‘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!

‘Sapthamashree Tashkaraha’ a heist film that keeps you chuckling

Anil Radhakrishnan is back with a heist story in ‘Sapthamashree Tashkaraha.’
What begins as a confession by a petty thief Martin soon takes viewers to a prison where seven jail inmates bond together over a plan to rob rich bad man Pious Mathew (Joy Mathew). This scheming businessman has amassed wealth at the expense of others. One of the affected is Nobel (Nedumudi Venu) a former financier, now reduced to penury. Nobel has an axe to grind and he puts forth the idea to rob Pious. Krishnan Unni, also a victim of Pious’ mean ways joins hands. For the other five inmates, the promise of money lures them into this project.
So, when they are released from prison, they get into action with their plan.
Shuttling between the confession box at the church where the interactions between Martin and the priest are laced with humour and then to the jail confines, Radhakrishnan, gradually lets his characters grow upon the viewers. He has lovingly carved each one of them in great detail and they are hard to leave your minds. Be it Narayana kutty, (Neeraj Madhav) the mechanic with a brilliant mind or Shabab, the tough guy, (a cool looking Asif Ali) whom everyone fears, the characters are distinct from one another.
While this is not a racy thriller, it’s the presentation of the story that gets you hooked. The script written by Radhakrishnan is the hero and the dialogues keep you chuckling.
Justifying Radhakrishnan’s casting are the actors who have slipped on their character’s garb with great ease. Veteran actor, Nedumudi Venu is so perfect. Prithviraj as Krishan Unni is seen in a subtle role, sans his macho image. I won’t blame you if you wished for a priest like the one in the story portrayed well by  Lijo Jose Pellisery. Confession would be much easier! Joy Mathews as the bad guy fits in well. Dubai’s Renu Mathews does justice to her role as Krishnan Unni’s wife and so does Sanusha as Noble’s daughter, who becomes an accomplice in the mission to rob Pious. Mongolian circus artiste Flower Battsetseg surprises you with her antics. The comedy here is clean and although it does get to toilet humour towards the climax, it does not stink. You can’t just help laughing. The Puli Kali scene was hilarious.

But it’s the director who has the last laugh. Radhakrishnan has attempted a different genre from his earlier film, ’24 North Kaatham,’ and once again he scores with the audience.
Just don’t miss this clean entertainer. Go for ‘Sapthamasree Tashkaraha.’