown as not even capable of framing a shot is supposedly one of the most celebrated commercial directors of malayalam, iv sasi! and then lalettan's business ventures, mammookkas 'cooling glass' fixation r also commented on...also, priyamani's fab perfo! i quite enjoyed the film. by the by, Devasuram paathaachaa? also checkout Kaiyyoppu by Renjith-Mam team...that's my fav film of the duo...K-G, have u watched it?

Plum, asianet does telecast thoovaanathumbikal on and off...also kireedom, amaram. Thaazhvaaram was telecast couple of days back...thing is these kind of films don't get primetime slots, but working days 9 am slot, so most of the time we tend to miss.

P-R, what observation again...yeah, that dialogue in that bus scene "edho maaattu saadhanamaanennu thonnunnu...adhaa oru...." (translates to "think it was some duplicate stuff") and he makes kinda vomiting sound...and then that sudden outburst in that tea shop when the mobile rings for the umpteenth time "off cheyyada aa kuntham!" literally jolted out of the seat coz till then his tone was low! a dialogue that many of us feel like telling to others, in today's mobile dominated world! again, keep sharing ur views on lalettan films...k-g, aap bhi...plum et tu...all r welcome...yes, brand me selfish!

kid-glove

5th November 2010, 10:49 PM

jinju,
Onna renda, even the seemingly mundane sequences is given a different expression by Lalettan. Take the way he plays it straight while cleaning the wriggling chicken as against the sudden charge in the 'phone' scene. As usual, we don't even need to talk about effacing his own mannerisms, coz the way he IS, I guess, in itself very naturalistic and unassuming. And the way he carries the last 30 minutes (incl. the strange, miscalculated deus-ex-machina with the bee for some sort of mythological resonance. Much more so that Sivan Kutty becomes Vishnu for a while. And the misleading identity is all over the place as a christian/muslim, etc. Especially how they avoid banal sequences with his introduction out of nowhere, juxtaposed with the bomb blasts, etc) is tour-de-force, as P_R says. But what's astonishing is that while not one scene here touches the high of the kill sequence in Sadayam or the artist's trance in Vanaprastham, or the mirror scene in Kireedam sequel (so much so that I even fantasized how he's one of the select few actors in the world who could facially add layers to "morphing" sequences (http://complicateur.blogspot.com/2010/10/golden-age-1.html?showComment=1288099467786#c9246200239446903 60)like in "Aparan"). And none of his recent work could touch the intricately layered Iruvar or Thoovanthumbigal. But.. within this decade (of very low output in terms of quality films), you lap up Thanmatra, Bhramaram, Company, etc. And what's astonishing is that it completely smokes over so-called NA worthy performances of other overrated "legends". :)

vishwwa

6th November 2010, 08:07 PM

Some great notes on Bhramaram here by Pr, KG, jinju n al...and some really wonderful discussions goin on here..
the last line from last post of kg is really fantastic n true... :2thumbsup:

jinju
Quote:" ...a flawed screenplay/slack direction lifted by an amazing perfo!"

I hav a small disagreement with Jinju in that i don't think bramaram's script n dirn is that flawed...script does go a bit wayward at some places especialy the flashback scenes could have been improved... but still it was very well handled overall by blessy...it was supoesed to be road/thriller/drama genre movie...it doesn't have a racy script but more of a tone that simply gets ever more intensifying as the movie progresses....
But direction is where i think Blessy has done his best...think it was taken with a wonderful craft and vision...some stunning shots...IMO this is Blessy's best work as a director...maybe Kazcha n Thanmatra are better films for their overall humbleness n delicacy....but as a director he has shown his best skills so far in Bhramaram , imho...:D
But ofcourse above all stood Lal's mighty perfomance... :thumbsup:

jinju

6th November 2010, 10:20 PM

Went cd shopping today n was in for a pleasant surprise...for fellow moviebuffs here waiting to catch up on Kuttysrank, Empire Video has released dvd/vcd of the film priced at 99/60 respectively...watched half an hour of the film, needless to say, luks awesome! yep, it comes with english subtitles and is an awesome print.

kid-glove

7th November 2010, 02:18 AM

As a matter of fact, I had downloaded the rip (with subtitles) and watched it too. Got few things to say about the film, and Shaji N Karun in general.

kid-glove

7th November 2010, 02:55 AM

And it's incomprehensible why Mammootty's performance here wasn't nominated. I hear only Paleri and Pazhassi were contenders.

Forget Pazhassi, one of the three characters in Paleri is vintage Mammootty. But Paleri is comfortably short of complicated role-playing in Kutty Srank. The character's life as filtered through different perspectives is given subtle hues by his acting (not just by the subtle changes in his looks. Have to appreciate the sets too. I'm amazed how Shaji gets the budget for the locations, props, etc without even a major release ?!), in reflection of the respective narrator's POV (not to be confused with POV shots in formal terms. Using it a bit liberally. Which you will understand when you watch the film). To hold the different fragments of Kutty as realized by the three women (and for brief glimpses in between, the director breaks the elliptical pattern and actually shows Kutty's screnes on his own.) together is a noteworthy achievement. There's also a fable-like POV of another writer, female again, who at different stages exposits the two-way kinship between the one who is writing and one who is being written about. At a lot of stages, we cut to objective POV (in narrative sense) as I say before. And there are lot of directorial touches to visually express the state of mind. Especially the first stages centering around Padmapriya seemed to be a lot more showy and loud, and yet a bit arcane. And all of this seemed to connect a bit to the opening quote from Upanishads on dreams/waking-up.

Not that any of this would matter. For there's Ramesh Sippy any way. :hammer:

directhit

9th November 2010, 12:13 PM

And it's incomprehensible why Mammootty's performance here wasn't nominated. I hear only Paleri and Pazhassi were contenders. :exactly: same for Lalettan's Bhrahmaram - M's should have shared the award :D

am half way thru the movie... thanks to torrents dvd rip aavadhu kadaikkudhu

ajaybaskar

9th November 2010, 12:14 PM

Anoop,

Watched 'Evvidam Sorgamaanu'?

directhit

9th November 2010, 12:19 PM

Anoop,

Watched 'Evvidam Sorgamaanu'? yeah, liked quite a few scenes in the film, but expected much more since it was Rosshan Andrews..

Murali Srinivas

10th November 2010, 11:45 PM

Anoop/Ajay,

Probably you must have seen August 1 which dealt about the assasscination attempt on the Chief Minister and the counter offensive by the state police. You could not have forgotten the Crime Branch Inspector Perumal in that. Now that Perumal is back as Deputy commisioner of Police and watch him in August 15. Again an investigation thriller by the Shaji Kailas - SN Swamy team. Slated to be a Christmas offering here are few snaps.

http://cinespot.net/gallery/d/456221-1/mammootty+in+august+15+photos_001.JPG

http://cinespot.net/gallery/d/456223-1/mammootty+in+august+15+stills+pics+_1_.JPG

http://mammootty.com/photos/movie_gallery/mainphotos/IMG_80724cda47a048282.jpg

Official Poster

http://i53.tinypic.com/21acls4.jpg

http://i56.tinypic.com/30ab7dx.jpg

Regards

The other movie Best Actor by debutant director Martin Prakkat, which was discussed in the previous pages is getting released on 25th of this month. A cinema crazy School teacher aspiring to become a cinema star and his pursuits form the crux of the story.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs469.ash2/74225_100538186684040_100001835761997_2217_255861_ n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs972.snc4/76572_100538350017357_100001835761997_2218_7702351 _n.jpg

app_engine

10th November 2010, 11:56 PM

Chithram on Asianet.

Possibly the most-times-watched-on-big-screen movie by me:-)

(Silver Jubilee run in a small town like Palakkad during my bachelor days and every person who visited me (from TN / Bangalore etc) was forced (by me) to watch this and thus numerous trips to the theater :-) )

ajaybaskar

11th November 2010, 11:48 AM

Thanx Murali Anna for the share.. :D

Definitely a movie to watch out for...

But the first part was directed by Sibi Malayil, right?

directhit

11th November 2010, 02:04 PM

Anoop/Ajay,

Probably you must have seen August 1 which dealt about the assasscination attempt on the Chief Minister and the counter offensive by the state police. You could not have forgotten the Crime Branch Inspector Perumal in that. Now that Perumal is back as Deputy commisioner of Police and watch him in August 15. Again an investigation thriller by the Shaji Kailas - SN Swamy team. Slated to be a Christmas offering here are few snaps.

http://cinespot.net/gallery/d/456221-1/mammootty+in+august+15+photos_001.JPG

http://cinespot.net/gallery/d/456223-1/mammootty+in+august+15+stills+pics+_1_.JPG

http://mammootty.com/photos/movie_gallery/mainphotos/IMG_80724cda47a048282.jpg

Official Poster

http://i53.tinypic.com/21acls4.jpg

http://i56.tinypic.com/30ab7dx.jpg

Regards :ty: .. have seen this numerous times, esp Mammookka seeing Captain Raju via tv and rushing out to shoot him :bow:

directhit

11th November 2010, 02:06 PM

http://i53.tinypic.com/21acls4.jpg :cool2:

directhit

11th November 2010, 02:09 PM

there was also a news that there is a movie coming up as 'King and the Commissioner' with Mammookka's King and Suresh Gopi's Commissioner character as lead characters -- wonder why no one in Tamil is coming up with such movies, with characters of different movies meeting each other in a new movie..

ajaybaskar

11th November 2010, 02:10 PM

Already two of Mammookka's characters met in 'Balram Vs Taradas'. Now 'King Vs Commissioner'?

They are also planning a sequel to "madhilukal' if i am not wrong.

directhit

11th November 2010, 02:16 PM

oh Madhilukal sequel.. that wud be nice.. i liked bhoothakannadi better though. yes if the news is right, then this one (K v C) wud be with Suresh Gopi the same person who rejected Pazhassi... also heard T20 is getting a sequel...

sequels are another thing missing in TFI.. is Billa going to be first movie to have a sequel (rather prequel) here ?! :?

edit : Groucho answered tht - missed Kalyanaraman

kid-glove

11th November 2010, 02:19 PM

Ippo thaan innoru thread'la Grouch sonnaaru, Japannil Kalyana Raman is the first sequel in TFI..

kid-glove

11th November 2010, 02:21 PM

Stupid idea, "Mathilukal" sequel. And without Adoor. :banghead:

directhit

11th November 2010, 02:27 PM

thx KK (seems better name) :P

just wondering which tamil film characters can be brought into a new movie.. interesting possibilities..

Kamal of VV v Motta Boss!!

Alex Pandian v Nandhakumaraa (he is dead though!)

Anbu chelvan taking on Billa :P

Aaruchaamy/Pokkiri v Villian Ajith

ajaybaskar

11th November 2010, 02:47 PM

Naalaiya Manidhan - Adisaya Manidhan was a sequel attempt, right?

Naan avan illai 1, 2.

P_R

11th November 2010, 02:56 PM

Naalaiya Manidhan - Adisaya Manidhan was a sequel attempt, right?

Naan avan illai 1, 2.

Krodham 2 - Prem
appidi oru padam vandhappO dhaan enakku Krodham appidinnu oru padam vandhadhE therinjudhu :lol:

ajaybaskar

11th November 2010, 03:03 PM

Same blood.. :lol:

IIRC Naalaiya Manidhan even had a third part..

directhit

11th November 2010, 06:32 PM

Krodham 2 - Prem
appidi oru padam vandhappO dhaan enakku Krodham appidinnu oru padam vandhadhE therinjudhu :lol: :lol:

Plum

11th November 2010, 09:31 PM

Allov krodham was the movie that catapulted prem to fame(!)
Andha padam sumArA odinadha vechu dhaan oru 15 varusham varisaiyaa release paNNinaar.
My favourite title of his: varraaru sandiyaru

P_R

11th November 2010, 09:35 PM

Mine is

வீரமணி
எங்கள் வீரமணி
ஊர் முழுதும்
உந்தன் வெற்றிமணி

Superhero range-la varappArthAr. Just miss aayiruchu.

Murali Srinivas

11th November 2010, 11:11 PM

Ajay, yes you are right. August 1 was directed by Sibi Malayil.

Anoop,

It is King & the Commisioner. It would have been great if Suresh Gopi had been in the scheme of things. Unfortunately he is not and Prithivi is going to don the role of Bharath Chandan. So, Thevalliparambil Joesph Alex would have a cake walk. Here after a long time, in fact to be precise exactly after 15 years, the fire brand duo of Shaji Kailas & Ranji Panicker come together again for this [if my memory serves me right, today 11th November 1995 was the release date of The King].

A sequel is planned for Madhilugal. Titled Madhilugalukkuppuram, the story starts where Madhilugal ended. How will their life change if Basheer meets Karthiyani after they get released from the prison? To be directed by a debutant, Mammookka on hearing the one line of the story was excited about the knot and said ok it seems.

Thilak, though I do understand your view point on this, still this would be an interesting proposition.

Mammookka's diary is full till 2012. He has so many projects lined up. Still he has a clear policy. 5 films in a year, 2 for mass audience, 2 as per his taste [read class/off beat] and one for commitment.

That's why on the one hand, while he is doing a commercial entertainer like August 15th, on the other he is giving dates to writer Babu Janardhanan for his directorial venture which is going to be a serious film that would deal with the incidents that took place on March 12th of 1993 in Bombay when the city was rocked by serial bomb blasts and how it upturned the lives of so many people.

There are many interesting projects in the pipeline, the details of which coukd be known shortly. No sequel to twenty-20 is planned but there is one hot news. Both Ms are coming together again. Titled Arakkallan - Mukkaakallan, the film would be produced by Mammootty's Play House and this would mark the directorial debut of Sibi- Udayan team, the writer duo, who wrote twenty -20.

Regards

Ajay/Anoop,

Did you notice how age sits lightly on Mammookka? For me the most handsome hero of Indian Cinema for the past so many years.

kid-glove

16th November 2010, 04:08 AM

Thank you Murali sir. Don't know how I missed the post. Only read it today.

It's not the spirit of the script sense that I have a problem with. I think Mammootty is the example that my personal favorites, Kamal and Mohanlal, should look up to. How he had shaped his career. Even if I find him less talented than both (IMHO), he made the most out of his later career than other Indian superstars.

But what makes Mathilukal for me is Muhammad Basheer & Adoor. Basheer's life experience made the film what it is. Adoor didn't collaborate one-to-one while adapting Basheer's book. But he read works of Basheer extensively. And didn't adapt the decidedly better works of the writer (for he didn't feel it'd be favorable adapting into visual form), but something challenging enough, and slightly autobiographical to make something worth being adapted into film. And there is a lot of care with which Adoor renders the film. For want of sleep, I'd have to hit the bed, but will surely dwell on this later.

Querida

16th November 2010, 05:20 AM

watched as long as i could a movie entitled "Amarnath" with Mammooty on tv...was it orig. a Malayalam movie that was dubbed? :confused2:

Murali Srinivas

17th November 2010, 02:30 PM

Q,

It is a dubbed film , the original being Godman, a movie directed by K.Madhu that came out in 1999. [You are talking about a movie where Mammootty comes as a Police Inspector and the story is a one which deals with communal tensions that get staged in fishermens' dwelling place, right?]. It was more of a masala variety.

Thilak, understood. Hope you dwell more on this.

Regards

Querida

18th November 2010, 10:20 AM

Q,

It is a dubbed film , the original being Godman, a movie directed by K.Madhu that came out in 1999. [You are talking about a movie where Mammootty comes as a Police Inspector and the story is a one which deals with communal tensions that get staged in fishermens' dwelling place, right?]. It was more of a masala variety.

Yes and thank you :)
Actually there wasn't a single song...not that I'm complaining.

prashanth12

21st November 2010, 12:59 AM

Bharatham: A+
Carnatic scenes made me wonder why KB could not put the same effort into realism in SB.
Third act was perhaps a tad overlong, but otherwise, excellent.

ajaybaskar

21st November 2010, 10:31 AM

Murali Anna,

B4 getting to read abt Mammookka in wikipedia, i thought Lal was older than Mammookka.

Murali Srinivas

21st November 2010, 08:05 PM

Yeah Ajay! If you go by sheer looks anybody not familiar with Malayalam film world would only think so. Mammookka is 1953, Sep 7th while Lal is 1960, May 21st(?). But when it comes to appearence, he looks so young. That is how he mantains.

Regards

jinju

21st November 2010, 09:45 PM

Drona 2010 in Asianet.

Shaji Kailas is indeed a lucky man. even after delivering high profile dud after dud, he keeps getting the dates of the Ms for his next, and promptly dishes out one disaster after another with alarming consistency. can't really remember when he last directed a good successful film, though here the blame is entirely not his. he has mostly done away with his on-your-face close-up shots of the fingers, chappals, moustache, and what not of the lead actor before/during a fight scene and the don max "whoosh whoosh" editing sound that accompanies almost every film of his, but the main culprit is the script or the lack of it by Mr. A.K. Sajan. mammootty as pattaazhi madhavan is the sole saving grace of the film. the other role is just there to tap his good-looking/star side. the usually reliable Manoj K Jayan's attempts at an Anniyan in the climax scene are as laughable as the whole film. no wonder the movie was one of the biggest disasters of this year.

and going by Muraliji's above post, it's the same team Aroma-Shaji teaming up with Mammootty for August 15, only change being the yesteryear lion sn swami who has lost his scriptwriting marbles long back. think it'l just have to back on mammootty's charisma to carry it off. btb, what happened to shaji's much hyped prithvi-in-triple role project 'raghupati raghava rajaram' that was supposed to be completed almost 70-80%. heard that the producer was threatening to take shaji to court or something? muraliji, any idea what happened to that film?

Vivasaayi

22nd November 2010, 07:44 PM

This would be a childish query..but im trying to hard to find the song on net..please help me

The song was shot in a field - with hero and heroine in keralite farmer costumes

Its a melody

awesoe cinematography

not mohan lal or mammootty

a fairly recent movie..

could you guys find which song.. :roll:

P_R

22nd November 2010, 07:54 PM

Polskar: kEtta kELvikku badhil
GM: innum nee kELviyE kEkkaliyE

Vivasaayi

22nd November 2010, 07:56 PM

Polskar: kEtta kELvikku badhil
GM: innum nee kELviyE kEkkaliyE

:lol:

but..see i dont know the language..so dont know the starting line,movie name....dont know hero name, dont know heroine name...I liekd the song when I saw it on tv ...but found hard to search it againa sI am not aware of above details :?

Climate was awesome in the song...rain drizzling nu ninaikiren...with hero and heroine having country style thoppi on head...nenaikiren..

jinju

22nd November 2010, 09:21 PM

aahaa Vivs, idhu nallaa irukke...i will try...check out if it's this song from Lal Jose's Elsamma Enna Aankutty. As it is, this is one of the recent best songs that i can remember in malayalam, shot in thodupuzha in the rain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNt-7_NBEv8

jinju

22nd November 2010, 09:33 PM

if not that one, it shud b this more popular one from Nottam. ivvlo dhaan ennaala mudiyin given the description given by u.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFJa_Ct7HDQ

Vivasaayi

22nd November 2010, 09:45 PM

if not that one, it shud b this more popular one from Nottam. ivvlo dhaan ennaala mudiyin given the description given by u.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFJa_Ct7HDQ

this piece..this piece..idheethaan! thanks jinju...

I just watched the last minute of the song from say 2:45 and it looked awesome..

thanks :)

jinju

22nd November 2010, 09:50 PM

wc Vivs...it's a beautiful song indeed, aurally n visually too except for the 'unknown' hero!

bingleguy

22nd November 2010, 10:44 PM

Kireedom ............... Lal ettan and Thilakan ... :2thumbsup:

Murali Srinivas

22nd November 2010, 11:45 PM

Drona 2010 in Asianet.

btb, what happened to shaji's much hyped prithvi-in-triple role project 'raghupati raghava rajaram' that was supposed to be completed almost 70-80%. heard that the producer was threatening to take shaji to court or something? muraliji, any idea what happened to that film?

Yeah Jinju! As you had rightly said, much was written about the RRR project but the shooting came to a halt suddenly. Producer had taken it up with the Producers' council and they passed a resolution saying that Shaji should not start any new film till he completes RRR.

Shaji hit back saying that the producer is not financially sound and he would finish off RRR if the producer turns up with enough money to complete the shooting. Till that time it happens, he cannot be sitting idle, he said and started August 15.

Mammookka is trying to give a life to Shaji and Aroma Mani who lost out in Drona. Also he is doing a favour to SN Swamy. His favours doesn't end there. He had given the distribution rights to two people who could not make much out of Pramani, which they distributed. We are all hoping that the film turns out well for the simple reason, Mammookka's cop roles have always been successful, save for a few.

Regards

Talking about Pramani reminds me of B.Unnikrishnan and I heard his Prithiviraj starrer "Thriller" [loosely based on the murder of Paul Muthoot] is a decent watch and the suspense is maintained till the end.

Talking about Drona, I am yet to watch it. It never came to Chennai or did I miss it?

jinju

23rd November 2010, 09:48 PM

thanks for the info on RRR, Muraliji...yeah, when i saw the team of August 15, i knew it was an effort to make up on Drona. as u told, cop roles of Mammootty hardly fail. let's hope shaji's back, coz it's long due from him!

nice to hear about Thriller doing well, very important for Prithvi to give solo hits. i found B. Unni's 'IG' a big bore, coz the suspense was more or less revealed (at least for me) in the matter of just 2 scenes 30 mins or so into the film. and talking of Thriller, i was shocked about the news of Mamta Mohandas is a battling cancer patient! kudos to her for fighting it out and being so active in public life! prayers for her recovery.

Plum

24th November 2010, 11:00 AM

jinju

24th November 2010, 05:52 PM

Prithviraj, despite promise, looks quite funny as a serious masala lead. I find the romance etc in puthiya mukham very funny. Anwar with Mamta Mohandas sollavE vENAm - ice cold vibes.

As for aakrOsham etc., he looks funny doing that.

ellaam theriyin. enna panradhu, thats all we r left with, in the current generation! personally i like his brother better and is a more rounded talent than prithvi, but producers and audience don't seem to think so. others like dileep, jayasurya, naren, the eternal lover boy kunchako boban, etc, don't inspire confidence too. the acting cupboard is bare! waiting for a miracle actor(s) to happen, a shot in the dark is the gen next of the Ms, Salman n Pranav, sons of mam n lal respectively who have evinced interest in acting (they r in their early 20s though!). hopefully, they've inherited some genes. idhu dhaan last hope'nga!

Plum

24th November 2010, 06:18 PM

Vineeth Sreenivasan epdi?

jinju

24th November 2010, 06:53 PM

Vineeth Sreenivasan epdi?

not at all a natural in front of the camera in his outings so far, has some of his father's patented mannerisms, that's all. his calling seems to be behind the camera and scriptwriting, going by his debut directorial effort.

kid-glove

24th November 2010, 10:10 PM

Mammootty who used to deride Rajini's brand of films before, is now rehashing that (with tongue in cheek of course) here. A drama-comedy by a debut filmmaker.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7_0iiWDakE&feature=player_embedded

Murali Srinivas

25th November 2010, 12:02 AM

Thilak,

That is indeed tongue in cheek. The very first photo during the pooja showcased that. I thought of initially posting it when I first wrote about the film 5 months back but later decided against it. Here it is.

http://www.keralapals.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/best-actor-000.jpg.

http://i49.tinypic.com/c013b.jpg

Regards

Dec 23rd is the release date and it seems that industry talk is positive.

kid-glove

25th November 2010, 12:13 AM

Thanks MS.

Definitely seems reliable. First thought it's scripted by Sreenivasan (Who usually has the appreciable taste for tongue-in-cheek)

ajaybaskar

26th November 2010, 10:50 AM

KERALA CAFE

Not upto the hype. Loved 3,4 stories..

jinju

26th November 2010, 05:57 PM

KERALA CAFE

Not upto the hype. Loved 3,4 stories..

ajay if u don't mind, list the segments u said u loved pls...

ajaybaskar

26th November 2010, 11:26 PM

Puramkaazhchagal
Bridge
Story which had Siddique in the lead

jinju

27th November 2010, 09:04 PM

Puramkaazhchagal
Bridge
Story which had Siddique in the lead

cool...Bridge was the unanimous favorite! i liked Happy Journey, Island Express, n Revathy's Makal too along with the above mentioned.

Plum

27th November 2010, 09:25 PM

This Siddique is one half of siddique-Lal?
Is fightercock Lal the other half?
This siddique is the policeman in ravanaprabhu right?

ajaybaskar

27th November 2010, 09:47 PM

Siddique in in Lal combo is different. He is a director alone. His latest is Vijay's Kavalan.

Plum

27th November 2010, 10:16 PM

Ok. Lal of that combo is the same one in saNdakOzhi or that's a different guy?
Also, Lal of Siddique+Lal is the same guy who did neelathaamara?
(Shabba orE kanpeesan! )

jinju

27th November 2010, 10:42 PM

mr. plum, the siddhique that ajay mentioned is an actor (he was there in Ajit's Jana) and has nothing to do with siddhique-lal (the directors). yep, the lal of siddhique-lal is the sandakozhi lal. and, Neelathamara/Classmates director is Lal Jose who is a different entity altogether. siddhique-lal combo has split and siddhique is directing films independently, of which Kaavalan is the latest. sandakozhi lal has also reduced his acting assignments following the success of his first independently directed film, 2 Harihar Nagar which was a sequel to one of the combo's several hits, In Harihar Nagar.

complicateur

28th November 2010, 01:42 PM

The next piece on ThaniyAvarthanam and ThEvar Magan is out in today's Indian Express: http://complicateur.blogspot.com/2010/11/golden-age-2.html

Thoughts and brickbats appreciated.

Plum

28th November 2010, 03:34 PM

[tscii:e9a23f93d8]Jinj, thanks. Ippo theLivA therinjukittEñ
[/tscii:e9a23f93d8]

kid-glove

7th December 2010, 11:53 PM

Parinayam
Dir by Hariharan(?)
MTV script.
Starring Mohini, Manoj K Jayan, Thilakan, Nedumudi Venu, Vineeth..

#Nowplaying on Surya Tv..

Vivasaayi

10th December 2010, 03:31 PM

Thaniyavarthanam

I dont remember searching for any movie (with subtitles) like I have did for this one. Cehnnai Burma bazaarla irundhu Trivendrum Beemapalli bazaar varaikkum ketu partha padam. Finally downloaded the subtitles version from youtube.

Liked it :)

The best thing about the movie is - each and every charecter in the movie, even if they come for few mnutes are nicely carved and every sub-stories that accompany the main line are wonderfully done. From a guy who wants to get out of rotting nest, the grandma of the home who is partly apathetic to the happenings and finds an entertainment value in everything, a nubile girl and her insecurity :clap:

And the relationship between everyone of them is clearly done.We get to understand why someone behaves like that easily.

Wonderful performances by everyone.

Mammootty as the lead - Cant imagine anyone else playing this role this better. :clap: especially his dialogue delivery...I can understand what he says just by his voice modulation even without knowing the language completely

Thilakan - Tailor made role for him. He could enact this role even in his sleep I guess.

Kaviyoor ponanmma - One of the most adorable moms on a movie screen.

Mukesh - Neatly done

One of the most moving climaxes one would have watched ever and a similar climax was done by a famous tamil director in a famous movie - but the tamil movie climax dint even have 1% impact of the climax of this movie.

Its there on youtube with subtitles..if interested get to watch it before someone deletes it citing some regulations.

Murali Srinivas

10th December 2010, 05:15 PM

Great review Vignesh! Very nicely done.

Regards

kid-glove

10th December 2010, 06:15 PM

You're of course referring to Bala's Nanda. Not a like-for-like comparison, but I agree with the sentiment (emotional impact of Thaniya is far greater).

Vivasaayi

10th December 2010, 07:07 PM

You're of course referring to Bala's Nanda. Not a like-for-like comparison, but I agree with the sentiment (emotional impact of Thaniya is far greater).

The scene in nandha looked contrived - it just didnt suit the movie at all and looked completely out of place while that was not the case in Thaniyavarthanam.

I somehow feel Bala should have watched Thaniavarthanam.

Vivasaayi

10th December 2010, 07:30 PM

Thanks Murali Sir. Naan podhuva ivlo neeLama eludha maaten(aama idhuve neeLam thaan).I have searched for this movie for a long time after kamal mentioned about it in dasa audio release.So andha searchkagavadhu oru naalu line eludhalamnu.. hehe

Two scenes apart from climaxes that really had a great impact are

The letter that the girl writes to her sister in law before marriage. I dint expect it to be that way . I expected something related to balan mash and bla bla stuff. But she writes that she has the "right" to ask for mercy even if she undergoes hard times when she was in her home..but after marriage she could be deprived of that right and to whom she could turn with "urimai" :clap:

We get to understand what she means as the right to mercy in the climax when balan mash receives mercy even without being asked for.

The other scene where after Gopinathan leaves the house and the home was just left with Older people and balan mash, Thilakan turns back and asks his sister and mom

"we are left with none..isnt it?"

And the important dream sequence was done beautifully.

Murali Srinivas

12th December 2010, 12:42 AM

The latest Mammootty starrer Best Actor is getting very good reviews. Everyone who has seen is of the opinion that it is a good family entertainer. Planning to go!

Some pictures from Calicut theatre

http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/7122/48470917.jpg

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/6673/52801483.jpg

Trivandrum theatre snaps

http://i56.tinypic.com/9rpwyf.jpg

Regards

directhit

12th December 2010, 07:56 AM

The latest Mammootty starrer Best Actor is getting very good reviews. :cool2:

i am yet to see pranchiyettan :( inga release pannadhu theriyaama pochu, ippo awaiting a net release :oops:

Murali Srinivas

12th December 2010, 08:34 PM

Saw Best Actor today. A nice movie.

Detailing the efforts of a school teacher who is willing to go to any length to become an actor, the story is probably inspired from Mammootty's own life [Not sure how many people here are aware of the fact that Mammootty is a lawyer by profession who was practising in the courts of a small town called Manjeri in Northern Kerala but his passion was acting and he did realise his ambition].

The middle aged school teacher in a village school with a wife and kid is always dreaming of achieving it big in cinema, who is an object of ridicule for his colleagues. He suffers insults in his pursuit which makes him more determined. He goes and meets a friend who is into cinema and a comment there makes him take a decision. That coming as an interval punch leads to an interesting second half and a nice twist in the climax makes it absorbing.

Mammootty gives out a fine performance in both the halfs [this phrase may sound odd but don't want to be a spoiler for people who would be watching] who is ably supported by [Siddique] Lal, Nedumudi and Salimkumar.

The point that impressed me was this movie is directed by a debutant Martin Prakkat but he shows that the craft of cinema is safe in his hands. Overall a family entertainer.

Regards

P_R

13th December 2010, 12:11 AM

Finally watched Thaniyavarthanam

Thanks to compli for the repeated recommendations.

Thoroughly enjoyed it (lump in throat and all that).

:clap:

Vivasaayi

13th December 2010, 12:22 AM

Finally watched Thaniyavarthanam

Thanks to compli for the repeated recommendations.

Thoroughly enjoyed it (lump in throat and all that).

:clap:

yeeteeb eh?

P_R

13th December 2010, 01:11 PM

yeeteeb eh? adhE

P_R

13th December 2010, 08:02 PM

Mammootty as the lead - Cant imagine anyone else playing this role this better. :clap: especially his dialogue delivery...I can understand what he says just by his voice modulation even without knowing the language completely
:yes:

He was fantastic.

Well written post Vivs.
I disagree about calling the grandmother 'apathetic'. It is a subtle and extremely well written role.

Murali Srinivas

19th December 2010, 12:15 AM

KANDHAHAR

Why I, who had missed out watching Ividam Swargamanu, Oru Naal Varum and Shikkaar in big screen, decided to go to theatre for watching Kandhahar? Was it for Mohanlal, Amithab, Major Ravi or all put together? And what I got in return?

Was reading with interest about Major Ravi's 4th attempt in celluloid that had the hijacking of Air India Flight to Kandhahar as the backdrop and interest zoomed when the news came that the Big B is playing a role in it and Surya being approached for another important part. For the first time after a long long time I walked into a hall without even checking the reviews.

Alas!It was diappointment to the core! Nothing is there to redeem the movie. Not even Mohanlal's presence. Major Ravi seems to have thought if we show the Military Academy Training, the strict regimen that is adhered there, passing out parades, people would fall for it. Throw some name dropping like Military Air Base Nagpur etc along with it and people would grab it! Sorry Major, it was too childish. And Major Ravi who comes in as a senior officer in the academy is loud and shouting all the time.

The hijack and rescue [here the real turns into reel] hardly last for 20 minutes and it looks way amateurish. I always used to admire and argue with friends that when it comes to logic there is none to beat Malayalam directors and here again Major gives me the biggest shock.

The dreaded terroist Masood [the hijack takes place to secure his release] is kept in a solitary cell and his supporters walk in and discuss plans to release him. The terrorists travelling as normal passengers open the food refrigerator inside the flight and pull out their weapons. Give me a break.

If all these things are not enough, the climax is horrendous. Even a Telugu masala film director would have done it better.

When the title cards opened up and when the words Lt.Colonel Mohanlal appeared, there was a huge roar in the hall and alas the same roar turned into loud boos at the end. Lal, hardly having 15 minutes of screen space in the first half and seen more in the second half seems to be lost. His touch which normally makes a big difference is totally missing here. Seems to be going through the motions. Ganesh Venkatraman looks good with a sound physique but needs to go a long way. KPCA Lalitha though only in handful of scenes does justice.

Amithab's character of Loknath Sharma as the father of Ganesh is the one that comes out well. Probably Amithab speaking in his native tongue had helped him. Sumalatha in just 2 scenes looks gorgeous.

Does it not have anything good? Yes, a few nuggets. Like when one of the terrorist with a gun in his hand is threatening everyone from helping an asthma patient, a small boy standing up,brushing aside the gun and saying "Ithinakaal Valliya thokku gnagalude veettil undu" [We have bigger guns than this at our home] and helping the patient with an inhaler is one such thing. Amithab's old student at Military academy identifying Ganesh while he is serving a punishment thus giving him a ray of hope only to be told to continue with his punishment exercise is another. But these are few and far in between.

I have never written so much negatives about any film. Why now? Probably my longing to see the Lal of good old days [which he has not been for the past 10 years except save for a couple of films]evaporated into thin air with the realisation dawning on me that it is too much to expect at this stage in his career. Hope and wish he proves me wrong.

Regards

directhit

19th December 2010, 11:12 AM

complicateur

19th December 2010, 11:53 AM

And DH creates a perfect segue for me - This weeks article in the express is on Amaram. Read and provide feedback folks: http://bit.ly/h5TLQX

It is also up on the blog (http://complicateur.blogspot.com/2010/12/golden-age-3.html) if you want to read an unedited version.

kid-glove

19th December 2010, 01:44 PM

:clap: again.

Will get back to it later.

complicateur

19th December 2010, 10:46 PM

Thanks K-G. Do let me know your thoughts.

Murali Srinivas

23rd December 2010, 12:28 AM

Prabhu/Vignesh,

Paleri Manickam is going to be telecast in Surya for Christmas! Will try to update the exact date [whether it is on Saturday or Sunday] asap.

Regards

P_R

25th December 2010, 08:03 PM

Thanks for the reminder MS, I'd've surely missed it otherwise.

The film was underwhelming, largely because it is conversation heavy and I was not able to follow it fully.To make things worse (for someone who is inferring the story from the proceedings) the various possible sequences were shown.

Mammooty as Haji was impressive in some of the scenes. Apart from that I feel - even if there had been subtitles- I wouldn't've enjoyed this films that much more.

Vivasaayi

25th December 2010, 08:09 PM

AravindMano

16th January 2011, 07:32 PM

Kutty Srank. Technically great film. maththapadi #kthxbai

I somehow didn't like the first segement at all. And I suppose that ruined the whole film for me.

jinju

21st January 2011, 11:33 AM

Oru Naal Varum - Social satire is something Sreeni thrives on, and whenever paired with Mohanlal in a screenplay written by himself, we've had some memorable times in Malayalam cinema, however, his latest just passes whimper. Focusing on the prevalent corruption in government offices (town planning department here), Sreeni delivers a good scene here, a sharp dialogue or two there, and a couple of nostalgic moments on screen when together with Lal but fails to deliver a neat film as a whole. The corrupt town planning officer (Sreeni) and his innocent victims (Nedumudi Venu, Lal) form the main story thread which is well written, typical Sreeni at places. It is the half-baked parallel thread focusing on the failed relationship of Lal and his wife that falls flat. It doesn't help that the wife's character is played by an expressionless Sameera Reddy in one of the biggest miscastings ever in Malayalam cinema. Average production values and unimaginative direction (TK Rajeevkumar) and a BGM that is an earsore end up making the film look like a meandering TV serial at times. Still with all its shortcomings, ONV is a good film to watch at home with family compared to some of the masala films churned out by malayalam cinema in 2010 in the name of entertainment. For people looking for the gud ol' Lal-Sreeni magic touch, it would be worthwhile to remember that the 2 gentlemen in the latter halves of their career have been averaging in the mid 30s rather than the lofty above 50 averages they maintained in their prime batting years. That should set the expectations right for this one!

Kadha Thudarunnu - One of the better films to have come out from the Sathyan Anthikkad stable post 2000s, Kadha Thudarunnu is also one of the watchable Malayalam films of 2010. Oozing Sathyan's 'naattinpuram' trademark, KT goes into unchartered territory at times with a bit of Pursuit of Happyness thrown in and a few interesting moments that arise in the script due to a Hindu-Muslim couple...alas, Sathyan handles the issue only superficially! As is the case with all Sathyan films, the acting is competent and helps his slender storyline move forward. Mamta is the surprise package though, as the single mother fighting for survival! The usual Sathyan dependables like Jayaram, Innocent, KPAC Lalitha n co r all there in familiar territory. Music-BGM by IR-Sathyan combo is getting as repetitive and as stale as the India-SL ODI series' that plagued us cricket lovers through the last year, but then they seem to be following the saying "why fix it if it ain't broke yet?". 'Aaro Paadunnu Doore' and the choice of Hariharan as the singer is worth a mention though. A movie on love, hope, survival, and basically value of goodness in life, KT maintains a smooth flow until the last 30 minutes wherein Sathyan pitches for his usual contrived and convenient ending.

Happy Husbands - Remake of Charlie Chaplin with some changes, a few laughs here n there...thats all. That this was one of the biggest hits of last year, explains a lot about the current trend in the Malayalam film industry!

ajaybaskar

21st January 2011, 11:34 AM

I didnt like ONV much..

jinju

21st January 2011, 11:43 AM

I didnt like ONV much..

hmm quite understandable...hear that the producer (Raju who acted as one of the businessmen who bribes Sreeni) is in a big hole after this project! i actually switched it off after the first half an hour. then watched it later coz had nothing much to do, and found it get better as it went on. liked ividam swargamanu better than ONV though.

ajaybaskar

21st January 2011, 11:44 AM

Same thoughts!!

Ilayathalapathy Fan

23rd January 2011, 06:19 AM

Hi guys I just saw a classy malayalam film by the great director Sathyan Anthikkad and it is called Kadha Thudarunnu. It has Mamta Mohandas and Jayaram in the main roles and after watching this film I felt really good because it has been done extremely well and is very classy. I fell in love with Mamta Mohandas after seeing this film because she has performed very well in her role and yet at the same time she looks so cute as well... and it is also a big comeback for Jayaram who has given a great performance throughout the whole film.

The hit director of the 90s once again proves that he is an expert in giving feel good movies and succeeds with bringing out a story that is able to capture the heart of the audiences. Hats of to the great director and crew. I felt that we need films like this in tamil cinema and hope that malayalam directors like him will come and do original scripts here in tamil cinema for the tamil audience as well. Once again malluwood proves that it is able to give some of the best scripts/stories in Indian Cinema.

Murali Srinivas

23rd January 2011, 11:38 PM

Manichitrathazh and Nair Saab [back to back in Asianet & Kiran].

While much had been writen about Manichithirathazh [ofcourse it goes without saying that it deserves it], Nair Saab [though seen it couple of times] was really engaging.

Instead of treading the usual path of wronged hero single handedly bringing all evil forces to book, the screen play gives ample scope to all the actors comprising of the group of army trainees and villans too get good screen space.

The effort taken by Joshy and the the crew to shoot in snow capped Kashmir is really laudable. The entire shoot has taken place during winter it seems and it makes a pleasant viewing.

Coming to think of it, probably this must have been the last movie that was shot extensively in Kashmir before the unrest started in the state by December 1989 [Movie got released in Sep 1989].

Another thing that comes to mind is, those were the periods during which Mammootty and Malayalam movies were gaining in popularity in TN and this movie was immediately released during 1989 Deepavali. By that time I had been away from Madurai and when I came to Madurai for Deepavali, it was a pleasant surprise. But I was a bit apprehensive because it was clashing with Mappilai and Vetri Vizhaa [not to forget the Nehru Centenary one day tournament a la World Cup held in India getting telecast live] but still the movie did well.

One more thing that still remains fresh in mind is, a friend's friend after seeing the movie commented about the climax and Mammootty's reaction saying he was reminded of NT.

Thanks to Kiran TV for enabling to relive those moments.

Regards

While watching Dr.Sunny, had a feeling that we may never get to see that charming lovable Lal again. What a performance!

jinju

24th January 2011, 07:55 AM

MS, nice to read ur memories on Nairsaab...!

my lasting memory of that film is 'Punjavayalu Koyyaaan' song, esply the chorus 'nellu koyyaan ninteyoppam njangalum poratte' n that 'dance' of mukesh, suresh gopi (oh how thin he was those days!), n co with an apple-plump Lizzy in a kashmiri girl costume! even after all these years, all of a sudden i'l erupt into that chorus! my wife will b laughing hearing the lyrics (she didn't know the song/film until recently, being born n brought up here in TN, her exposure to most of 80s n 90s malayalam films started after she met me!)

also, the beautiful kashmir n a stiff mammootty. somehow i never liked mammooty in such roles (of course, that's considered one of his strengths n thats how it's to be played). Personally i've liked him more when he's shed his inhibitions n got rid of the 'look-at-me-i'm mammooty n am doin a damn gud job of this tough role' kind of acting, like in Mrugaya, Amaram, Sooryamaanasam, Azhakiya Ravanan (a typical role for Lal anytime, but Mammootty was a riot, and in many ways one of my top 5 favorite Mam roles ever!), and his recent takes in Renjith films (except Prajapathi), and also the recent Vijendra Mallya in Chattambi Naadu (bah, he carried that otherwise nonsense film with such charm..."ninne nann bagga gothilla naa**nte pa***de mone!"). OVVG is an entirely different animal though! how about sharing more on ur fav mammootty roles/films (80s/90s) here as u do in the case of Nadigar Thilagam?

as for the case of Dr. Sunny n the lovable Lal, those were the days! as a fan, just making do with whatever comes nowadays...generally speaking, nothing interesting in malayalam cinema lately except some renjith outings (with all its flaws). hear that Vineeth Srinivasan's 'Traffic' is good. have u watched it?

Murali Srinivas

24th January 2011, 10:20 PM

Thanks jinju.

Yes, as you said there have been quite a few people who have said the same thing about Mam's stiffness [swasam adakki, muscle pidichu varthamanam paraiyum] but as you said certain characters especially when it pertains to Army/Police, should be portrayed in such a manner to make the audience "feel" the effect. You can name AAvanaazhi, Inspector Balram, Sainiyam etc.

I am really happy (slightly surprised!) that you follow NT thread [Sorry for asking this question, you can read Tamil?]. Will definitely try to write about my fav Mam as well Lal movies here. Time is the constraint.

I haven't watched Traffic though it got released here. I also heard that movie is good!

Thanks again jinju.Will catch up.

Regards

jinju

25th January 2011, 08:47 AM

welcome MS. Balram is my favorite, though they made it a joke making a sequel out of it, just as they did with a couple of Lal films too.

oh yes, i am a silent reader of the NT thread but don't dare to post there, amongst u giants! as far as my tamil reading/writing is concerned, well am getting better than i was 6-7 years back the time i shifted to Kovai (when in Kerala, the first tamil line i read is "tamizh malai, courtesy sun tv..then i decoded the letters accordingly!). but actually, ur page long reviews r read out to me patiently by my wife! my father in law (a huge NT fan) follows ur thread from time to time and shares memories!

I am going in the anticlockwise direction in terms of watching films of who i consider the greatest actor Indian cinema has seen till date. as a guy from a different generation, my exposure to NT started with his latter year films he did with Kamalji, superstar n co. But the earliest exposure was 'Karnan' when my mother took me to what we call a talkies when i was in school. Though she took me to the film for its epic content, the main thing that stayed with me was THE MAN'S acting and the baritone so much so that i went for a rewatch without the knowledge of my mother, the first film i remember doing so! if an actor can have that kind of an impact on a kid brought up in Kerala and not at all familiar with the language, then he had to be SOMETHING SPECIAL! but being in the northern part of Kerala, i hardly got to watch anymore sivaji/tamil films except the really popular ones of kamalji/superstar etc. so it kind of tapered, and then the news that Lalettan was going to share screen space with the legend got me waiting eagerly, but due to a lot of production issues, the film never seemed to come out. finally it got released (i believe due to the personal interest that Lal took) n i was literally in tears to see them share scenes together (what chemistry! both legendary for their chemistry with their co-actors), and what a starcast, nedumudi venu n thilakan also putting in strong perfomances in a not so great film, but that VCD is still treasured by me. i remember reading u lamenting about the fact that both ur favorites (NT n Mam) were supposed to do a film but it never happened, so u can understand how treasured that otherwise bland film is, for me. and then, my wife happened and i chanced upon stacks of Sivaji film CDs from my father-in-law's collection...though i watched a couple of them, the interest really rekindled after coming to the hub, reading ur's, pammalar, groucho n co's anecdotes and reviews on NT films. and now, am in the hunt for his films' CDs that my f-in-l doesn't have in his collection (wife terms it as one way of pleasing him:lol:)!

well, a big essay about NT here. hope u didn't get bored reading it! anyways, do write as i told, when u get time that is.

jinju

25th January 2011, 09:40 AM

Cocktail - produced by actor Jayasurya n starring himself, samvrutha sunil, etc. bayangara thrillernu kelvipattu paathaa it's a scene by scene rehash of 'Butterfly on a Wheel/Shattered'! padupaavi, debuting as a producer with a totally different attempt that Malayalam cinema has not seen-nu ellaam channel channel-a interview kuduthu, englis padam remake pannirukkaa, at least can give credit to the original makers na *^ &*%&. for those who've not seen the original, recommended don't see this, see the original!

Murali Srinivas

26th January 2011, 12:08 AM

Thanks jinju!

Getting bored? No way!

I am really moved to note about the efforts you take for going through the NT thread! And heartiest thanks to your wife for helping you out!

Again it is a pleasure to know that your F-I- Law is a great fan of NT and I have been coming across quite a few Fathers and F-I-Laws, who happen to be steadfast fans of NT. Even in my office there are few who take a printout of the NT film reviews for giving it to their parents & in-laws.

Nice to read about your journey to understand and appreciate NT and I am reminded of Prabhu who also confessed that his was also a journey in reverse direction when it comes to NT and his films.

Yes, Oru Yatra Mozhi was one of the good movies [in fact I would rate it a shade below Devar Magan] that had an enviable cast. I never miss the movie whenever it shown in Asianet. Still remember seeing the movie within a few days of its' release in July 1997 at Kottayam Anupama.

July 3rd of 1997 saw the Central Government conferring the title of Dada Saheb Phalke on NT and the next day Once More was released. 20 days later OYM released and I still remember with fondness that it was AMMA which was the first organisation to facilitate NT for Dada Saheb that was held on 24th August at Trivandrum.

I think you name NT, I will go on endlessly and so let me force myself to stop here.

Thanks again jinju for all the sharing. Would also like to thank on behalf of Swami [Pammalar] and Rakesh [Groucho]. Will catch up!

Regards

jinju

30th January 2011, 09:21 AM

:thumbsup:MS.

just read compli's latest article in Indian Express, on 'Dasaradham' :clap: well written sir, and has prompted me to revisit one of my most favorite lal movies. a script ahead of its times in malayalam cinema. to me, easily one of the top 3 scripts of Lohitadas...what a loss:sad:!

jinju

30th January 2011, 11:03 AM

ok this is not about any film, but last night on TV, Asianet Awards for the last year, program very good. Shreyakutty singing "Kanninima Pole" from Anwar with Naresh :notworthy: tonight's concluding part, she's singing 'Yeh Ishq Haye' from JWM i think, they were showing clippings. hope she sings something from VTV...SG wearing my favorite color blue, enna oru costume wah re wah! n Chitraji, SG, and Hariharan rendering a medley of Big B's songs who was the chief guest of the evening. a big :banghead: for MG Sreekumar who killed 'Mere Angane Mein Tumhaara Kya Kaam Hai' with his heavy malayalam accent! no wonder the legend wasn't amused. and in the end, lalettan singing the 4 lines of 'kabhi kabhi' when asked to...though his voice was shaky, he did good:smile:!

nice to see Vijay (didn't see the part where he was given award, or is it tonight am not sure?!), Karthi in there too. all in all, a fine show. it was obvious that Big B n the M n' M's (both in black, was it planned?!) enjoyed the evening! Big B getting emotional in his speech and at various other moments during the show (no wonder he gushed about the prog in his blog). Nedumudi Venu and KPAC Lalitha on stage together, another kodak moment, and they poked fun at each other too!

ellaam nallaa dhaan irundhadhu, but at the end of it i was left with a question...if asianet cud honor Big B with Lifetime Achievement and have the whole malayalam industry there, what was the issue with felicitating Kamalji on the completion of his 50 years in cinema?! why did it have to be boycotted by the stars and in the end become a stage that only had politicians?! :feeling very sad:

ajaybaskar

30th January 2011, 11:30 AM

Dasaratham is still ahead of times IMO

complicateur

30th January 2011, 12:38 PM

Jinju,
Thanks! For those who are yet to read the article, here it is (http://bit.ly/e3AxH0). It is also up at the blog here (http://complicateur.blogspot.com/2011/01/golden-age-4.html).

Murali Srinivas

30th January 2011, 10:55 PM

Jinju,

Same pinch! My most favourite movie of Lal is Dasaratham and when you asked me some days back regarding my favourite movies, I was about to tell Dasaratham. Will come back on this.

Asianet programme was good and Mam was fabulous to look at! Yes, Vijay's part was there today and he did a neat little speech!

Deepauk,

Nice write up!

Regards

complicateur

31st January 2011, 05:25 PM

Murali,
Thank you very much.

Ajay - That is very true. Especially in light of the fact that legislation governing the rights of surrogate mothers etc.. was only passed in 2004 nearly 15 years after this film came out. And even now it is directly because of burgeoning medical tourism.

Ilayathalapathy Fan

1st February 2011, 09:06 PM

Malayalam cinema back to golden era with a top notch film called "Traffic" (Starring Sreenivasan, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Kunchacko Bobban, Sandhya, Remya Nambisan, Roma, Asif Ali)

Indiaglitz review: 'If you are consistently going on saying 'no', then this day will just end like any other day, but if you are ready for a committed yes, then it will be a fervent support from many others to continue with saying 'yes' in ...similar enterprising situations'- reminds two different characters in two different points of time in this indisputably remarkable film 'Traffic'. After watching this movie, this dialogue line seems to be a reminder for the regulars of Mollywood cinema, who keeps on forgetting the quality stuff and go on to promote the formulaic ,cliched material.Yes, this is high time to say 'yes' to movies like 'Traffic'', that travels through rarer pastures, not often attempted in Mollywood cinema.

A fascinating movie that will remain with you much long, the movie is based on the actual 'Chennai traffic incident', which is exceptionally written to suit the screen by Bobby-Sanjay.The young director Rajesh R pillai, who debuted years ago with a forgettable 'Hridayathil Sookshikkan', make the best of the opportunity and display his amazing maturity and technical wizardry in realizing a demanding script, in fact one of the very best, ever written for a Malayalam film.He balances the emotional conflicts of characters and other panicking situations with panache and needed subtility, which is another highpoint of this bold, stark and unpredictable 'Traffic'.

The movie has almost all its main events in a single day, a 16th of September, where two friends Raihan and Rajeevan travelling in a bike is hit by a speeding car driven by a beautiful lady, who is trying to evade hooligans following her for long. Raihan, a TV reporter was getting ready to make it big with the interview scheduled on the same day, with a megastar Sidhharth Shankar, whose big film "Ishwar'was hitting the screens on the same day. The day was also the one when Dr Abel (Kunchakko Boban) was planning to make a celebration for his wedding anniversary by presenting his wife(Remya Nambeeshan) with a brand new car.It also happened to be the day when Sudevan, a traffic Constable, suspended from service for accepting bribe, was to rejoin his duty. The accident that happens at the Traffic signal intertwines with the lives of everyone in a very unforeseen manner.And now suddenly it becomes a matter of fight between emotions, time and distance to make the maximum gains of the situations, which makes this 'Traffic' viewing an unforgettable one.

The promising purview is supplemented with immersible twists all the way. The loopholes in the narratives are so less that the journey is never a shaky one. Following the patterns set by 'Amoress peros', 'Babel' and 'Crash', the multifarious presentations which never annoy you, makes the movie rise up to internationals standards.

Another person who seems to have worked his heart out seems to the editor Mahesh Narayanan, whose tight editing has never let your interest slip a minute, from the ever pacing proceedings on screen.This is the best work from the young technician till date. So is the killer background track by Mejo Joseph, whose lone song in the movie is also appreciable.

In the acting front, the movie has present a Mammoth cast in the most adorable and appropriate way with most being part of some unforgettable scenes on screen. Be it in Rehman who never had an opportunity in recent times to play such a mature and complicated role of the helpless superstar father, or that of kunchakko boban, who is struggling to come over his personal tragedy of betrayal, the movie offers moments to everyone. Sreenivasan make a cake walk as Sudevan while Lena, Asif Ali, Saikumar,Anoop Menon and Sandhya also comes up with sparkling performances.

Young star Remya Nambeeshan and veteran actor Jose Prakash is back to screen in impressive short roles. The cinematography by Shyju Khalid and works by other technical departments are also topnotch.

prashanth12

13th February 2011, 03:12 AM

Agni Devan (1995)
Excellent character-oriented drama about two brothers who have ideological differences over the running of their family newspaper.
Interactions between Mohanlal/Revathy in particular are told with much grace. If only all relationships in films had such depth.
Only blemish is a few unnecessary fight sequences in an otherwise low-key film, and perhaps a slightly off-key ending.
Otherwise, a very engaging film from towards the end of the so-called Malayalam "golden age".

jinju

18th February 2011, 07:04 AM

Malarvadi Arts Club: Just hope Vineeth Sreenivasan sticks to singing!

directhit

18th February 2011, 07:13 AM

jinju

18th February 2011, 07:39 AM

AravindMano

20th February 2011, 10:59 PM

Naalu Pennungal, worth a watch The last and longest stretch of the film is underwhelming, but overall very well directed. The second segment is very beautifully realized.

One of the segments features Mrs.Manju Kurup of Man Madan Ambu :shock:

And Kavya Madhavan is such a beauty.

jinju

24th February 2011, 10:15 AM

Blessy-Lalettan's next titled 'Pranayam' (Love), shoot starts next month! Cast is interesting: Jayaprada, Anupam Kher. Seems like a nostalgic trip.

The selections this year seem to be looking up with Shaji N Karun's next scheduled to start towards the fag end of the year. Commercially, a couple of multistarrers releasing next month: Chinatown (Lal, Jayaram, Dileep) and Christian Brothers (Lal, Sureshgopi, Dileep with Supreme Star). Roshan Andrews' 'Casanova' first schedule completed. Sathyan Anthikkad n Priyadarsan films also scheduled to go on floors this year, but kicked about the Blessy film the most!

jinju

24th February 2011, 10:17 AM

directhit

24th February 2011, 11:26 AM

oh just saw this a couple of days back (main reason being samvrutha :noteeth:) - found it good (ofcourse havent seen the original and had to bear the actor/writer on screen) u too:-D!
ofcourse, lets put a couple of pics to substantiate, lol

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vX21EF8u3Qs/TFw-LzLWXkI/AAAAAAAAANA/DcVLl2hYHSs/s1600/Samvrutha+Sunil+_14__001.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A5ySmgJCcjw/S9v7n_TJ4AI/AAAAAAAAATo/Wfd7h_4j_Bw/s1600/Mahadevan+Thampi+(8).jpg

directhit

26th February 2011, 04:35 PM

Pranchiyettan and The Saint (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pranchiyettan_and_the_Saint) - a lovely lovely film

http://www.mayyam.com/talk/attachment.php?attachmentid=115&d=1298718210

Kudos to Ranjith for always taking up new ways of narration and story line. This time the story is presented as a narrative between Mammootty and Francis the Saint. And the one liner is that the protoganist wants to change the adjective to his name; have not seen such a plotline in any recent movies.

The ways he goes about doing it, like trying to 'buy' Padmashree :rotfl: References that if you are in the good books of the ruling party any awards can be got (bought) only flashed Amitabh's face on screen for me. No special comedy track in the movie, nevertheless comedy was one of the main ingredient in the film. Mammookka (this time with My Thrissur slang) rocks with his dialogue delivery and expressions, not unexpected though. Portraying a guy who is a loser at most of his attempts, this is one of his best roles off late. Innocent, who is originally from Irinjaalakuda, has the next best role in the movie. Yet another very nice performance from Priyamani, wish she did more of such roles than nonsense dances in the so called masala movies.

With a wonderful message at the end, its not to anyone's surprise, this movie is one of the highest grossers of this last year :thumbsup:

jinju

28th February 2011, 10:46 AM

ofcourse, lets put a couple of pics to substantiate, lol

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vX21EF8u3Qs/TFw-LzLWXkI/AAAAAAAAANA/DcVLl2hYHSs/s1600/Samvrutha+Sunil+_14__001.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A5ySmgJCcjw/S9v7n_TJ4AI/AAAAAAAAATo/Wfd7h_4j_Bw/s1600/Mahadevan+Thampi+(8).jpg

:clap::clap:

Murali Srinivas

1st March 2011, 11:36 PM

Anoop,

You had updated only about Lal movies. Here is the latest update on Mammookka. August 15, which was supposed to hit the screens by second week of February, has been postponed to last week of March in view of the World Cup and examinations. It is scheduled to be released on 25th of March. Snap of a poster designed by a fan

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i454/salihi4u/augomc2.jpg

Meanwhile Mammootty has finished his next movie titled Doubles. Here he is one of the twins with Nadhiya being the other sibling. They lose their parents in an accident and they are brought up by an old man at Pondicherry. When they grew up, they form an accident help unit and they service highway accident victims. Both are not married and one day they are forced to keep a victim of a highway accident, who happens to be a girl in their home for a short while and from there the story takes a turn, it seems. It has a fair amount of Tamil film actors like YGMahendra, Suresh and Anandaraj. Though the story seems to be interesting, fans doesn’t have much hope on this. Mam’s hairstyle they say is one such deterrent. This may get released during Vishu or May 1st week. Some snaps are here. [Someone can upload the links as I am not technically well versed].

http://images.mathrubhumi.com/images/2011/Feb/26/00202_261797.jpg

http://images.mathrubhumi.com/images/2011/Feb/26/00202_261799.jpg

http://images.mathrubhumi.com/images/2011/Feb/26/00202_261786.jpg

Mams has also completed his first Kannada movie Shikkari. Its Malayalam version is also ready. They are looking at various release dates. In the interim director Jayaraj is doing a quickie with Mams. Titled “The Train”, it deals with what happened in Mumbai during the serial bomb blast in the suburban trains in July 2006. Here Mammootty comes in as the leader of the Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS), which deals with the situation. The shooting was held in Mumbai last month.

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/179847_180325495336145_178163532219008_360656_3052 42_n.jpg

There is another news. After a long gap, Mam is again doing a Telugu film. Titled Keeravani, it is a musical subject it seems and there is one Telugu hero Sharwanand who shares screen space with Mammootty. The film is already on floors at Hyderabad and it is directed by Venkat PS.

The film March 12, 1993 which marks the directorial debut of script writer Babu Janarthanan is ready to go on floors. Here Mam plays a priest by name Sadhananda Bhatt, a character hailing from Kasargode. He who is at Chennai takes up a job at Rajasthan and he travels through Mumbai and get caught in the communal frenzy. Two other people hailing from a different part of Kerala, having come to Mumbai for a job also gets caught in the melee. Three people who are in no way connected to the riots have their life torn apart by what’s happening around them. What happens after forms the crux of the story.

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/180839_1693843860303_1063990140_31560063_2064345_n .jpg

Regards

directhit

4th March 2011, 10:55 PM

Murali Sir - if the updates are on Lalettan its gotto be Jinju :-P

Just now finished watching TRAFFIC - WOW what a movie, one of the best (if not THE BEST) movies i've seen in recent times.... a mix of Amores Perros and the real life incident which happened in Chennai - WONDERFUL WONDERFUL Movie :bow: :bow:

directhit

4th March 2011, 10:58 PM

wow, superb pics, thanks Murali Sir

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i454/salihi4u/augomc2.jpg

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/179847_180325495336145_178163532219008_360656_3052 42_n.jpg

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/180839_1693843860303_1063990140_31560063_2064345_n .jpg

jinju

5th March 2011, 08:51 AM

Anoop,

You had updated only about Lal movies.

The film March 12, 1993 which marks the directorial debut of script writer Babu Janarthanan is ready to go on floors. Here Mam plays a priest by name Sadhananda Bhatt, a character hailing from Kasargode. He who is at Chennai takes up a job at Rajasthan and he travels through Mumbai and get caught in the communal frenzy. Two other people hailing from a different part of Kerala, having come to Mumbai for a job also gets caught in the melee. Three people who are in no way connected to the riots have their life torn apart by what’s happening around them. What happens after forms the crux of the story.

Regards

anoop illa, naan dhaan update pannen...we'l reach an agreement btwn us. naan lal projects update panren, u do mam's, wat say:-D?

this project excites me the most amongst ikka's 2011 films...babu janardhanan has done some good work as a writer...looking fwd to his directorial debut. the one liner sounds promising.

jinju

5th March 2011, 10:57 AM

Just now finished watching TRAFFIC - WOW what a movie, one of the best (if not THE BEST) movies i've seen in recent times.... a mix of Amores Perros and the real life incident which happened in Chennai - WONDERFUL WONDERFUL Movie :bow: :bow:

one of the best that commercial malayalam cinema has seen in years! believe it's going to be remade in hindi with naseeruddin shah, maddy, n arjun rampal.

Murali Srinivas

7th March 2011, 12:04 AM

Jinju,

Sorry. Seeing yours and Anoop's posts one after another made me to err.

Just thought about you a few days back. Neighbour's wife had given birth to a child and we went to the hospital to see the baby. The new born was crying while lying in the cradle and the moment the mother took him in her lap, he fell silent. My mind immediately raced to Rajiv who would peek through the window to look at his new born child and when questioned by the chief matron Sukumari, he asks why the child is always clinging to the mother's lap, she replies that the new born feels safe and secure in the lap of it's mother where it almost gets the safe feeling of being inside the womb. After a pause, Rajiv [who never had the feel of his mother] with his eyes still focussed on the child asks sofly "gnaanum inganethanayaanthirkkum alle" and you get to see his face!

A vignette etched in memory! Lal in Dasaratham was outstanding! On the way back was commenting about the same to my wife and told her that we talked about the same in the forum earlier.

Regards

kubrick

10th March 2011, 07:49 PM

Can anyone help me find this malayalam movie called Oppol (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0311607/)?

raagadevan

11th March 2011, 01:06 AM

Here is the youtube version of OPPOL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUpdhMWhbJM&playnext=1&list=PL5C46CB581EF51436

jinju

12th March 2011, 01:48 PM

Kandahaar: What a waste of talent and resources!

jinju

12th March 2011, 01:56 PM

Murali Srinivas

13th March 2011, 12:39 AM

Dear jinju,

For you with love.

Chritian Brothers [realesing on 18th March?]

http://www.indiancinemagallery.com/Gallery2/d/445401-

http://images.orkut.com/orkut/photos/OgAAADSFo6P87zN6B4Umm-n1797oGXEyAyMsFJ104Pbq9vJlsygcb0koyuazXJc2zeetqdfm u2iZXjT_-uqywKbqS08Am1T1UBOZIY68YfdFuFyy3y-w1uwtI2EO.jpg

China Town

http://images.orkut.com/orkut/photos/OgAAADeG-eIUvSDWp-gmBRuJs-wZUrPz6KnaYAssqu0az0gSiYZwzbTpYRl8dvjDS9J1zidtjcm5 uUeiQSIk3ljIlyYAm1T1UBjV0nDsBsqrcuBd7VH2lRKMtJ64.j pg

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/183877_128393253898538_110312242373306_182663_4759 876_n.jpg

Casanova

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs616.ash2/156893_1685832115622_1532240307_31658595_2184778_n .jpg

http://malayalammovieworld.com/gallery/movie/Casanova/casanova_golf_01.jpg

Pranayam

http://i54.tinypic.com/2cp84ma.jpg

[Sorry, Lal's stills have not come out]

You know one thing? Priyadharsan is making a film in Malyalam again with Lal in the lead. Initially it was titled Arabiyum Ottakavum,P.Madhavan nairum with Mukesh playing an important role and the entire shooting is at Abu Dhabi. Now it seems that the tiltle may change to Attaraum Madhavan Nairum. [Here Attar is perfume].

http://i56.tinypic.com/16bavsw.jpg

Regards

Anoop, blow up please.

jinju

19th March 2011, 01:09 PM

thanks a lot for the pics MS, appreciate that! i believe Lal's 80 year old look in Pranayam will not be revealed now, that's why only Jaya's and Anupam Kher's and others' pics are out. and Priyadarsan, well, let's talk after the film comes out!

i watched Christian Brothers fdfs yesterday. it's making waves on the collection front and may end up as one of the biggest ever, but except for a smartly dressed up and dapper Supreme Star in a delightful cameo and a couple of hummable numbers from Deepak Dev (picturized and placed poorly), i found nothing interesting. This is more the nonsensical Pokkiriraja than the delightful commercial masala that 20-20 was. I believe this was one of the skeletons written initially for 20-20 by Siby-Uday, no wonder it got rejected!

Murali Srinivas

19th March 2011, 11:41 PM

jinju

20th March 2011, 02:06 PM

Jinju,

I saw CB today evening and exactly my thoughts. Sarath got a big response from the crowd. Dileep raised a few laughters but overall felt disappointed. Failed to understand why Lal keeps on faltering with the scripts.

Regards
MS, i don't think anyone signs Sibi-Udayan films after reading the scripts in the first place, coz they don't usually have one:)!!! they do crass masala aimed at the BO, and unfortunately most of them work...gotta grudgingly admit that.

Finally, got to see Pranchiyettan & The Saint. Thanks a ton to Renjith for reassuring again that good commercial cinema in Malayalam is still alive! This is something that I can watch multiple times...that crazy first half is more than enuff! Though the script seems to wander at places and a bit of illogicality creeps in in the second half, it can be overlooked given the bigger picture that Renjith was trying to convey...richly layered writing!!! On the performance front, Mammookka and Innachan were tops! So reassuring to see that Innocent hasn't lost his touch unlike Jagadeesh, etc. Priyamani was pretty fine in her small part too. Eagerly waiting for Renjith's next, as always.

Murali Srinivas

26th March 2011, 12:34 AM

August 15 - went with a lot of expectations but movie turned out to be just ok or shall I say average? It lacks the thrill and pace that is required of an investigative thriller. SN Swamy has rehashed the original August 1 in all aspects but the original was something different. Mammootty as usual is the saving grace but shouldering the entire responsibilty with a weak script is telling on the screen.

Regards

P_R

13th April 2011, 06:27 PM

app_engine

13th April 2011, 10:40 PM

ThoovanathumbigaL

Very impressive.

நான் முன்னமே ஹப்-பில் சொல்லி இருக்கேன் :-)

Good that I got that CD when family was away for a month. Could enjoy multiple repeats. All three - Lal / Sumalatha / Parvathy were awesome in that film.

Lal is a given. However, Sumalatha - who was never considered any good in TF and was offered mostly so-so movies / roles but had a decent career in MF - was effortless too.

The "அலட்சியம்" exhibited by her was of unusual category...

directhit

14th April 2011, 07:32 AM

ThoovanathumbigaL (thanks to compli - first for a bunch of cd's he loaned me)

Very impressive.
But I was severely held back by the lack of subtitles. I could see it was a movie where latching on to the conversation in detail was very important.
Nesst meet paNNuvOm.

Yet again amazed by Mohanlal performance. :bow:
As Vivs. mentioned once, its like he has no idea that there's a camera around ! :D recently youtubed and watched again... Lal rocks as usual in such roles :bow: PR, anga inga dialogue miss pannirundheenganaa refer pannikunga - this one is with english subs - http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=F9C4E802703D26B6

directhit

14th April 2011, 07:58 AM

Murali Sir, thx for the tons of info... looks like Mammookka is for a year of hits and then a year of flops :|

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/183877_128393253898538_110312242373306_182663_4759 876_n.jpg

http://malayalammovieworld.com/gallery/movie/Casanova/casanova_golf_01.jpg

jinju

16th April 2011, 10:37 AM

Watched Rafi Mecartin's Chinatown yesterday. a perfect Vishu outing with the family. The 3 best leads that Malayalam cinema has produced in regards to comedy; Lalettan, Dileep, and Jayaram are in full form here, along with Suraj! a no logic, no brainer film, me and my family laughed our butts off. It's been sometime in Malayalam since such a comedy entertainer. Though the pace dips in the second half, overall it is a hilarious outing!

DH, the two Ms as Plum had mentioned somewhere, take turns like the political parties of Kerala in terms of hits and flops!

directhit

16th April 2011, 11:15 AM

DH, the two Ms as Plum had mentioned somewhere, take turns like the political parties of Kerala in terms of hits and flops! :lol: yeah... saw Christian brothers - Suresh Gopi was good in his role, not mouthing insane english dialogues and keeping it low. Sarath is so smart in such roles, hope he does a good tamil movie, an investigation office or something ala Kamal's VV.

Lal and Dileep has very little to do - Lal's heroism was a bit jaded, he usually is awesome doing larger than life characters, in this movie he is not even his 50% best. But gotto appreciate the multistarrers whatever be the output.Gotto watch August 15th now - am expecting a worst movie going by reviews :|

Murali Srinivas

16th April 2011, 01:22 PM

Anoop & Jinju,

You are right or shall I say that majority of Ikka Fans were right in predicting the fate of Doubles. Saw it yesterday. A very weak story with poorly written screenplay. [Heard that Sachi & Sethu are a promising pair of script writers but no traces of it here]. Normally a debutant director would try to showcase his first movie with interesting twists and turns but Seenu Sohanlal must be one [out of the innumerable directors that Mammootty has introduced] who has failed to capitalise on the offer. Even Mam who normally try to pep up the proceedings seems to be going through the motions here. Nadia is a pale shadow of herself. Many artists from Tamil Cinema like Y.Gee.M, Suresh and Anandaraj have nothing much to do. Even James Vasanthan who makes his debut in Malayalam is not able to churn out even a decent number.

Hope Mammookka bounces back in the coming months!

Regards

jinju

16th April 2011, 01:56 PM

jinju

16th April 2011, 02:00 PM

:lol: yeah... saw Christian brothers - Suresh Gopi was good in his role, not mouthing insane english dialogues and keeping it low. Sarath is so smart in such roles, hope he does a good tamil movie, an investigation office or something ala Kamal's VV.

Lal and Dileep has very little to do - Lal's heroism was a bit jaded, he usually is awesome doing larger than life characters, in this movie he is not even his 50% best. But gotto appreciate the multistarrers whatever be the output.Gotto watch August 15th now - am expecting a worst movie going by reviews :|
ya, lalettan looked bored for most of the film. regarding aug 15, from what i've heard and from the snippets that i've seen on tv, u CAN indeed expect the worst!

ajaybaskar

16th April 2011, 02:32 PM

Doubles bombed, huh?

jinju

16th April 2011, 03:10 PM

Doubles bombed, huh?

nothing surprising there AB.

directhit

16th April 2011, 03:49 PM

regarding aug 15, from what i've heard and from the snippets that i've seen on tv, u CAN indeed expect the worst! :oops: didnt take that risk, started watching Best Actor and about an hour into the movie, not bad so far :D

jinju

16th April 2011, 04:18 PM

:oops: didnt take that risk, started watching Best Actor and about an hour into the movie, not bad so far :D

nalla padamnu kelvippatten. original dvd hasn't been released yet...waiting waiting!

directhit

17th April 2011, 11:31 AM

lovely song from City of God

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMAMd-xtQdo

P_R

18th April 2011, 12:27 PM

:D recently youtubed and watched again... Lal rocks as usual in such roles :bow: PR, anga inga dialogue miss pannirundheenganaa refer pannikunga - this one is with english subs - http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=F9C4E802703D26B6

:ty:

Brilliant film.
Highly cud-chewable.

The second time they meet, Clara says she was thinking about how to react if Jayachandran brings up the question of marriage. She says that in 'passive voice'. i.e. 'had the question been raised' (not: had Jayachandran raised the qn).

He counters it with: what if the question had been raised (i.e. what would have been your speculation).
And her response is : the question has not been raised. Has it?

I found that fantastic. There is just no simulating life. No predicting, expecting how people would react, deciding accordingly. Things just happen like rain and you have to bloody go with it. It's not like you have a choice.
You can think as much as you like about how you would react to situations when they crop up. But will you indeed react that way? Can you be sure about that?
If values, beliefs are all supposed to be based on 'how one reacts to situations', then how can one think 'I am like this only' in such a fundamentally uncertain world.
So, later when she says let us not part saying 'we will never meet again', it just strikes as perfectly in line with her wide view of the world.

Perhaps it is the way the language is. But the choice of expression: 'the question has not been raised, has it?' as opposed to 'you have not raised the question again now, have you?' is just brillliant.

Why didn't he ask the question? Because she has 'changed' since we last met him? That's a what a girl like Clara, is well within her rights to think of a man. But then we know that kind of thing won't stop him and we also know Clara isn't someone who would think of Jayachandran to be such a person (what masterly writing for audience to be sure they 'know' a character they've only seen in a handful of scene). So she is not being hurtful, at the max. only playful with him.

Then she goes on to say how it is only the lucky girls who give and receive first love. She is not being self-deprecatory or being falsely soft towards Radha. Her observations are all sincerety. And a quasi-maternal concern for a 'simple girl' is unmissable.

You have to sit back and see how WTF the reactions of Radha to Jayachandran's revelations are. But it is not. And it is shone to be highly- pardon the word- believable and heartwarming.

I am guessing: monE, thadi condractorE nee yaaraa(m)? would be a cult dialogue in Kerala.

Perhaps it is quite chauvinistic in its 'I am a man of many parts and would appreciate someone who can understand that'. I liked it all the same.
Beautiful.

app_engine

18th April 2011, 07:39 PM

P_R,
What's your take on the "now-Mrs Ambarish"?
(Exclude the few seconds in the tribal outfit but the overall 'alatchiyam' thingy)

baroque

28th April 2011, 05:04 AM

TD DASAN STANDARD VI B - malayalam.
It is a neat movie without unwarranted emblishments and noises.

a school boy lives in a village near Palakkad writes a letter to his dad, who left him & his mom.
The letter reaches to the B'lore address but the house has new residents now.
The residents are urban folks.
Resident's daughter started to reply to the rural boy for his letters as his father meanwhile her father, ad film maker thinks the boy's situation a good film material. Meanwhile, the girl's mama found out about the girl's letter activities. Boy's mom too found the letters and whacked the kid.
What happens next?
Watch the charming, poetic movie.

All the characters are very well carved, they have delivered naturally.
Loved the youngsters including the bully boy, wonderful.
nice cinematography.
emotional and feel good at the end.

folk composition is sweet, enjoyed the picturisation.

Venchaamarakkaate sancharipoonkatte.......

Vinatha.

jinju

28th April 2011, 01:40 PM

baroque

28th April 2011, 09:06 PM

MOSERBAER released the movie in DVD.
Vinatha.

jinju

29th April 2011, 07:54 AM

MOSERBAER released the movie in DVD.
Vinatha.

thank u for the info. have to get it.

baroque

29th April 2011, 09:22 PM

enjoy enjoy
vinatha

jinju

30th April 2011, 07:20 AM

Best Actor...quite disappointing for me after all the postive buzz i heard about the film. the director sets up things quite neatly in a decent first half, only to botch up things in the second half where some quirky characters and contrived situations rule the roost. The saving grace is a delightful "Swapnam Oru Chaakku..." and Mammootty whose best performance since Kuttysrank manages one to overlook the unrealistic situations that pop up in the first half.

venkkiram

30th April 2011, 09:22 AM

வந்தனம்

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e8/Vandanam.jpg

இருபது வருடங்களுக்கு பிறகு இரண்டாவது முறையாக பார்க்கிறேன். பதினெண் பருவத்தில் பார்த்தபோது இதன் முடிவு கொடுத்த சோகத்தின் தாக்கம் அப்படியே மாறாமல் இன்னமும் அதே அளவு இருந்தது.. சிறு வயதில் நமக்கு பிடித்த நடிகைகளை இப்போது மீண்டும் பார்த்து ரசிக்கும்போது இருக்கும் சுகமே தனிதான். திருடாதே என்ற சொல்லிக்கொண்டே இதயத்தை திருடவிட்ட கிரிஜா இதில் இன்னமும் திருடவிடுகிறார் அவரது குழந்தை தனத்தில், குறும்பில்..

பக்கத்து வீட்டு பெண்ணாக மனதில் பட்டாம் பூச்சிகளை பறக்க விட்டு, வால் நட்சத்திரம் போல வந்து மறைந்து போனவர் கிரிஜா. எங்கே இருக்கிறார் என உலாவியதில் இந்த இணையத்தளம் (http://www.blogger.com/profile/10869396742967721534) புருவங்களை உயர்த்தியது. பத்திரிக்கையாளராக இருக்கிறாராம். வாழ்த்துக்கள் !

raj_musing

28th May 2011, 01:44 PM

TD DASAN STANDARD VI B - malayalam.
It is a neat movie without unwarranted emblishments and noises.

Vinatha.

Good movie indeed and worth watching! great acting by those kids(not sure if they had any acting experience before)...The movie bagged state award as well recently..

Murali Srinivas

3rd June 2011, 12:05 AM

The Train

Went to this Jayaraj directed Mammootty movie with least expectations since the reviews that I had read had all been negative and as it often happens you don't feel underwhelmed when yo have less expectations. Not that it is a great movie but definitely worth a watch.

Jayaraj who is responsible for the story and screenplay had taken the artistic liberty of mixing facts with fiction. Narrating the story in the backdrop of serial bomb blasts that took place in local trains in Mumbai way back in 2006, he intertwines some characters into the main plot which helps to raise the tempo.

A track singer whose life ambition is to sing under the music baton of A.R.Rahman, a software engineer who had run away from her parents and is on a suicidal mood getting distracted by a wrong call from the singer, a Muslim woman running from pillar to post to get her father's freedom fighter's monthly pension released so that he can take the Haj pilgrimage, an aged Grandfather, mercilessly dumped in an old age home by his Son and D-I-Law both being Medical professionals, sneaking out of the home to meet his grandson who is celebrating his birthday, all by chance decide to take the local train from different stations like CST, Sion, Dadar, Byculla, Parel etc on that fateful day. On the other side there are 5 terrorists who decide to place IEDs in 7 stations to cause explosion between 6 and 6.11 PM on the same day. In between there is a Senior officer attached to the Special Task force who is on his way to his home by local train and who smells something fishy and there starts a game and you get a different climax, rather an unexpected one.

A great cocktail on paper but on the execution part Jayaraj seems to have missed it. Film covers the 12 hour period from 6 am to 6 pm and the Metro City is captured in Sun and shade, Rain and gloom in all it's glory. Mammootty as Special Task force officer doesn't get much of a screen space but on hindsight you think that even a Suresh Gopi would have been enough and wonder why such a Mega star for this? Jayasuriya as the track singer and lover boy is ok.

Not sure whether any Hindi Films had shown the Mumbai local stations so extensively. The camera simply travels with the train to and fro. One thing that needs to be said is the novelty factor. The way the story is told, I don't think that any Indian film's screenplay would have been narrated in this manner though not aware about this technique having been used in Hollywood films. Don't want to spill the beans on what exactly I mean, since people like Ajay/Anoop might want to catch the movie. But I am equally sure that 8 out of 10 people who watched the movie would not have even noticed that.

Sad that such an attempt is not getting the appreciation due. Only if Jayaraj had been little more enterprising ---

Regards

ajaybaskar

27th June 2011, 01:02 PM

Watched Chocolate at last. Why was it not remade in Tamil?

ajaybaskar

27th June 2011, 01:03 PM

Murali Anna,

There was a report that Jeyaraj was making a movie with title 'A track with Rahman'. Was it rechristened to 'The Train'?

Murali Srinivas

27th June 2011, 10:06 PM

Yeah Ajay. It is the same film. A Track with Rahman was the name that was announced earlier but when the shooting started, the title changed.

Regards

Murali Srinivas

5th July 2011, 11:36 PM

March 12, !993 Bombay

I had written about this movie some time back.

The film March 12, 1993 which marks the directorial debut of script writer Babu Janarthanan is ready to go on floors. Here Mam plays a priest by name Sadhananda Bhatt, a character hailing from Kasargode. He who is at Chennai takes up a job at Rajasthan and he travels through Mumbai and get caught in the communal frenzy. Two other people hailing from a different part of Kerala, having come to Mumbai for a job also gets caught in the melee. Three people who are in no way connected to the riots have their life torn apart by what’s happening around them. What happens after forms the crux of the story.

Saw this film. A screenplay which encapsules things happening from the POV of a community who feel that they have been wronged for all misdeeds for no fault of them. To be precise the story traces the lives of two men who get falsely implicated in two major bomb blasts just because they happen to be from that community.

Traveling back and forth in history [the story is set to happen in parts in 1992, 93, 98,2002 & 2007] the film travels from Alleppy to Bombay to Coimbatore to Pochampalli in the outskirts of Hyderabad and captures how one's life can go topsy turvy by just the turn of events. Even as one watches helplessly things unfolding at a frantic pace, you get to empathise with the protagonists.

A new comer Mukund Unni as the youth from Alleppy getting caught in the vertex of terror plot has done his job quite well and shows promise for the future. Mammoootty may not be the king pin of the movie but he carries his role with elan. He shows his mettle in the scene at the Police Station where he is grilled about his past and especially the shot when he is offered a cup of Tea and the way he with trembling hands and lips just sip it makes it poignant.

Debutant director Babu Janardhanan must be congratulated for choosing such a theme for his debut movie and choosing a less traveled path [not forgetting My name is Khan and other offbeat films like Black Friday etc] and kudos for the way the twists have been placed during Interval and climax. His dialogues are never preachy but bring out the pain sharply. One dialogue " Hindus have a country of their own - Nepal, Christians have Rome and Muslims have Saudi. But there is only one country in the world where Hindus, Christians and Muslims live together and that is our India" drew the loudest cheers.

The movie may not set the BO on fire but has been a good attempt and worth a watch.

Regards

ajaybaskar

11th July 2011, 11:49 AM

Traffic

Now I understand why Kamal was so impressed with the script. Highly recommended.

jinju

17th July 2011, 05:09 PM

Lalettan's look in Blessy's next is revealed....expectations soar:bow:! have a look, friends....

http://www.metromatinee.com/movies/index.php?FilmID=3368-Pranayam

kid-glove

17th July 2011, 05:34 PM

Yeah, looking forward to Jayapradha-Lal chemistry. Kher kuda irukkaaru pola..

jinju

25th July 2011, 02:50 PM

AnupamPkher Anupam Kher
"Life is more beautiful than dreams if you know how to live." Dialogue from Blessy's PRNAYAM. Shoot of a beautiful film comes to an end.

Expected to be an Onam release!!!

ajaybaskar

25th July 2011, 04:19 PM

Its Lal's 300th film as well..

jinju

25th July 2011, 04:24 PM

Its Lal's 300th film as well..

yep...both Ms goin thru troubled times with the raids now:-D

roosevelt92

25th July 2011, 05:38 PM

here you go :boo:

I don,t understand Malyalam, but I am interested to learn this language, but like to watch action movie in Hindi or English dub.

Balaji.r

26th July 2011, 09:17 PM

liked the violin bit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4g4wpsRzTc&feature=youtu.be

Pranayam trailer

jinju

28th July 2011, 05:06 PM

Saw the trailer of Blessy's Pranayam- 'Onnamtharam' , very good. Waiting 2 watch Mohanlal, Anupam Kher & Jayaprada blend their love!

http://twitter.com/#!/sri50

RATHEESHAJITH

14th August 2011, 05:18 PM

"Dosa undaakkiya katha" maathrame kaanaan aalollu....
baaki theatrelonum aalle illa.... waiting for lallettan's pranayam

ajaybaskar

24th September 2011, 03:33 PM

Adaminte Makan Abu is Indias Official Entry for Oscars

CHENNAI: Adaminte Makan Abu, directed by debutant filmmaker Salim Ahamed, has been chosen as India’s official entry to the 84th Academy Awards. The film -- a simple tale of a Muslim couple’s efforts to go on Hajj — was chosen from among 16 Indian films, including six Hindi and five Tamil films, by a 14-member jury of the Film Federation of India.

Making the announcement at a press briefing in the city on Friday, jury chairperson B Lenin said Adaminte Makan Abu scored over other films for being a simple story that clearly explains human values and the life of a person who fights against all odds. It also explains the protagonist’s regret for a mistake he commits and acceptance of living with it.

The film that won four National Awards, including the one for the Best Feature Film, was released in June and was not a box office hit, but a good one, said filmmaker and jury member Ravi Kottarakara.Calling the nature of nominations received this year as lukewarm, ad filmmaker and jury member Prahlad Kakkar observed that though regional films were sometimes found to be better than mainstream ones, some filmmakers seemed to think that their films would not stand up to the international level and did not nominate them.

The other films in the list were Guzaarish, No One Killed Jessica, 7 Khoon Maaf, Chillar Party, Dhobi Ghat and I am Kalam in Hindi, Deiva Thirumagal, Muran, Aadukalam, Ko and Endhiran in Tamil, Moner Manush in Bengali, Urumi in Malayalam, Alla Modalaindi in Telugu and Mala Aai Vhhaychy in Marathi. Of these, Urumi, No One Killed Jessica and Adaminte Makan Abu were in the final shortlist.

Writer A S Prakasham said certain nominated films lost out as they seemed to be inspired by Hollywood films.

Siv.S

27th September 2011, 05:36 PM

Bestactor.... good time pass...entertaining for mamooty's performance alone... the movie worked for me for the performance of the actors.. Lal,salim,venu everyone done well..

ajaybaskar

27th September 2011, 06:46 PM

Esp the scene in which Mammooty comes to join the group. Mammootty's reactions were :rotfl:

Siv.S

27th September 2011, 08:30 PM

Esp the scene in which Mammooty comes to join the group. Mammootty's reactions were :rotfl:
chance-ye illa.. infact that whole scene was taken beautifully... everyone rocked...

groucho070

24th October 2011, 08:15 AM

Rajavinte Makan.

So, this was the film that catapulted Lal-ettan into stardom eh. I can't remember Makkal En Pakkam, the remake of this movie, but I bet Sathyaraj would have savoured the climax with his long limbs. Very nice movie, with supposedly strong dialogues (my Malaysian Malayalam is corrupted), and you got to see the last scene where lal-Etta goes beserk with his err...what was once used to pass as machine gun.

groucho070

27th October 2011, 03:31 PM

Phantom
Very ordinary movie, made very special by Mammooty. Lovely performance as ex-stuntman from Hindi cinema to discover some anniyayam's in some quarry village. Very light-hearted Mammookka, especially very funny when he drunkenly mistakes the close-buddy priest to a bishop. Turns serious like after three quarter of the film. Good entertainer with additional bonus for us with Manivannan as the Tamil bad guy who speaks in his own voice with smatterings of Malayalam.

app_engine

18th November 2011, 01:52 AM

Rajavinte Makan.

My co-worker used to talk a lot about this movie (as a brilliant indianization of S Sheldon's Rage of Angels)...a couple of years back watched this on the net and one had to agree with that observation. It was a big hit during my initial Palakkadan days but missed watching on big screen...

app_engine

18th November 2011, 02:05 AM

Likewise, New Delhi was a brilliant indianization of I Wallace's Almighty...except for the hopeless BGM (great song composer Shyam but always paridhAbam on BGM)...

directhit

18th November 2011, 07:26 AM

Indian Rupee seems to be the last good film, anyone watched? Murali Sir?

Murali Srinivas

18th November 2011, 03:35 PM

ajaybaskar

18th November 2011, 04:14 PM

Watched Christian Brothers and August 15. Disappointed with both.

directhit

18th November 2011, 07:47 PM

No Anoop. Missed out. Was thinking of watching Sathyan's Sneha Veedu but heard that in spite of Lal, movie was so so and a was a rehash of old Sathyan characters. Waiting for Venicile Vyaapaari and hope it presents a consolation prize for Mammookka in 2011.

Regards heard good things abt Indian Rupee :) Venicile Vyaapari shud be fun being directed by Shafi.

Ajay - after Pranchiyettan the only watchable fare from Mammookka has been Best Actor (Bombay March 12 and Train being just ok for his standards) if possible try to watch Cocktail, malayalam movie...

Arvind Srinivasan

19th November 2011, 07:17 PM

Watched Christian Brothers and August 15. Disappointed with both.

Christian brothers according to me was a little intolerable...especially dileep...quite a disappointing movie...

Siv.S

20th November 2011, 04:09 PM

Adaminte makan abu :shock: :bow: Classic,marvelous performance by the lead pair.. Salim kumar and Zarina given life to the characters, Salim kumar :bow: next to him it is camerawork,some shots are divinely beautiful..the silent scenes are beautifully conveyed.. and BGM :thumbsup: :2thumbsup: to the director salim ahmed, cant believe that he is a debutant.... it is straightforward story teling,the location is awesome..

Sureshs65

29th November 2011, 05:12 PM

Not sure if this is the right thread to post. I wrote an article in Tamil on Adoor Gopalakrishnan's "Nizhalkuthu". Please read and let me know your feedback.

http://solvanam.com/?p=17800

ajaybaskar

29th November 2011, 05:24 PM

Chinatown

Christian Brothers and August 15 were way better. :banghead:

directhit

5th December 2011, 06:33 PM

Indian Rupee - a lovely movie yet again, not surprisingly, from Renjith :bow: :bow: long since I enjoyed a Malayalam movie so much (perhaps after Pranchiyettan).

Thilagan was excellent in his role with Prithvi giving great support. It is by choosing excellent movies like these he has pushed Dileep to the background. Unfortunately that has resulted in cat calls during his movies and a tarnished name in cyberspace...

Renjith takes the Real estate situation in India as the background and keeps us guessing till the last minute ... not even one predictable scene and the tongue in cheek climax takes the cake :)

Highly recommended :D

Arvind Srinivasan

5th December 2011, 07:08 PM

Unfortunately that has resulted in cat calls during his movies and a tarnished name in cyberspace...

Appidi ennaga prachana fanskku avaru mela....read in an article that he was being targeted

ajaybaskar

5th December 2011, 07:11 PM

DH,

Watched Best Actor and enjoyed it a lot. Cocktail is the indian version of 'Butterfly on a wheel'nu Jinju sonnaar. So I let go the movie.

raagadevan

5th December 2011, 09:01 PM

Not sure if this is the right thread to post. I wrote an article in Tamil on Adoor Gopalakrishnan's "Nizhalkuthu". Please read and let me know your feedback.

http://solvanam.com/?p=17800

Suresh:

Just finished reading your review of NIZHALKUTHU. You have done an excellent job bringing out the subtle intricacies of the movie in particular, and Adoor's style of narrating a story in general. He makes great movies, admired all over the world, but not very successful commercially at the Indian box office!

By the way, Adoor got some bad press in 2003 for reportedly criticizing the National Awards Committee for giving the best actor award to Ajay Devgan (The Legend of Bhagat Singh) instead of Oduvil Unnikrishnan who was also nominated for Nizalkuthu.

directhit

6th December 2011, 07:27 AM

DH,

Watched Best Actor and enjoyed it a lot. Cocktail is the indian version of 'Butterfly on a wheel'nu Jinju sonnaar. So I let go the movie. Best Actor was ok for me with the kind of expecatations i've from Mammookka.. :) yes cocktail is inspired - i hadnt seen the original though and it had Samvrutha :noteeth:

directhit

6th December 2011, 07:47 AM

Appidi ennaga prachana fanskku avaru mela....read in an article that he was being targeted has a bit of background to it, Prithvi's dad Sukumaran is also a no nonsense guy who believes in speaking out what he believed in. Prithvi is also like that to an extent. With no one yet to replace the 2Ms in malayalam Prithvi had a great start to his career with Nandanam, Akale etc...

now in certain interviews he gave for the media, for certain questions on 2M's his answers were quite honest and daring! He answered that they should stick to their age and act in specific roles, and that it is an insult to their talent to be dancing around with girls half their age etc etc.. Most of what he said is true and is in everyone's mind but no one speaks out, he did!

Also after 2Ms in malayalam, there is only Dileep (there was Suresh Gopi some years back, he has fizzled out already). With Prithvi's arrival, its him who is in danger and looks like he has gone all out in hiring people for cat calls in theatre and in spreading sms whenever his movies release etc (there is also a rumour it cud be Mohanlal behind, but it wudnt be him since he doesnt have much to lose from Prithvi). Also adding onto the fuel are the fans of 2Ms who are obviously irked by such remarks.. all in all a bad time to be Prithvi :-P

Arvind Srinivasan

8th December 2011, 01:08 AM

has a bit of background to it, Prithvi's dad Sukumaran is also a no nonsense guy who believes in speaking out what he believed in. Prithvi is also like that to an extent. With no one yet to replace the 2Ms in malayalam Prithvi had a great start to his career with Nandanam, Akale etc...

now in certain interviews he gave for the media, for certain questions on 2M's his answers were quite honest and daring! He answered that they should stick to their age and act in specific roles, and that it is an insult to their talent to be dancing around with girls half their age etc etc.. Most of what he said is true and is in everyone's mind but no one speaks out, he did!

Also after 2Ms in malayalam, there is only Dileep (there was Suresh Gopi some years back, he has fizzled out already). With Prithvi's arrival, its him who is in danger and looks like he has gone all out in hiring people for cat calls in theatre and in spreading sms whenever his movies release etc (there is also a rumour it cud be Mohanlal behind, but it wudnt be him since he doesnt have much to lose from Prithvi). Also adding onto the fuel are the fans of 2Ms who are obviously irked by such remarks.. all in all a bad time to be Prithvi :-P

Thanks for that...Prithvi seems to have struck gold with 'Indian rupee' though....with what i've heard so far, it seems to be quite good.....waiting for the official dvd release.....

wizzy

8th December 2011, 12:57 PM

has a bit of background to it, Prithvi's dad Sukumaran is also a no nonsense guy who believes in speaking out what he believed in. Prithvi is also like that to an extent. With no one yet to replace the 2Ms in malayalam Prithvi had a great start to his career with Nandanam, Akale etc...

now in certain interviews he gave for the media, for certain questions on 2M's his answers were quite honest and daring! He answered that they should stick to their age and act in specific roles, and that it is an insult to their talent to be dancing around with girls half their age etc etc.. Most of what he said is true and is in everyone's mind but no one speaks out, he did!

Also after 2Ms in malayalam, there is only Dileep (there was Suresh Gopi some years back, he has fizzled out already). With Prithvi's arrival, its him who is in danger and looks like he has gone all out in hiring people for cat calls in theatre and in spreading sms whenever his movies release etc (there is also a rumour it cud be Mohanlal behind, but it wudnt be him since he doesnt have much to lose from Prithvi). Also adding onto the fuel are the fans of 2Ms who are obviously irked by such remarks.. all in all a bad time to be Prithvi :-P

Prithivirajappan videos have massive following in youtube...he tries really hard though :-D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tAeSwIN04U

directhit

8th December 2011, 02:44 PM

i like his interviews :D no nonsense answers.. there was an interview during onam i guess which was super.. wud post links later. he also praised Rajini a lot in that..

directhit

25th December 2011, 05:58 PM

Marykkundoru Kunjaadu - nothing great to write about. Expected atleast 4-5 scenes to laugh out loud with Dileep in the movie.. disappointed. Maybe I should go and rewatch Vettam for the laughs! Only thing good in the movie was the Salim character and the important scene for him... with that seen I started watching Adam inte Magan Abu :-P

Halfway through Adam inte Magan Abu - a bit slow, still very engrossing so far...

Plum

25th December 2011, 09:24 PM

ChinaTown on Asianet. Utter, Unadulterated, Tasteless, Stale Tripe. So bad that I regretted not watching Villu on Kalaignar TV instead.(Bleddy didn't realise Surya was showing Salt 'n Pepper in parallel :banghead: )

Murali Srinivas

10th January 2012, 12:08 AM

Venicile Vyaapaari

Compared to the last 6-7 years, Mammootty had a very lean patch in 2011 and this movie released at the fag end of the year though is not able to plug back all those holes, still manages to sustain interest.

The reviews from Kerala were not encouraging though they said that the second half was a let down and so I had nil expectations. But as it happens the second half is ok, though it could have been handled better.

The film is set in 1980 [though there is no compelling reason for it to be so] but the director has not bothered to be very true to that backdrop. Though the opening scenes gives a hint that it is going to be crime investigation, after the first 20 mins it is put on the back burner only to be brought back in the last 20 mins. Not that it makes any difference. The story happens in Alapuzha [known as Venice of the east] for the title justification.

The protagonist's role has grey shades and the screenplay neatly deficits how the lure of big money makes one manipulative in his actions making use of everyone as a tool for achieving his goals. For Mammootty he would have sleep walked this role at any given point of time and he does it here also. Kavya Madhavan despite being plumb manages to hold interest. JAgathy, Suraj and Salim Kumar do evoke laughter at few places.

James Albert the man behind Classmates, Cycle and Ividam Swargamaanu had written the script and only if the second half had been made crispier, director Shafi would have hit a hat trick with Mammootty [Mayavi and Chattambi Nadu being the other two].

Regards

10th January 2012, 09:53 AM

City of God

One of the better malayalam movies I watched last year. It's not a typical indian movie. It's raw and follows a non-liner hyperlink cinema style. I won't spoil you with the plot details but you need to watch the movie closely so as not to miss the story telling. Not that it's a great movie. There are some typical cliched characters & scenes but I think can watch it for the presentation.

raagadevan

11th January 2012, 09:21 PM

City of God

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvZakk0DFDc&feature=related

directhit

23rd January 2012, 08:36 PM

The Train

Not sure whether any Hindi Films had shown the Mumbai local stations so extensively. The camera simply travels with the train to and fro. One thing that needs to be said is the novelty factor. The way the story is told, I don't think that any Indian film's screenplay would have been narrated in this manner though not aware about this technique having been used in Hollywood films. Don't want to spill the beans on what exactly I mean, since people like Ajay/Anoop might want to catch the movie. But I am equally sure that 8 out of 10 people who watched the movie would not have even noticed that.

Sad that such an attempt is not getting the appreciation due. Only if Jayaraj had been little more enterprising --- Murali Sir, watched this last week - cud hv been much better, but with the kinda movies Mammookka has been signing off late, i'd take this even with his extended guest kinda role. And he is above 60 yrs :bow:

hv to watch Venicile - but bad print online. Got Beautiful movie - read good reviews about it, next in line ...

Murali Srinivas

4th February 2012, 11:12 PM

Anoop,

I have not seen Beautiful. Heard about it but due to the tensions that were there during December, not sure whether this came to Chennai because last 2,3 weeks a spate of releases have hit Chennai like Casanova, Spanish Masala, Marubhoomi Kadha etc. Couldn't watch anything. Heard that Casanova being touted as the costliest production ever in Malayalam is so so. Was there just for a week here in Chennai and was removed. Goes to show that what I heard may be true.

Meanwhile, Ikka's son Dulquar made his debut sans any fanfare yesterday. Titled Second Show, this low budget movie was directed by a debutant Srinath Rajendran. He never got advertised as Ikka's son. The story is not a great one but treatment is what it makes it different, goes the reports. The movie which opened with 60% audience yesterday morning and matinee had got a great WOM by evening, that it seems that crowds were thronging the theatres all over Kerala for yesterday evening and night shows. Reports say that he has got 60% of that magnetic voice of his father, which should stand him in good stead.

Sify' review

‘The King’ has ruled the screen for quite a while and now, it’s the time for the prince to get some attention! Mega Star Mammootty’s son Dulquer Salmaan makes his entry into Malayalam cinema in an emphatic way, with his maiden movie, Second Show, directed by debutant Srinath Rajendran. Yes, the movie is far from perfect, which is perhaps is somewhat expected with almost the entire cast ‘n’ crew comprising of new faces. But it is Dulquer’s amazing screen presence and a matured acting style that makes the movie an engaging watch.

Harilal aka Lalu (Dulquer Salmaan) is narrating his story to a stranger, while waiting for the bus on a rainy night. He has been some kind of a reckless youth all along, who will risk his life for his friends and they all don’t take life with any kind of seriousness. In the pursuit of some quick bucks they are ready to do anything and tread with danger.
They live in some rural town and his friends have such strange names as Kurudi, Vikatan, Neerali and so on. Gouthami Nair plays Lalu’s ‘murappennu’ in an interesting romantic track. Rohini, Baburaj, Kunjan and Bollywood actor Sudesh Berry include the experienced line up.

Though the film has a rather shaky start especially in the first half, director Srinath Rajendran and scenarist Vini Viswalal have managed to get things on track in the second half. The sincerity with which the film has been made is evident all along and the eagerness to experiment needs to be appreciated.

The lack of experience is evident at times but then, why don’t the seasoned directors in Malayalam never dare to come up with something different from the usual formulaic stuff? Malayalam cinema is highly in need of new experiments and this film, which at times reminds of the pattern followed by some of the Latin American movies, could be seen as a step in that direction.

Pappu’s visuals get a bit messy at times, as the makers try to make things perhaps too realistic. The music by Nikhil Rajan and Avial Band suits the mood. The background score by Rex Vijayan adds to the effect.

As the end titles start rolling, we realize that the film belongs to Dulquer, who has done his role with the kind of maturity that is rarely seen these days among the young actors. He’s got that indescribable star quality to him which is so rare to find and what's more is that he can act.

The rest of the fresh faces in the cast fumbles at times, but has done a highly impressive job in general. Watch out for a really nice performance from Baburaj, who can bring a smile during the brief period when he is there on screen.
The film could have been better, no two ways about it. But the team needs to get a pat on their back for their willingness to try something new. Ultimately, it's an above average film, at best time-pass viewing. Watch it with no expectations and if you’re ready to think unconventional, this film could be a nice option.

Verdict: Above Average

Regards

Arvind Srinivasan

15th February 2012, 09:03 PM

Indian rupee- very good....Thilakan was just out of the world....As for prithviraj- at last a movie he could be proud of after a long time.....the pre climax scene with jagathy was the best scene according to me....

directhit

16th February 2012, 10:53 AM

thx Murali Sir - yes heard good things abt his son.. yet to watch any Malayalam movies - busy with 24 - Season 4 :)

Indian rupee- very good....Thilakan was just out of the world....As for prithviraj- at last a movie he could be proud of after a long time.....the pre climax scene with jagathy was the best scene according to me.... Vargam, Vaasthavam, Akale, Classmates, Thalapaavu, City of God, and Indian Rupee - a lot of quite good movies in his short span so far. Indian Rupee is perhaps his best one, thx largely to Ranjith - hv u seen Pranjiyettan? - another wonderful movie from Ranjith

Shakthiprabha

16th February 2012, 10:57 AM

varthamanakalam

urvashi as arunthathi menon. Good.

Arvind Srinivasan

17th February 2012, 12:51 AM

thx Murali Sir - yes heard good things abt his son.. yet to watch any Malayalam movies - busy with 24 - Season 4 :)

Vargam, Vaasthavam, Akale, Classmates, Thalapaavu, City of God, and Indian Rupee - a lot of quite good movies in his short span so far. Indian Rupee is perhaps his best one, thx largely to Ranjith - hv u seen Pranjiyettan? - another wonderful movie from Ranjith

Yes i've seen pranchiyettan and the saint and i enjoyed it...Ranjith really is a man with the midas touch.....as for prithviraj guess the mindless masala flicks he did in between like puthiya mukham , pokiri raja and tejabai really brought down his value....i had the misfortune of watching all the above mentioned movies...but indian rupee made it up.....along with this, vaasthavam, classmates and thalapaavu are right at the top of the list....excellent movies all of them.....

Arvind Srinivasan

17th February 2012, 12:53 AM

Btw how good is loud speaker......never had the time to watch it.....I might buy the dvd if it is good enough....

directhit

17th February 2012, 07:06 AM

Btw how good is loud speaker......never had the time to watch it.....I might buy the dvd if it is good enough.... Loud Speaker - more of a Mammookka/Jayaraj movie more than anything else.. he appears quite late into the film and since its more of an art film cud test your patience till then if its not ur cup of tea. His characterization is quite funny and once he comes in, the movie is very enjoyable (lol i am biased!). Though cliched, I liked the ending a lot... not as good as Jayaraj/mammokka's best, but a recommended watch :D

Murali Srinivas

17th February 2012, 01:45 PM

Arvind,

That LS is a good film is what I also read and heard, though I had not seen it.[One movie of Mammookka that I missed out in the last decade or so].The hairstyle of Mammootty itself would be different and he plays a villager from the high range districts. Not sure whether you are aware of the life style of people in places like Idukki, Kattapanna, Kothamangalam, Thodupuzha that are situated in the mountains that are in and around Kottayam, the central Travancore area, which has a predominantly Christian Majority population and representing one such character [the character name is Philiphose but called as Mike in the movie because of his loud voice] is Mammootty. I heard that Sasikumar the MD of Asianet was specially roped in to play another important role [on the specific recommendation of Mammootty] and he also did a fairly good job it seems!

Don't want to spoil your fun! Watch it and share it here!

Regards