Mayanadhi- This mystic river directed by Aashiq Abu carries a beautifully made romantic thriller

‘Mayaanadhi,’ written by scenarists duo Syam Pushkaran  and Dileesh Nair is directed by Aashiq Abu. Cradled inside this crime thriller is a romantic drama. Many love stories have been narrated. ‘Mayaanadhi’ is a compelling watch with its exquisite writing and top notch performances of all the actors, I repeat all. 

Mathan (Tovino Thomas) a driver for a gang that deals with counterfeit currency is on the run after he accidentally kills a policeman. Close at Mathan’s  heels are a team of three policemen from Tamil Nadu. He decides to escape to Dubai but before that he meets up with Appu, (Aishwarya Lexmi) the woman he loves immensely.

Mathan’s idea of a dream life is sharing it with his beloved Appu in a beautiful home and with pups for company. That’s our first introduction to him. We only hear him talking. Whetting our appetite further is his friend’s reply-‘You are always talking about the future.’ Mathan replies-‘Because I screwed my past and the present.’

There is no hurry in the story telling. Little by little we peek into their past while observing them in the present.
Mathan arrives in Kochi to meet Appu, an aspiring actress juggling between auditions for that big break and doing ad films on the side. Appu is at a roadside eatery waiting for her order. Hungry and irritated with his presence, Appu retorts with a tight slap on his face when he asks her-“Is there hope in our relationship?

Bringing in characters from the fringe of their lives, the canvas becomes an interesting watch. Appu’s widowed mother who still believes in their rich past reveals her snob attitude during a family wedding, when she pushes Appu into emceeing the event-insisting that she speak in English; the chechi (elder sister) who shares accommodation with Appu and always has something to lament over; Sameera, Appu’s friend, a glamorous star who passes on the gown she wore for an event to Appu; the counselor friend (Darshana Rajendran) helping Sameera deal with depression.

Every character is finely crafted and the actors with their spontaneous performance bring them alive onscreen and convincingly.

Mathan, an engineering college drop-out, he began making money as an admission broker and later joined a gang. Belying his tough exterior, Mathan is a little boy at heart who craves for Appu’s love. And when on the run, he seeks refuge under his old boss, who is not happy as he has turned over a new leaf.

Tovino Thomas is splendid. He infuses Mathan with a child like charm. Not one to lag behind, Aishwarya Lexmi matches him for every step. Their onscreen chemistry roars. The emotions are profound. Aishwarya Lexmi deftly conveys Appu’s insecurity and her confidence too with a finesse seldom seen in newcomers.

Tamil actors, Ilavarasu as the Tamil Nadu police officer is at his best. Harish, who has been mostly playing negative characters that are loud and dagger- happy is a junior police officer here. His subtle performance is commendable. Look out for Lijo Pellisery, Soubin Shahir and Basil Joseph in amusing cameos.  

Several moments stay with you. The scene with the three friends, Appu, Darshana and Sameera bonding over wine is one. Darshana’s rendering of ‘Bavra Mann’ (a song from Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi) is a beautiful poetry under the night sky.

Captain: Jayasurya carries this poignant tale of an unsung hero on his shoulders-a tribute to late V.P. Satyan

By Mythily Ramachandran              

‘Captain’ is the story of a man who loved football beyond himself- so intense was his love for the game, that unheeding his coach’s advice, V.P. Satyan of Kerala Police continued playing in a match despite an injured foot. And, dismissing the agony of his foot, Satyan brought glory to Kerala with the Santosh Trophy- a cup that had been eluding the state for the past nineteen years. Journalist turned director Prajesh Sen scores a goal on his maiden attempt.

‘Captain’ is told in a non-linear narration. Sen takes viewers back and forth  through Satyan’s life. Beginning with a match in 1999 in Kathmandu, where Satyan missed a penalty shot, Sen  brings us back to Pallavaram station in Chennai where Satyan met his end on the railway tracks. The outstanding football player who led India nine times became a depressed man when unable to play football-his first love as he claimed always to wife Anitha.
Satyan grew up in Kannur where he found his first love-he picked up a pair of discarded shoes to play football. An injury during his childhood days never healed, accompanying him through life. From a much  feared key player in the local clubs, Satyan’s rise in the football arena is laid out.  

‘Captain’ is also the story of Anitha, Satyan’s wife. She never wanted to marry a football player in the first place and disliked policemen too. After declining his proposal initially, Anitha finds love in Satyan and the devoted wife quits her engineering studies to support his passion for football.

Jayasurya throws himself completely into the role and in the gifted actor’s hands, Satyan is an ordinary man with his own weaknesses. Anu Sithara is pitch perfect, complementing Jayasurya’s performance. And you feel for the man who battled suicidal tendencies. More so for the widow and the daughter, who are left behind. Did football kill Satyan?

Mention must be made of the good performance by the supporting actors-Siddique as a crazy football lover and Satyan’s well-wisher; Renji Panicker as Satyan’s coach; Janardhanan as the Chief Minister whose encouragement went a long way for Satyan and Saiju Kurup as the arrogant senior police officer who humiliates Satyan.

 

Hey Jude-A feel good entertainer that talks about accepting people for who they are

‘Hey Jude’ is a Malayalam romantic tale that does not fit into the regular template of love stories. Directed by Shyamaprasad and based on script written by Nirmal Sahadev and George Kanatt, ‘Hey Jude’ carries a sensitive message on Asperger’s Syndrome.

Jude (Nivin Pauly), a young software professional loves crunching numbers and leaves his father speechless when he mentally multiplies two five digit numbers-faster than his father’s calculator.
His other love is studying fishes. Jude can spend hours observing them. Finicky about his diet-he loves really crisp dosas and will not eat beans; Jude follows his eating schedule with a military regimen. There are times when child like he stomps angrily into his room. At work his boss considers Jude an intelligent worker. Jude’s candid nature and honesty- traits not at all appreciated by his father, Dominique (Siddique)-is what makes him lovable.

Dominique manages an antique- goods store and has no scruples about telling his customers-“This is the only piece available in India. There might be another one in London museum,” when actually he has several more inside. 

Jude’s mother Maria (Neena Kurup) is a homemaker spending time in prayers. Jude’s younger sister, the street smart Andrea finds delight in making her brother the butt of jokes. 

Following the demise of his aunt, Dominique arrives in Goa with Maria and Jude. And, the miser, who counts every penny, cannot contain his joy on learning that his aunt has bequeathed her property to him and Jude.
However, his happiness is short-lived after he learns about the tenant living in the outhouse, - a retired psychiatrist Sebastian (Vijay Menon) and his daughter Crystal (Trisha). Dominique cannot evict them now since their rental lease expires only after two years. Dominique’s problem is compounded further when he sees that Jude is spending more  time at the Sebastian home and with Crystal. Get the drift.

The writing is fantastic. Every character is  distinctly carved with their own quirks. Crystal who runs a café on the beaches of Goa is an antithesis to Jude. A fun loving party-animal, this vocalist of a music band enjoys swimming while the socially -awkward Jude  is petrified of water.

The actors completely own their roles-Nivin Pauly in Jude’s shoes has gained weight. His nerdy appearance with glasses, shirt buttoned to the top and that perpetual anxious look on his face makes Jude real.
I loved Jude’s daily ritual of recording his diary into a video camera.
The scene between Jude and Crystal in an intimate moment is cute, with Jude running away when Crystal wants to kiss him. That was a class act by Pauly.

Trisha brings Crystal with an attitude that only she is capable of. If Siddique was the understanding father in ‘Aadhi’ his Dominique is a contrast to Aadhi’s father. Vijay Menon’s Sebastian is a nice surprise. Neat humour is woven into the story especially scenes involving Dominique and his one -upmanship with Sebastian. Aju Verghese also entertains in a cameo role.
DOP Gangadharan takes viewers on a visually appealing journey from Kerala to Goa.  

Drawing awareness to Asperger’s Syndrome and bi-polar disorder in the most sensitive manner without subjecting the characters to ridicule, ‘Hey Jude’ is a fun ride and not a story of pity and melodrama-rather a story of self-discovery by Jude and Crystal.

Pranav Mohan Lal’s ‘Aadhi’ a gripping thriller

Director  Jeethu Joseph takes viewers on a roller coaster ride as he follows the life of Aadhi- an aspiring musician falsely implicated in a murder    

Directed and scripted by Jeethu Joseph (of ‘Drishyam’ fame), ‘Aadhi’ brings Pranav Mohan Lal back into cinema.
Lal Jr.  made his beginning as a child actor in 2002 with ‘Onnaman.’ With his second film, ‘Punarjani’ he won the Kerala State award for Best Child Artiste.
‘Aadhi’ marks his debut in the lead role- a film that he will look back with fondness. Lal Jr. with his performance proves his acting genes.

‘Aadhi’s plot is simple though not new.
Aditya Mohan, (Pranav Mohan Lal) the only child of his parents, (played by Siddique and Lena) is an aspiring music composer looking for that big break into films.
At the suggestion of a friend, he gets an opportunity to perform inside an elite club of Bangalore- a place frequented by Tamil and Telugu music directors. Aadhi as he is fondly called hopes to impress one of them. There he bumps into Anjana, (Aditi Ravi) an old school mate and it’s the regular catching up with her.

An unwarranted incident at the hotel overturns his life there. Aadhi finds himself falsely implicated in a murder-Arjun Reddy, son of Reddy, a notorious business magnate meets his end from the roof of the hotel.

With Reddy (Jagapathi Babu) out to avenge his son’s death  Aadhi goes on the run. 
Does Aadhi prove his innocence and escape from Reddy’s clutches?

Joseph’s neat writing rolls out a screenplay that is slickly executed and keeps viewers fixed on the screen.
Pranav Mohan Lal’s  Aadhi is the boy next door without the trappings of a super hero image.
Aadhi shares a close and informal equation with his parents- mother Rosy (Lena) is a Christian who eloped with Mohan, his father ( Siddique) a Hindu.
Unlike Mohan, Rosy believes in Aadhi’s choice of career and supports him.  When Mohan expresses his anxiety to Aadhi, telling him that he has no knowledge about the cinema industry he probably spoke for many parents out there.  Yet he gives Aadhi two years to pursue his ambition. Moments shared between Aadhi and his parents are beautifully portrayed by Lena and Siddique-the two natural  performers make their characters real.      

With Reddy’s goons on his heels, Aadhi finds shelter in a stranger’s home. Sharath (Sharafuddin), a Malayali, living in Bangalore sees a common enemy in Narayana Reddy. He is all out to help Aadhi.

Aadhi’s parkour training comes to his rescue while on the run. Giving an adrenalin rush are well choreographed action scenes as Aadhi races through alleys, leaps over walls and jumps across roof-tops. You watch mesmerized. Mohan Lal surprises with a cameo appearance. That’s an amusing scene actually.

Joseph’s supporting characters have are well created. Sharafuddin’s  Sharath is someone you trust wholly. His elder sister, Jaya is all bark with no bite-the sharp tongued chechi, who slowly warms up to Aadhi. Joseph’s little details are visible. Consider the scene where Jaya walks into the room, to find Aadhi tending to her bedridden mother. Anusree, the versatile actress, beautifully conveys Jaya’s gratitude through her eyes.

Jagapathi Babu easily slides into the villain’s shoes-it’s not a new role for him, but here it’s less loud and subdued.
 Siju Wilson  and Meghanathan (as Mani Anna who helps Aadhi) lend ample support.

Satheesh Kurup’s cinematography complements Joseph’s story and as curtain fall, the splendid climax is captured brilliantly.

Thaanaa Serndhu Kootam: a light hearted entertainer and a Pongal treat

By Mythily Ramachandran

Surya’s ‘Thaanaa Serndhu Kootam’ is a clear entertainer  with its right mix of action, romance and humour.

Directed by Vignesh ShivN, TSK borrows its core plot from Bollywood film, ‘Special 26’ but is tailored neatly  to suit the Tamilian palate. 
ShivN’s  good writing and screenplay that never sags lends it an originality.  Clean humour dominates along with foot tapping music from Anirudh.

The story is happening in the 80s when unemployment was an issue to reckon with. Educated middle class and lower class young men lose out on jobs despite being meritorious, due to a corrupt bureaucracy that thrives on greased palms.

Iniyan (Suriya) aspires to join the CBI (Central Bureau Of Investigation) where his father (Thambi Ramiah) works as a clerk. But he is humiliated by the Bureau Chief Uthaman (Suresh Menon) who does not see eye to eye with Iniyan’s father and is obviously not keen on employing Iniyan.

When Iniyan’s close friend also dreaming of a police career takes his own life out of frustration, Iniyan steps into a new role. Protesting against the system, Iniyan plans a heist with five others.

For Suriya, it’s a role that he can sleep walk in- of course he is given those ‘mass hero’ moments with dances and action stunts-yet ShivN ensures that nothing is over the top.

Ramya Krishnan as Azhagu Meena, one of the con artists in Iniyan’s team might remind you of Anupam Kher’s role in ‘Special 26,’ but as the story rolls, Meena finds  her own identity. Kudos to ShivN for envisoning  a female character in place of Kher’s role. If Krishnan’s Sivagami from ‘Bahubali’ left us in awe,  her Azhagu Meena is a joyful experiment-revealing another side of the talented actress.

Unlike Kajal Aggarwal, who played arm candy to Akshay Kumar, Keerthi Suresh’s role is filled with amusing moments. Look out for the scene where she proposes to Iniyan.

Humour is a major strength here unlike ‘Special 26.’ There are several laugh aloud moments. Anand Raj as the Minister whose house is raided by this con team sets the tone with his ‘mind talk.’

Besides, ShivN has a detailed back-story for Iniyan  and his motives for organizing the heist, making the story far more convincing than the original.

While ‘Special 26’ gave the feel of a racy thriller with its background music playing continuously, Anirudh’s peppy numbers makes you sit back and relax.

Even if you have watched ‘Special 26’, ‘TSK’ is worth a watch. It’s not another remake. TSK is a sweet Pongal delicacy.

‘Gulaebagavalli’ a comic caper that keeps you in splits

By Mythily Ramachandran

‘Gulaebagavalli’ makes no pretensions about its motive. It’s an entertainer and succeeds in doing just that. As long as you don’t take it seriously nor look for something to ponder upon or analyse critically, ‘Gulaebagavalli’ is ideal to keep your stress at bay. The slapstick comedy will keep you chuckling. Well, sometimes, one needs that kind of a film to let the hair down. 

Directed by Kalyaan S ‘Gulaebagavalli’ takes viewers on a treasure hunt to the eponymous village where lies hidden a treasure chest packed with gems dating to the British era.
Badri (Prabhu Deva) a thief, whose skill lies in smuggling antique idols is on a new mission to Gulaebagavalli. He soon has company with three others joining him on this quest-Viji, (Hansika Motwani) a young woman, whom he falls in love with at first sight;  Maasha (Revathy) a middle aged woman and a trickster and Munish (Ramdoss) who is sent to keep an eye on Badri.

If the content lacks on anything new and interesting and even defies logic, it makes it up with its humour. The jokes are sometimes silly too, but it’s not easy keeping a straight face.

Revathy surprises in a never before seen role and the veteran has played it out well. Prabhu Deva’s dance moves keep you enthralled. Director Kalyan also takes a dig at the must have formula followed in our cinema. Look out for the scenes with comedians Sathya- a policeman who is easily conned and Mottai Rajendran –on his amma (mother) sentiment. It’s a laugh riot.  

Sketch-an action drama set in North Madras

Sketch-an action drama that does not impress

Old wine in a new bottle best describes this Vikram starrer.
Vijay Chandra, who last directed ‘Vaalu’ returns with a story set in north Chennai-a neighbourhood known in Tamil cinema for its goon culture.

Jeeva, (Vikram) better known as Sketch is an uneducated tough guy working under Settu, (played by Malayalam actor Hareesh Peradi),  a loan financier for cars. When the owners default on their EMI payments, it’s Sketch’s job to lift the car. Sketch prides on his ability to do a thorough job and he can never go wrong with a ‘sketch’ he has planned.  No wonder the name!

Settu also manages a garage and car servicing unit where he employs young boys.  Settu, however has an old score to settle with a ruthless gangster Royapuram Kumar (Malayalam actor Baburaj). So he instructs Sketch to lift Kumar’s favourite car-an archaic red Fiat car.

Sketch succeeds in his mission earning Kumar’s wrath in the process. Sketch and his friends become Kumar’s targets to kill.

There is nothing new about Vikram’s character here.
‘Sketch’ with a larger than life portrayal of his role, indulges  completely to his star image.  As for the romance in the story, you don’t have to guess. It’s the routine stalking by the hero of his lady love, Amuthavalli (Tamannah) -the college going young woman, who inevitably falls for his tough exterior looks that seemingly hide his soft nature. 

Isn’t it time to let go off this obsession for a fair skinned lover and glorifying it? Not to forget that in our cinema love blossoms with ease between an educated woman and an uneducated  rowdie. Amuthavalli is brazen about her choice.
Tamannah is mere eye candy here while ‘Sketch’ is all about wooing Vikram’s fans. And what was that inane comedy track with Soori? His jokes fell flat.

What makes one sit up and ponder awhile is the unexpected twist in the climax. With a message on juvenile criminals delivered ‘Sketch’ could have been a sensible story.
For now, ‘Sketch’ remains a mere sketch which needs a better screenplay and less frills.
And, I couldn’t help missing Vikram, the intense performer of ‘Anniyan’ and ‘Pithamagan,’ to mention some of the feathers in the actor’s cap.