Tag Archives: Renji Panicker

Sakhavu Movie Review: Directionless Communist Propaganda Film

As it happens during the left rule in Kerala, we see a lot of films which glorifies communism. After Oru Mexican Aparatha, it is Sakhavu which has hit the screens. Sakhavu has been in the making for around a year, which is rare for a Malayalam film. Communism and the left brigade has been attracting a lot of flak and unwanted criticism, especially in India.It is interesting to see a movie which introspects the need for the idea of Communism in India.Continue reading “Sakhavu Movie Review: Directionless Communist Propaganda Film”

Oppam Movie Review: Priyadarshan and Mohanalal reassure us…to an Extent

It is a little surprising and also comforting to see a new Malayalam film begin with a scene involving veteran actors like Innocent and Kaviyoor Ponnamma. The introduction to the film begins with a family gathering in the ancestral home and we get to realize that the protagonist who is visually impaired is seen to be the near perfect son of the family, ever sacrificing for his siblings. And if you are wondering if this is going to be the tone for the rest of the film, then let me assure you that there is more to the film than just this aspect. As the protagonist prepares to return back to the city, he goes on to talk to someone on the way and just for a brief moment there is a mention of Kalaripayattu. And wait, there’s more to follow, he goes on to follow that with a semi classical rendition while on the ferry ride back to the city.Continue reading “Oppam Movie Review: Priyadarshan and Mohanalal reassure us…to an Extent”

Oru Muthassi Gadha: Trailer

Oru Muthassi Gadha Poster 2Oru Muthassi Gadha (A Granny’s Mace) is a forthcoming Malayalam film that’s written by and directed by Jude Anthany Joseph who made a smashing debut with Ohm Shanthi Oshaana (2014). Produced by E for Entertainment, it stars newcomers in the lead roles of two grandmothers, with supporting characters played by Suraj Venjaramoodu, Lena, Vijayaragahavan, Rajeev Pillai, and Renji Panicker among others.Continue reading “Oru Muthassi Gadha: Trailer”

Jacobinte Swargarajyam Movie Review: The Family That Fights All Odds Together, Stays Together

Let’s admit it, we have all faced adversities in some form or the other, or at least have known people who have faced it. We have also perhaps managed to overcome the same or know people who have been successful in fighting their way back. This is perhaps why we love to watch, or listen to tales of people, who face their crisis head on and emerge a winner. If conveyed in the right manner, there is definitely no way that the tale would not find acceptance. Somewhere down the line we perhaps even look for some inspiration in all these tales, whether we admit it or not. At the very outset there is nothing new that you find in Vineeth Sreenivasan’s latest film as director, JacobinteSwargarajyam. So a family that is prosperous, enterprising and level headed, faces an unexpected calamity, putting a big question mark over their very existence. What’s the crisis that the family faces, how do they handle it and whether they manage to conquer it being the story, now this is something that gives one a sense of déjà vu right?Continue reading “Jacobinte Swargarajyam Movie Review: The Family That Fights All Odds Together, Stays Together”

Charlie Movie Review: A Zestful Journey of Two Soulmates

I’ve always wondered how it would be to roam around carefree impulsively and to listen to the call of my heart. Added with the prospect of living life on one’s own terms, it’s made me wonder how if not for the typical societal norms and the compulsions of having some semblance of stability in life, a lot many more people would be thinking like me. Normally one tends to look down upon the select few lucky people who manage to do this, even going to the extent of calling them escapists. But what if they could afford to do so, or couldn’t care less about how the World perceived them? Oh! How I would cringe every time a certain elder would try to caution me saying, look you can’t be living bindaas anymore, you need to get more responsible. And how happy do I feel now that the tides have changed and that I don’t have to listen to that comment from that person anymore. Having seen Martin Prakkat’s Charlie I can’t but help think along these lines.Continue reading “Charlie Movie Review: A Zestful Journey of Two Soulmates”

Anarkali Movie Review: Old Fashioned Romantic Tale Yet Fresh and with a lot of Zing

Falling in love and willing to wait endlessly for your beloved isn’t something new to us Indians.There seems to be some satisfaction even in waiting, painful it indeed is but the very prospect of their love emerging triumphant keeps them going. For them distances are not a problem at all, being unable to meet or talk to their dear one doesn’t dampen their spirits. Are such people for real? Does it even make sense in today’s times to give up everything for love? Irrespective of sceptics questioning the sanity of such people, by and large even today there seems to be something in these tales which appeals to a majority of the people. What else can explain the phenomenal response to R.S.Vimal’s blockbuster, Ennu Ninte Moideen which is still playing in a few theatres in Kerala. Now that Sachy’s Anarkali has released and has already been declared a hit, there seems to be some validation of people supporting and believing in such tales of love.Continue reading “Anarkali Movie Review: Old Fashioned Romantic Tale Yet Fresh and with a lot of Zing”

Loham Movie Review: Yellow Metal without the Required Shine

Writer-director Ranjith and superstar Mohanlal have had a long working relationship. From writing some of the popular films of Mohanlal like Devasuram, Aaram Thampuran, Narasimham etc Ranjith went on make his directorial debut with Ravanaprabhu featuring Mohanlal. While not all the films from this combination may have worked, some of their films did manage to win the appreciation from both audiences and critics alike. Back in 2012 they came out together with Spirit, winner of the National Award for Best Film on Social Issues. Spirit may not have been the best of Ranjith but nevertheless had its moments and went on to find appreciation at the box office as well. Incidentally this was the last commercial success seen by Ranjith as writer-director, the films he made after that did not really bear his magic like before. Hence it was exciting to hear of the dynamic duo coming back together with Loham: The Yellow Metal.Continue reading “Loham Movie Review: Yellow Metal without the Required Shine”

Premam Movie Review: A Journey of Love

There was this girl in school I used to be fond of. Many a times my heart would flutter when she would look back at me, especially if I could detect a trace of even half a smile. The closest I came to realizing she probably liked me was when I managed to have the guts to go and tell her one day that I didn’t really like her hairstyle that she had tried out on that particular day, not just that, I even went on to tell her which style really looked good on her. Luckily she did not get angry at all and even thanked me for my ‘feedback’ :). Emboldened by the same I tried visiting her home many a times, usually accompanied by my friends, but never had the courage to open the gate. But on occasions when she saw me from the balcony and smiled, that was more than enough for me to swoon. Around the same time we tried visiting another girl’s house a few times, just to make a dear friend happy. But we ended up having to beat a hasty retreat often, once even running away before realizing we had our bicycles with us, all thanks to the girl’s strict father :).Continue reading “Premam Movie Review: A Journey of Love”

Ennum Eppozhum Movie Review: The World of Good Hearted Malayalees

Sathyan Anthikkad is a director who has given Malayalees many iconic films. He has represented the dilemma of Malayalees, the struggle of a Malayalee to come to terms with the ever changing world around. Be it Gopalakrishna Panicker (Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam) who wants to sell of his home in the city to pay off his debts, or T.P. Balgopalan (T.P.Balagopalan M.A) a post graduate who is trying to work honestly in an environment where everyone is forcing him to abandon his principles, or Murali (Varavelpu) who returns to Kerala to start his business but eventually leaves Kerala, Sathyan has always presented the issues of Malayalees and Kerala in a way which has made us laugh and think at same time. In the last decade or so however he has been churning out mediocre films one after another. Hence I was apprehensive of how will Sathyan treat his latest film Ennum Eppozhum.

Continue reading “Ennum Eppozhum Movie Review: The World of Good Hearted Malayalees”