‘Unda’ brings back the Mammootty we adore

By Mythily Ramachandran

What is the fate of a contingent of Kerala policemen who have been deployed to Chattisgarh (Madhya Pradesh)-a Maoist dominated area- to assist the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) during election time?

Director Khalid Rahman who won hearts on debut with ‘Anuraga Karikkin Vellam’ returns with his sophomore film, ‘Unda,’ (Bullet). Loaded with good humour ‘Unda’ fires a couple of shots at the Indian political system and its police department while entertaining with its slice of life moments.

Mammootty has played several policeman roles, but his Sub-Inspector Manikandan in ‘Unda’ is an antithesis to all the earlier characters. Mani, the leader of the unit is more real. Neither is he burdened with a larger than life image. Don’t miss Mammootty’s introduction scene-there is no loud music though!

 If Mani and his group of policemen had set out on this assignment with pride and the feel of a picnic outing, they confront a different  ground reality at Chattisgarh.  They soon realize how ill-equipped they were-bullets that can be counted and poor safety gear-to tackle a Maoist ambush. From their polling booth located in the wilderness with underground mines hidden, ensuring a fair election was no easy task. Despite being in the police force, many of them had never handled a rifle or even fired one. Mani who gives instructions to his subordinates on how to shoot, confesses that he has never tracked a thief or caught a murderer.

Mani sends word to his office in Kerala for reinforcement of bullets.  Will the ‘unda’ arrive in time before the elections? That is the big question.

There are no romantic moments in ‘Unda,’ yet many moments touch you while it explores personal stories through some characters. Jojo (Shine Tom Chacko) is a domineering team leader, whose wife has filed for a divorce; Girish (Arjun Ashokan) is missing his wedding preparations being planned back home; Biju (Lukman) a first generation policeman from a tribal background is the butt of jokes. We also learn a bit about Mani’s family-his wife played by Tamil actress, Easwari Rao in a cameo.

‘Unda’ brings back the Mammootty we have always admired. It’s sheer delight watching the veteran in full form. Mani’s concern for his juniors; his sympathy for the villager Kunalchand, (Omkar Das Manipuri of ‘Peepli Live); his apology to his subordinates for not rising to the occasion during the Maoist attack one night, make Mani endearing. 

Another pleasure was watching director Ranjith in a brief role. With his spontaneous performance he leaves a mark. ‘Unda’ is complemented by a talented cast-Shine Tom Chacko, Lukman, Bhagwan Tiwari-as Kapil Dev-an ITBP and Chien Ho Liao, the ITBP officer.

Prashanth Pillai’s lilting music blends well with the raw environment of Madhya Pradesh.

During the salvo of shots that Mani and team fire to safeguard their booth, ‘Unda’ raises the question- ‘Who is the real enemy to a fair election?

‘Pathemari’ will strike a chord with Gulf Malayalis

Pallikal Narayanan’s role reminds us of the Mamootty we have always admired

With director Salim Ahamad, you can expect a good story that will be told sincerely.
Be it his maiden venture, ‘Adaminte Makan Abu,’ the national award winner or his second, ‘Kunjananthande Kada,’ Ahamad’s protagonists is the common man with small dreams. 
‘Pathemari,’ his third film and with Mammootty in the lead again touches you with its simple tale told without frills.
It is set in the seventies and early eighties of the boom time in UAE, when Malayalis migrated here  for a better life. Travelling in dhows (pathemari) without proper documents and saddled with an uncertainty about reaching the shores alive, the Malayali found strength in his dreams.
‘Pathemari’ holds a mirror to the saga of many Malayalis of this era.
Pallikal Narayanan (Mammootty) and close buddy Moideen (Srinivasan) board a dhow helmed by Velayudhan (Siddique), who deals in this business. Despite a journey marked with hardships and uncertainty, Narayanan and Moideen reach Khor Fakkam island and sneak into the mainland. In no time they find employment and their families live comfortably.  
But what about Narayanan’s dreams of building his own house in his native town and settling there someday with his family?
Striking a chord with many expatriates in UAE, ‘Pathemari,’ could remind them of their parents or an uncle working in the middle-east and returning home with a huge box of gifts. The first half of the story is slow, very much like the pathemari but picks up speed in the second half.
Lots of moments in Narayanan’s life tug at your heart. One scene is where Narayanan makes a phone call to India on the day of his niece’s wedding and waits eagerly to hear all news, but the busy family members cut short the conversation. Another time, when he calls home, his two grown up sons, not keen on talking to him, tell their mother to inform him that they were sleeping.
Yet, Narayanan holds no bitterness, in fact given another life, he says he would do the same things again. Raising a toast to his life, Salim salutes the magnanimity of the average Malayali lives frugally so that his family is comfortable back in India.
Narayanan’s shoes fit Mammootty perfectly and the veteran with a subdued performance brings an endearing Narayanan to life onscreen. This is the Mammootty we fell in love with in the eighties. Supporting him is Srinivasan as Moideen. Siddique’s role though brief is memorable. A mature performance is noted in Jewel Mary, as Narayanan’s wife, who goes through different stages of his life. Tamil actress Viji Chandrsekhar makes an impressive debut as Mammootty’s mother.   Complementing Salim Ahamad’s story is the brilliant visuals of Madhu Ambat.
‘Pathemari’ is an emotional family drama that bares the harsh realities of life.

‘Rajadhi Raja’ a mass entertainer for Mammootty fans

Shekharan Kutty (Mammootty) runs a restaurant adjacent to the petrol bunk he owns, the kind you see on the highways in India. With a pretty wife Radha (Lakshmi Rai) and a school going daughter, Kutty is a happy man.
When Radha’s cousin, Swami Ayyappan (Jojo) visits them, we get to see what a contrast he is to the meek and timid Shekharan Kutty, who shies away from any fight and prefers to mind his own business.
One day, Shekharan Kutty is taken into custody by the police who mistake him to be Raja, a notorious don of Mumbai. Kutty is released only after a sound thrashing by the cops.
Back home, life looks good once again for Kutty. But then Ayyappan’s attitude of throwing his weight around lands him in trouble with a bunch of goons from Mumbai.
With them baying for his blood, Ayappan seeks refuge in Kutty’s house. Kutty’s family is threatened and that’s when viewers get to see the real face of Kutty. With Kutty’s past catching up with him, the question in their minds now is ‘who is Raja?’
Ajay Vasudevan’s debut film entertains Mammootty fans who will whistle in glee as their idol goes about bashing goons. Not to forget the comic moments.
The story is not new and you wouldn’t call it one of Mammootty’s great films. Lakshmi Rai in a homely wife’s role is pleasant surprise. Bollywood actor Mukesh Khanna plays Raja’s close buddy while Raza Murad is seen as a head of a notorious gang that is into drug trafficking and terrorist activities. Joy Mathews play the bad guy again. Siddique comes in a dignified role as a DGP while Lena, his onscreen wife is an IAS Officer.
A predictable fare!

‘Gangster’ barely leaves an impact

By Mythily Ramachandran

You kind of know what to expect from a title like this. As far as gore and bullets are concerned they rain in plenty, right from the word go. 
Mammooty plays Akbar Ali, the son of a don who slips into his father’s shoes with ease. 
As a little boy growing in Mumbai, where his father is the undisputed don, Akbar has seen power tussle and the consequences that follow, his father’s murder.
His life is saved thanks to an old faithful servant who rescues him out of Mumbai. Akbar grows into a man and returns to Mumbai to avenge his father’s death. He then settles in Mangalore to head an empire, calling the shots along with two other kingpins, Mani Menon (Kunchan) and Uncle Sam (John Paul). Nothing moves in Mangalapuram without the joint consent of this trio.
Trouble arrives in the form of Anto, Uncle Sam’s nephew, an ambitious young man returned from the US and harbouring dreams of making big money and that too at jet speed. He runs a pharmaceutical company and wants to venture into shipping medicines to India, particularly those that have been rejected abroad.
When he approaches Akbar with this proposal, it is rejected. But Anto is keen on seeing his plans work and the only way to execute that is to wipe off Akbar from the radar. So does Anto succeed in his plan?
‘Gangster’s is all about that.
Director Aashiq Abu relies on a plot that has been done to death several times, especially with a super star and his larger than life image forming the crux of the story. Obviously it couldn’t get more predictable right?  
Mammootty fans probably will love Akbar with his quiet demeanour and few words and of course the slow swagger. Dubai resident and RJ Nyla Usha plays Akbar’s wife, Sana and for the short while that she is around makes her presence felt. One person you will not forget even after you leave the hall is Anto.
Our first introduction to Anto is a towering obese figure under the shower and you can’t miss the tattoo ‘Obey’ on the back of his bald head.  Soon you learn of his sadistic games with women whom he buys for pleasure and you detest the creep.  Shekar Menon as Anto does it really well enough for viewers to hate the character. 
Well, the silver lining of this don tale is cinematographer Alby’s camera that treats you to some unusual frames. 

‘Deivathante Swantham Cleetus’ is just another entertainer

In a small village of Kerala, a priest, Father Sunny (Siddique) plans on a sound and light show depicting the life of Jesus Christ.
While searching for an actor to play the Lord, he comes across Cleetus (Mammootty) and is impressed with his calm demeanour and physical looks. He finds in Cleetus a striking resemblance to Christ. After much persuasion Cleetus agrees to play Jesus Christ.
Trouble starts during the rehearsals when the true colour of Cleetus is revealed. While the rest of the cast members are shocked to learn that Cleetus is a local criminal, Father Sunny believes in giving him a chance to reform. He hopes that in essaying the character of Christ, Cleetus might turn over a new leaf.
Does Cleetus live up to the image he essays on stage?
Marthandan, as associate director in the Malayalam industry for several years makes his directorial debut with this film.

Yes, with Mammootty in the central role of Cleetus, the story is predictable. And of course there is a villain who has a score to settle with Cleetus. Expect fist fights too.
Honey Rose, who is best remembered for her role in ‘Trivandrum Lodge,’ plays a character in total contrast to Dhwani, the divorcee. As Lakshmi, a single mother with a little boy, Rose portrays a demure yet a bold woman.
There is good humour to keep you chuckling. And I am not referring to Suraj Venjaramoodu’s comic antics that have become so repetitive but are supposed to make viewers laugh. Hilarious moments revolve around P. Balachandran playing an aging dramatist in this film, but who is keen on playing Jesus Christ, much to Father Sunny’s annoyance. Aju Verghese as Cleetus’ side kick impresses with his comedy too. Mammootty does not disappoint his fans either. Siddique is at his usual best.
The spectacular visuals captured by cinematographer Pradeep Nair are a treat for your eyes.   
‘Deivathinte Swantham Cleetus,’ entertains, nothing more.