1983 Movie Review from Veeyen!

Reverberating with vibrant voices, Abrid Shine's directorial debut '1983' roots itself resolutely in a vivacious milieu called the game of cricket. The sense of warmth that the film exudes arises out of the upbeat air of hope that lingers around, as a cricketer who had had his dreams razed to the ground, relives his reverie through his gifted son.
Ramesan (Nivin Pauly), one among the thousands of youngsters that remained glued to their television sets as India won the Cricket World Cup in 1983, realizes at that very spectacular moment that cricket will forever remain a part of his life. Fascinated by the game and becoming increasingly obsessed by it, he does emerge a brilliant player, but one who is destined to remain a sensation at local club matches.

1983 Pictures   18 Pictures

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When you hold fast to a treasure in your heart, everything else at times, appears trifling in comparison. Ramesan comes to terms with this vital truth a bit too late, when he watches his childhood sweetheart Manjula (Nikki Galrani), walk by with an affluent looking hubby and a baby in tow. Academics take a back seat as well, and the once diligent boy who was expected to turn out an engineer, ends up helping his disillusioned dad (Joy Mathew) at his lathe.
There is something very special about the characterization in '1983', and the crisp detailing is almost faultless. And this eminence spreads across almost every character in it, be it the namesake Sachin (Jacob Gregory in a side-splitting role) who drops in like a thunderbolt from Mumbai to play a match, or the beautician (Priyanka) who looks like a flustered peacock with a hair job gone all wrong, who decks up Ramesan's bride Susheela (Srinda Ashab) at his wedding.
I should admit I have never been a fierce aficionado of the game, and if Abrid Shine still manages to make my hair stand on its ends in sheer euphoria, it's apparent that the man has delivered a perfect shot. Above everything else, its Abrid's love for the game that drives this film forward with a gusto, making us, in the process fall in love with it as well.
It cannot be left unsaid, that the film itself is a luminous tribute to the greatest batsman ever, Sachin Tendulkar, and Abrid leaves no stones unturned to emphasize how ardent an admirer of the sportsman he is. In a very obvious tirade against Sachin's detractors, Abrid spells out in clear terms through the words of Vijay (Anoopm Menon), as to why he believes they don't make great players like Sachin anymore. Tendulkar, believe me, should be proud.
It goes without saying that this is perhaps Nivin's best performance as yet, and as a forty year old man who stills holds on to the stars in his eyes, he is out-and-out impressive. Nikki Galrani looks refreshingly stunning, while Srinda Ashab delivers a self-assured feat. There is a huge supporting cast that includes such names as Anoop Menon, Joy Mathew, Seema G Nair, Saiju Kurup and Shereej Basheer, and a few amazingly talented child actors as well, all of whom pitch in their worthy bits to this remarkable film.
'Olanjali..' is undoubtedly one of the best melodies that I have listened to in years, and if Gopi Sunder has succeeded in spluttering some exquisite glitter with his remarkable musical score, Pradeesh Varma makes sure that '1983' is a visual delight, with his dazzling frames that further add to the delectable charm of this film.
'1983' casts a spectacular nostalgic spell over a nation that is known to breathe cricket, and in the process gifts us with the first cinematic gem of the year. It does a magic trick that makes you smile, that breaks your heart and that inspires you to the hilt. Match splendidly won, Abrid, and further matches keenly awaited!

Rating:****.

http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/12120/malayalam/1983/4541/review.htm

Happy Journey Review from Now Running!!

'Happy Journey' starts off where the recently released '1983' left off, with a child cricket prodigy named Aaron getting selected to the under-15 state cricket team. The boy and his mom Alice (Lena) dream of a spectacular sports career ahead, when an unexpected accident renders the boy blind.
Boban Samuel's new film tracks the boy's journey into his youth, where he matures into a charming youngster (Jayasurya) who skillfully manages things on his own, despite being visually disabled. And he starts telling his story to a fellow passenger (Aparna Gopinath) in a bus bound for Chennai, and she even ends up writing a book on it!

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Some themes do manage to capture our attention when it comes to the distinctive milieu that they are set on. As someone asks in the course of the film, how many of us have in fact heard of the Blind Cricket team of the country? Or for that matter how many of us have actually watched these blind sportsmen play?

Not many of us, I'm sure, and even then, 'Happy Journey' turns out to be a yawn of a film. There is only the script that does not have any specific purpose or aim that has to be blamed for the miserable state of affairs that the film finds itself in.

The last half hour of the film, in particular, is insufferable, with the audience literally taken for a ride. So when a song spurts out all on a sudden, only to be followed by yet another in quick succession, you realize that the journey isn't half as happy as it claims to be.

There are a few light moments in the first half of the film, and surprisingly they have nothing to do with the central theme as such. They concern Aaron's cousin Freddy (Balu Varghese), who is the sole lively spirit in the entire film. Wait, there is another fellow named Pranchi with whom Freddy is always engaged in a war of words, and together they are a blast.

The 'Chak De' team, that coach Gopikrishnan (Lal) assembles together is indeed reminiscent of the Bollywood film. However the representatives from the different states in 'Happy Journey' make a clumsy group, with none of their identities explored. And when there is the rare attempt to delve into the lives of one or two of them, like for instead the Tamilian (Chemban Vinod Jose), the results are corny and disastrous.a

All said and done, Jayasurya does come up with an endearing performance as the blind sportsman, and its purely on account of the actor's mode of delivery that we patiently sit through the entirety of the film. Of course, there is Balu Varghese as well, who makes you smile, which is saying a lot, when it comes to a film as this.

The interest quotient in Boban Samuel's 'Happy Journey' remains the minimum, and at the end of it, its nothing more than a series of disparate scenes that try their best to hold together. It's a bit sad, since the source material that the maker had in his hands could have evolved into something infinitely better, with perhaps a bit of a shift in perspective.

 Rating:**

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Ezhu Sundara Rathrikal review from Nowrunning!

As you watch Lal Jose's 'Ezhu Sundara Ratrikal', you cannot but help wonder over the lack of emotional frisson that is evident throughout. For every enlightening moment of jagged insight in the film, there's an infinity of inane smiles, bumpy conversation and awkward glances lying scattered all around.

Aby (Dileep) is happily engaged to Ann (Parvathy Nambiar) and is eagerly looking forward to his wedding. On the spur of a moment, he decides to invite his ex-lover Sini (Rima Kallingal) to his marriage, and on walking into her apartment, finds that she has the perfect family life that anyone can dream of. 

Ezhu Sundara Rathrikal Pictures   64 Pictures

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If after the first half an hour, 'Ezhu Sundara Ratrikal' fails to hold your interest, it's simply because it does not have anything worthwhile to tell. Yes, the twists are definitely there, but when the disclosures are made one after the other, you wonder what the hullabaloo was all about.

When Sini soon makes the revelation that all isn't well in her marital life, you anticipate what is to follow, and Tyson (Murali Gopy), her boxer husband turns out to be the insensitive, uncaring brute that you expect him to be. What you do not really foresee is the golden heart that beats somewhere inside. Phew!

There is a subplot that involves Franco (Tini Tom) and his doctor wife Daisy (Praveena), and it takes a while to connect the two parallel narratives together. And of course several other characters spring up here and there, like the police officer in love with Ann (Sreejith Ravi), the mysterious lady bike rider (Krishnaprabha), the restaurant owner (Suraj Venjarammoodu) and Baijuraj (Anil Rajgopal), who add further complexity to the account. 

Sometimes it so happens that in a particular scene, there comes by someone who is expected t be lurking in the background, and yet who grabs all the limelight and walks away without as much as a word. As an anxious Aby waits for Ann's call, a group of merry kids brush past him, as they scamper out of the house on to the courtyard. And then you see someone scurrying after them, a toddler in a diaper, who just seems to have mastered the art of walking, who spreads mirth all around.

And the last half an hour is an extreme drag, and you wait for the inevitable to happen. When the wedding bells finally ring for Aby, and the end credits start rolling, you realize that a bit of truth could have saved us a lot of time. But then, if that was the case, this film wouldn't be here at all.

There are a few hilarious moments here and there, without doubt, in the film, but that does not relieve you of the monotony that is to follow. The animated sequences that are expected to be side-splitting at times hit the mark, and at other fall short by a mile. 

Dileep is perfectly cast as the man who finds the seven nights prior to his marriage messed up beyond repair, and Rima looks gorgeous and lends ample support. Parvathy Nambiar makes a fine debut, while Anil Rajgopal turns out to the scene stealer in the film, with his compelling presence and self-assured performance. 

Losing out around midway, and never quite recovering after that, Lal Jose's 'Ezhu Sundara Ratrikal' fails to generate any sensitivity beyond the baffling squabbles that are playing out on the screen. It's this prevailing bleakness that drags the film down, despite having a gifted director and an impressive cast at its helm.

Rating:**

http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/12939/malayalam/ezhu-sundara-rathrikal/4507/review.htm 

Oru Indian Pranaya Kadha Review from NowRunning!

Sathyan Anthikad's 'Oru Indian Pranayakatha' draws a heart all around the title cards , heavily emphasizing that the stage has been set for a love tale. And if that isn't enough, the ultimate romance symbol is laid out in green and orange, literally shouting 'India' from the rooftops. And it's in a small town in mid-Kerala that we find the film's protagonist Aymanam Sidharthan (Fahadh Fazil) in; a local leader of the RDF party, waiting to contest the elections. However, his hopes are dashed when the High Command opts for a more influential candidate. Almost giving up on his political aspirations, Sidharthan takes up a job as an assistant to a young woman named Irene (Amala Paul) who has just arrived from Canada, to make a film on orphanages. 

Oru Indian Pranayakadha Pictures   114 Pictures

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Now here is the conclusion. Its bad news when you have a heroine who's back in the country after a long while, searching for roots. If she's a documentarian with profound social concerns, it's likely to get worse. And if you have a jobless hero roaming around, trying to make a general impression on her, the devastation is complete. What's disheartening is that this isn't much of a love tale at all. You see, when the roots that I had mentioned earlier grab all the limelight, there isn't much of a scope for anything else. Hence we see the two individuals who are supposed to fall in love run from pillar to post, on a quest to find out Irene's parents, and by the time they do, it's time to end the tale.

Mission Identity Unearthing isn't an easy watch, and after a while, it gets plain boring. The last one hour of the film looks like a toy helicopter with a faulty remote that flies this way and that before dashing into a wall and crashing on to the ground. 

When Sidharthan and Irene start pretending to be husband and wife for sheer professional reasons, you drop your jaws in disbelief. We thought we were done with all that drama, and it props up again, making us shake our heads this way and that. At one hundred and forty minutes, 'Oru Indian Pranayakatha' is a bit too long, and the latter half in particular is a test on fortitude. Jaisalmer is too far away, and when Sishdarthan suggests that they make the journey to Rajasthan, you sigh, knowing very well that they will refuse to leave until they dance to their heart's content in the sand dunes. And woah, you are indeed right!

Perhaps in an attempt to keep up with the changing times, a highly embarassing scene is wedged into an otherwise calmingly serene Anthikkadan narrative. Irene sitting next to Sidharthan in a bus, tries to test his self control, but getting a bit too close to him. When the time arrives to alight from the bus, Sidharthan refuses to get up for very obvious reasons. Well, fantastic, but no way does it fit in here.

Fahad does succeed in making Sidharthan an endearing chap, but the writing is too shallow and does not let you get any closer to him. Amala Paul looks chic, while Shafna Nizam makes her presence felt. Innocent is around in a brief role as well. And thus it is, that 'Oru Indian Paranayakatha' adds itself to the list of imminently forgettable love yarns. And no amount of visual glitter will serve to lessen the yawns that it generates.

 

Rating:**

 

Now Running Reviews. 

Nambootiri Yuvav @ 43 Reviews from NowRunning!

Folks, let me tell you that Mahesh Sharman's 'Namboothiri Yuvavu @ 43' is no 'Paavam Paavam Rajakumaran'. It isn't even a pale shadow of the Sreenivasan film that talked of an almost middle aged bachelor, desperate to tie the knot. 

Jayanthan (Maniyanpillai Raju) works as a priest at a local temple, and has almost given up on his plans to get married. Which is why he is taken by surprise when Sangeetha (Tanusree), an eighteen year old girl at an orphanage expresses her willingness to spend the rest of her life with him.

Nambootiri Yuvavu @ 43 Pictures   85 Pictures

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Post-marriage however, Jayanthan is in for a couple of severe shocks as Sangeetha seems scared of him. Pretty much soon, he realizes that his wife is suffering from a post-traumatic stress disorder, and sets out to find out more about her past.

For one, this is a tale that hassomewhere along the years, lost its significance. So, it becomes extremely difficult to retain the viewer interest in an account in which you know exactly what lies around the corner.

So when the girl looks like she has a story to tell, you sit up, all perked up, hoping thatthis will turn the tables around for an otherwise humdrum film. And along comes the flashback, that is quite uninspiring, and you watch as the last straw of hope floats downstream and away.

The characterization too leaves pretty much a lot to the imagination, and it has these chestnut characters that fit every bill. For instance there is the character played by Nandu, who is an elderly Muslim, who seems to have been planted right opposite the Brahmin who marries a girl from a church. Things couldn't probably get any more specific, perhaps. 

For most of its part, it does stick to reality, though on two instances, it makes a considerable deviation. Jayanthan decides to go chic all on a sudden at the insistence of a friend, and tries out even some low waist jeans in the process. The antics that he indulges in makes you wonder if the man has not really mellowed with age.

His interactions with a youngster (Sraavan) who has a very special wily way with women is the other occasion that almost misfires. When the association finally ends in a brawl, you realize that all this beating around the bush has eventually served little purpose.

I should add that 'Namboothiri Yuvavu @ 43' is not really a film that merits a detailed analysis, and try hard as it may, it is a formulaic piece of cinema, that does not have the potential to rise above the bery minimal standards that it has set for itself.

Maniyanpillai Raju makes a decent middle aged guy who is caught in the doldrums of life, courtesy a late marriage. Tanusree makes a confident debut, though her performance borders on the theatrical at times. 

'Namboothiri Yuvavu @ 43' is thus a futile exercise in film making that is a bit of astretch, since it's neither emotional nor funny. It's a bland adaptation of a theme that we have already seen before, delivered with less charm and even lesser appeal.

Rating:*1/2
http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/12707/malayalam/nambootiri-yuvavu-@-43/4487/review.htm 

Silence Movie Review by NowRunning!

V K Prakash's 'Silence' has Mammootty playing Aravind, a vibrant lawyer who is all set to take office as a judge. The celebrations are on in full swing, when Aravind starts receiving phone calls from a stalker, who seems to know everything about him. Whenhis family is threatened, Aravind has no other option but to track the caller down and seek out his intent.

Y V Rajesh's script has a few thrilling moments in the first half and the film has a striking interval punch that sets the ball rolling on a thriller field. However, we see the script toppling down in the latter half, with a few loose ends hanging about here and there. 

Silence Pictures   12 Pictures

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'Silence', to be fair to the makers, does have its share of thrills, is slickly shot and keeps you perched on the edge of your seat - at least for the most part. Its collapse lies in the fact that the surprise comes perhaps a bit too early, and once the revelation is made, there is nothing much sturdy enough to hold the rest of the film together.

It has become almost customary these days, for every thriller film to have a psychotic character who would wreak havoc in someone's life, and 'Silence's is no exception. Psychosis seems to be the key factor here as well, and everything from a troubled childhood to a history of schizophrenia are dwelled on, but we have all seen it before. 

The shock moments that are so imperative for a film as this to get its moves right, are sadly what are missing here. The buildup is quite fine, and you get all perked up and excited, and when the final disclosure does not match up to the setting, the effects are catastrophic.

It's a shame really, since the film does show signs of immense potential during its initial few moments. A golden thriller premise is what it has on offer, and hence when you watch it tumble down like a pack of cards, you are disappointed and wish that things were indeed better.

One does wonder if it's at all possible to deliver a real exciting thriller any more, with almost all the possibilities explored by film makers across the world. And yet, films continue to be made; the ones that excite us, and which make our hearts skip a beat or two. 

The underwater scenes at the climax have been captured on camera remarkably well, and Mammootty does deserve an ovation for having done the action sequences on his own. Manoj Kumar's cinematography is slick, and suits the mood of the film to the 'T'.

Mammootty looks incredibly handsome with the salt 'n pepper look, and though the role does not throw any fresh challenges to him as an actor, slips into the portrayal of the troubled lawyer with remarkable ease. Basil does a neat job as well, and perhaps this should open up a vista of new opportunities before the young actor. Anoop Menon and Pallavi Purohit lend ample support in their respective roles.

I would still say this Y V Rajesh's best script till date, and with a bit more polish, he could have had a real winner in his hands. As of now, things are pretty much silent over here. So much so that you wish someone would at least let out a scream.

Rating:**
http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/14416/malayalam/silence/4500/review.htm