‘Kathakali,’  a whodunit thriller that keeps you guessing

 

Amudhan (Vishal) returns from the US to hometown Cuddalore for his marriage.
With three days away for the wedding, Amudhan is busy shopping with his lover Minu Kutty (Catherine Tresa) in Chennai, when his elder brother calls to inform him that Thamba, (Madhusudhan Rao) the much dreaded Cuddalore gangster has been killed. For the brothers, Thamba’s death is a news to rejoice since Thamba had wrecked the elder brother’s sea-shell business in the past and also reduced their father to a cripple.
Much relieved Amudhan immediately informs his close buddy working under Thamba to take care since his life could also be in peril. But that one call proves costly for Amudhan, who is suspected of having killed Thamba. The police are on his heels and Malayalam actor Sreejit Ravi playing a tough cop is bent on arresting Amudhan. He forces Amudhan to report at Cuddalore police station, where Thamba’s goons are waiting to kill him.

How is Amudhan going to prove his innocence?
Pandiraj’s screenplay is gripping. From the moment, he introduces us to Thamba, he lets us know other characters who could have a motive in his murder later. There is the MLA who lost in the elections to Thamba; the tycoon, who disapproved his daughter’s marriage to one of Thamba’s goons, yet Thamba had
conducted it.
The first half entertains with Karunas, (as Amudhan’s room-mate) providing the chuckles. There is romance and duets too as Amudhan and Minu Kutty (Catherine Tresa) find love.
With a racy second half, the director known for his soft romantic and children stories proves that he can deliver a good action film too.
Catherine Tresa’s Minu Kutty is cute and endearing.  But, it’s a Vishal show all the way. The actor has delivered a brilliant performance shifting between a wide gamut of emotions. Mime Gopi who played a ruthless rogue in ‘Gethu’ plays a diametrically opposite character here. As Amudhan’s timid and responsible elder brother, he plays it well.
‘Kathakali’ keeps you guessing till the end without revealing the face behind the mask.  It’s a good watch. 

Attachments 

Udhayanidhi experiments with an action film in ‘Gethu’

When Thulasi Raman (Sathyaraj), a PT teacher working in a girls’ school lodges a complaint with the police about the extended activities of the bar adjacent to his school, he endangers not only life but of his family. The bar is owned by two brothers who are goons dominating the neighbourhood and they try intimidating Thulasi Raman into withdrawing the complaint. But Thulasi Raman does not give in.
Subsequently the school teacher gets implicated when the younger bar owner is found killed and Thulasi Raman’s ring is found at the scene of the crime. The deceased’s family members are now baying for Thulasi Raman’s blood.
This is Udhayanidhi’s first attempt at an action film. And, the actor shows an improvement in his performance. As Thulasi Raman’s son, Sethu, he embarks on a journey to prove his father’s innocence and find the culprit responsible for the bar owner’s death. Running parallel to this main thread is another story of a sniper, (Vikranth) who is entrusted with the assassination of a VIP. Who is the VIP? And what is the motive behind the assignment?
This thriller is good in parts. Vikranth barely talks but conveys through his eyes. Amy Jackson is a pretty arm candy opposite Udhaynidhi.
What adds strength to this action story is the remarkable camera work by Sukumar. Visuals are stunning.
Directed by Thirukumaran, ‘Gethu’ is an entertainer that can be watched once.  

‘Anarkali’ is another love tale

Boy meets girl and its love at first sight for Shantanu, (Prithviraj), a naval officer and Nadira Imam (Priyal Gor). Their eyes lock together at a naval officers get-together where she sings a qawali.
From mere glances their relationship grows into meetings until Nadira’s father, Rear Admiral, Jaffer Imam’s catches them kissing.
Like every other love story, especially one that dares to cross boundaries of religion Shantanu and Nadira face opposition. Jaffer Imam, known for his disciplinarian ways is now bent on separating the two, even if it meant kicking Shantanu out of service on account of misconduct with his 15-year-old daughter.
Nadira vows that she will only marry Shantanu with her father’s consent. And, until then she would not meet him at all.
‘Anarkali’ is scenarist Sachy’s maiden directorial venture. There is nothing new in this love story. And, coming closely on the heels of another love story, ‘Ennum Ninte Moideen,’ where religion came in the way of two loving hearts, comparisons are inevitable.
‘Ennum Ninte Moideen,’ scored with a powerful and intense story. You felt the pain of the lovers. That is missing in ‘Anarkali.’ Despite Prithviraj’s good performance and Priyal Gor’s cute looks, the emotions between the two lovers don’t move you. Veteran actor Kabir Bedi disappoints with his wooden expressions.
What props up this love story from sagging is the presence of other characters like Dr. Sherin George (Mia George), Koya, (played by Suresh Krishna) Naseeb Imam, (Nadira’s brother played by Sudev Nair,) and Zachariah, (Shantanu’s close buddy played by Biju Menon).
And of course the exotic visuals of Lakshadweep shot by cinematographer Sujith Vassudev.
‘Anarkali’ is good in parts and a treat for Prithviraj fans. With doses of humour and action, ‘Anarkali’ is another romantic tale.  

‘Amar Akbar Anthony’ a film that does not take itself seriously

 With a title like this, Nadir Shah’s first film is bound to grab attention. Opening with a word of caution about employing north Indian migrant workers in Kerala, it promises tall. Soon the story shifts to introduce us to three friends, Amar (Prithviraj), Akbar (Jayasurya) and Anthony (Indrajit).  

The trio have set dreams on visiting Pattaya and experiencing the much advertised night-life there. But every time, a family commitment brings their dreams to the ground.  Like many youngsters, their lives are no different. Besides work, they find fun in booze and trying to impress Jeni, (Namitha Pramod), an upcoming artiste. Namitha is just a pretty picture, her character is mere eye candy. 
The first half is supposed to provide humour but the comedy scenes barely tickle you. You don’t even understand where it is headed towards. Clearly not Pattaya!
The second half turns serious and so do our three friends. A social message makes you sit up towards the end. There was enough scope to make it a better story but the narration is a big let down. Neither did the presence of a multi-star cast save it.
Like the characters of the story, don’t take ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’ seriously. 

‘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.

 ‘Vedalam’ with it’s larger than life character of the star clearly woos Ajith’s fans

If you can leave your brains behind, maybe you could sit through this masala entertainer that lacks logic

Ganesh (Ajith) and his sister Tamizh (Lakshmi Menon) arrive in Kolkata where Tamizh enrolls for a course in a college of design. As expected she is a talented girl and the brother-sister share a great bond. Ganesh also takes up work as a taxi driver. And he is the sweet guy with a charming smile, until he turns informer for the police who are trying to nab a much dreaded criminal and his gang.
When Ganesh is caught by the gang from a timid man praying for his life, he transforms himself into a ruthless killer, who kills the two brothers of the gang leader Rahul.
So who is actually Ganesh? The story unravels as Ganesh shares his past with Shwetha, (Shruthi Haasan) and whose brother is engaged to Tamizh.
The script is weak, there is no logic as to why the story begins in Italy where an upright police officer is killed by Rahul.
Shruthi Haasan plays a lawyer who has never won a case and with two juniors under her. Shruthi looks gorgeous and hot but she needs to work on her expressions. Her character is poorly sketched. Soori is supposed to tickle the funny bones with his wisecracks but all his jokes fall flat. What is funny about saying ‘Awesome’ as ‘Aweshome’ or ‘public’ as ‘bublic.’
The police become the butt of ridicule as Ganesh is paid by two constables to beat up a crowd of goons who have entered the police station. How believable is  this?

Even his scenes with Shruthi Haasan where they plot against Ganesh are annoying instead of evoking chuckles. Well if you are an Ajith fan, rest assured this film is just for you. With song sequences at the drop of a hat, as Ajith shakes his legs and action scenes where his one man army does everything to bring the villains down. And of course he emerges unscathed.
Lakshmi Menon’s role was definitely drawn better as Ganesh’s sister who brings a change in heart of a rowdy.
Director Siva seems to have added every masala that came to his mind. While the song, 'Adama.....' is one song that lingers for a while, the background score is so jarring that very often the dialogues get lost in its music.
This one is not meant for the family with killings running wild and enough gore.

‘Naanum Rowdy Dhaan’ is hilarious and fun

Nayanthara completely busts her glamorous image, as the vulnerable and hearing impaired Kadambari and matches pace with the versatile Vijay Sethupathi

With a title like ‘Naanum Rowdy Dhaan,’ (I am a Rowdy too), you would expect a story of a tough goon and gore to put you off, but director Vignesh Sivan surprises you in his second film.  There is plenty to laugh aloud in this black comedy.
Pandi, (Vijay Sethupathi) contrary to the wishes of his mother, (Radhika Sarath Kumar as a sub-inspector) aspires to become a rowdy. But this mama’s boy lacks guts and toeing in line with her wishes, he appears for the police services examinations.
His life gets a new meaning and probably his deep seated desire of becoming a ‘rowdy’ might be realized when Kadamabari, (Nayanthara)  a hearing impaired young woman enters his life. Pandi falls in love with her and little does he know what’s coming when he bends down to kiss Kadambari. Kadambari tells him that the way to her heart is by killing a thug, Killivallavan, (Parthiban) who had killed her parents. Sethupathi is back in form once again. The versatile actor fits into his role like a glove. Complementing him is Nayanthara with her brilliant performance. Dubbing in her own voice, the glamorous actress plays Kadambari, the vulnerable little girl who holds onto her painful past, most beautifully, without going overboard.
What keeps the story alive and fresh is Sivan’s treatment and dialogues, you just can’t predict what’s next.  Hilarious moments keep you chuckling. Radhika Sarath Kumar is perfect as a cop and I loved the scenes where she asks her colleague to manipulate results to get her a son a place in the police force.