Actress Navya Nair, who has been a part of several critically acclaimed hits in Tamil and Malayalam has lavished praise on director Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval’s recently released Malayalam film, ‘Nna Thaan Case Kodu’ (‘Sue Me’), saying that the film is drawing appreciation as it is talking about the helplessness of the common man.
Taking to Instagram, the actress penned a post saying: “What a satire !!! Fully packed theatre. It’s all about laughter and claps because Rajeevan is talking on our behalf — the helplessness, the chaos of the common man (all in humour).” And chackochetta (Kunchacko Boban), what a transformation man!!! Kudos to you. Each and every character is just awesome. The judge, the heroine Gayathrie Shankar, the auto driver Rajesh Madhavan, the teacher, the biker Mridul Nair, the tempo driver, the advocates, the minister, the chief minister Unnimaya Prasad. All so so good.”
“Director, screenplay writer Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval,...
Taking to Instagram, the actress penned a post saying: “What a satire !!! Fully packed theatre. It’s all about laughter and claps because Rajeevan is talking on our behalf — the helplessness, the chaos of the common man (all in humour).” And chackochetta (Kunchacko Boban), what a transformation man!!! Kudos to you. Each and every character is just awesome. The judge, the heroine Gayathrie Shankar, the auto driver Rajesh Madhavan, the teacher, the biker Mridul Nair, the tempo driver, the advocates, the minister, the chief minister Unnimaya Prasad. All so so good.”
“Director, screenplay writer Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval,...
- 8/14/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
MollywoodKerala State Chalachitra Academy announced on August 2 that a new date for the ceremony will be announced soon. Tnm StaffFacebook/ Biju Menon, Joju George, RevathyThe distribution ceremony of the Kerala State Film Awards, which was scheduled to take place on August 3, has been postponed in view of the heavy rainfall in the state. A new date is yet to be announced. The ceremony was set to take place at Thiruvananthapuram’s Nidhagandhi auditorium. Sharing the announcement on social media, Kerala State Chalachitra Academy said in a post on Tuesday, August 2, “Due to red alert issued in several districts, including Thiruvananthapuram because of extremely heavy rainfall, Kerala’s Culture Minister Vn Vasavan announced that the Kerala state award function distribution function meant to be held tomorrow is postponed. The new date will be announced later.” The winners of the awards were announced in May this year. Actor Revathy bagged her first...
- 8/3/2022
- by SaradhaU
- The News Minute
Film awards‘Aavasavyuham’, which tells the story of an environmental disaster, won the best film award, while Dileesh Pothan won best director for ‘Joji’. ‘Minnal Murali’, ‘Churuli’ and ‘Hridayam’ have also won multiple awards.Tnm StaffBiju Menon, Revathi and Joju GeorgeHushing stereotypes, middle-aged mothers and elderly fathers prove that they can lead great stories in films and walk quietly away with the accolades. Revathi, who has contributed many great characters to Malayalam cinema, has won the Best Actor (Female) award at the 52nd Kerala State Film Awards for playing a mother character so strikingly well in the horror flick Bhoothakaalam. Biju Menon, a 50 something actor who played a mysterious man in his 70s — a seemingly harmless doting father — in Aarkariyam has won the Best Actor (Male) award, along with Joju George, an actor who has been consistently delivering meticulous performances. This time, Joju has bagged the award for four different...
- 5/27/2022
- by Cris
- The News Minute
ReviewThe film, directed by Kamal Km and based on real events, features Kunchacko Boban, Vinayakan, Joju George and Dileesh Pothan in the lead.CrisScreenshot from 'Pada'Building tension moment by moment and then maintaining it for two whole hours of a movie has to be an art. In Pada, Kamal Km’s new film, there is at first the suspense of not knowing what’s happening, then the happening itself, and then the anxiety of how it will end. Going against the usual long disclaimers of distancing itself from any real incident, the film starts off by saying it is based on true events. Actors Kunchacko Boban, Vinayakan, Joju George and Dileesh Pothan appear from four different corners and barely let you breathe, as a very important story about Adivasi rights gets told. If by retelling the incident more than 25 years later, Kamal – the film’s writer and director – meant to...
- 3/11/2022
- by Cris
- The News Minute
MollywoodThe film, directed by Kamal Km, has a bevy of talented actors including Dileesh Pothan, Unnimaya Prasad, Kani Kusruti and Prakash Raj.Tnm StaffSomething is brewing. Three men are walking briskly from different directions. There is tension in the air. You expect a poorly planned crime, maybe a kidnapping mission or a bank robbery or worse an explosion. That’s the kind of scary picture the teaser of the new Malayalam film Pada presents. Three talented actors – Joju George, Vinayakan and Kunchacko Boban – play these three men we just described. The film is written and directed by Kamal Km, who once made a well-appreciated movie called ID. Kamal is not a director to stop with three great actors, he has included in his film the talented Indrans, Dileesh Pothan, Prakash Raj, Unnimaya Prasad, Shine Tom Chacko, Salim Kumar, Kani Kusruti, Sajitha Madathil, Sudheer Karamana, Tg Ravi and a whole lot of other actors.
- 8/22/2021
- by Cris
- The News Minute
Right when I was getting fed up with modern Malayalam cinema, I took the advice of many who urged me to watch this, based-on-”Macbeth” film and the result definitely justified the suggestion.
Joji, an engineering dropout, along with elder brothers Jomon and Jaison lead a life of fear under their dominating father Kuttappan, the owner of a rather large estate, who, despite his 74 years of age, is intensely well-built and quite brutal, particularly towards Joji, whom he considers a failure. Jomon, an alcoholic divorcee, aids Kuttappan in agricultural affairs, while Jaison manages their businesses in town. Jaison’s wife Bincy concludes the “council” while Jomon’s teenage son also lives in the estate, with these two also sharing a strong relationship with Joji, essentially the only ones who take him seriously. However, when Kuttappan suffers a stroke, matters of inheritance come to the fore, while the...
Joji, an engineering dropout, along with elder brothers Jomon and Jaison lead a life of fear under their dominating father Kuttappan, the owner of a rather large estate, who, despite his 74 years of age, is intensely well-built and quite brutal, particularly towards Joji, whom he considers a failure. Jomon, an alcoholic divorcee, aids Kuttappan in agricultural affairs, while Jaison manages their businesses in town. Jaison’s wife Bincy concludes the “council” while Jomon’s teenage son also lives in the estate, with these two also sharing a strong relationship with Joji, essentially the only ones who take him seriously. However, when Kuttappan suffers a stroke, matters of inheritance come to the fore, while the...
- 6/18/2021
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Interview In an interview with Tnm, Unnimaya speaks about her interpretation of the character and reveals what it was like to be on the sets of 'Joji'.CrisUnnimaya in 'Joji'The first time you see Bincy in that large household of the Panachel family in Joji, she is in the kitchen, carrying a loaded gas cylinder. If you are attentive and have always dreaded taking the heavy cylinder across the house, you might be in awe of this strong woman who is merely in the background. The man in the foreground is Joji, her brother-in-law, very much in odds with Kuttappan, the tough patriarch of the family. Bincy’s face is barely visible and she goes about the household chores, walking between the kitchen, the fridge and the slab where Joji has his meals. It is only when she begins to talk – very few lines scattered here and there – that you take notice.
- 4/14/2021
- by Cris
- The News Minute
CinemaThough this may be a gloomy period owing to the pandemic, people can find some cheer with entertainment options online.Tnm StaffEven as Covid-19 cases are going up across the country and many states have once again reduced the occupancy in theatres, quite a few new films have come out on Over-the-Top (Ott) platforms this festive season. April marks the New Year in many states, including south India. Though this may be a gloomy period owing to the pandemic, people can find some cheer with entertainment options online. Here is a list of new south Indian releases on Ott platforms: Jathi Ratnalu Starring Naveen Polishetty, Rahul Ramakrishna and Priyadarshi, this Telugu comedy was a blockbuster theatrical release. Directed by Anudeep, the film follows the story of three young men who go from a small town to Hyderabad. It is streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Joji A crime drama directed by Dileesh Pothan,...
- 4/14/2021
- by Haritha
- The News Minute
Film Commentary Joji and Baby share a history of neglect and live in a house plagued with patriarchy.Neelima MenonEver since Dileesh Pothan’s Joji was released, a lot of discussions have been going on regarding its uncanny resemblance to a Kg George classic made 36 years ago, Irakal (Victims). Though the filmmakers have credited Macbeth as their inspiration, it’s hard to unsee the similarity in milieu, template, characterisations, and fundamentals of Irakal in Joji. So here we are, bringing together these fascinatingly riveting films to see how comparable they are. Paradoxically, they are absolutely two different films made by filmmakers who have shown incredible honesty to their craft. Joji (Fahad Faasil) is almost comical when you first meet him. In that large expansive bungalow which seems alienated from the rest of the world, Joji is battling to find his space. His father is formidably masculine, with flexing muscles, and...
- 4/10/2021
- by Geetika
- The News Minute
Film CommentaryThese are two very different films but there is a connecting factor — how the women characters suffocate with the patriarchal home.Sowmya RajendranJoji, directed by Dileesh Pothan, premiered on Amazon Prime Video on April 7. Just a few days before this, Jeo Baby's highly acclaimed film The Great Indian Kitchen, also released on the same Ott platform, months after it originally came out on Neestream. (This article has spoilers ahead) The two films are very different from each other. The Great Indian Kitchen, starring Nimisha Sajayan and Suraj Venjaramoodu, is about a newlywed couple and how the woman starts feeling oppressed day by day within the institution of marriage. The film also looks at how patriarchy and misogyny are sanctioned by religion. Joji, an adaptation of the Shakespearean play Macbeth, has Fahadh Faasil playing the youngest son in a Syrian Christian family who exhibits murderous tendencies and ends up...
- 4/9/2021
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
InterviewIn an online interaction with Journalists Dileesh Pothan explains the writing and direction choices in 'Joji', starring Fahadh Faasil in the lead.Haritha JohnDileesh Pothan's Joji, an adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth, was released on Amazon Prime Video on April 7. The film, starring Fahadh Faasil, Unnimaya Prasad, Baburaj and others, has opened to rave reviews. Before Joji, Dileesh had made just two films — Maheshinte Prathikaram and Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum. But with both of them winning critical acclaim and setting the box-office on fire, his Joji was a highly anticipated release. 'In an online interaction with journalists, Dileesh spoke about the writing and direction choices in 'Joji'. Dileesh is known for realism in his films. But, the director says that he wants to explore different kinds of cinema, including commercial films. Among the most interesting interpretations in Joji is the character of Bincy, played by Unnimaya Prasad. While the...
- 4/8/2021
- by Haritha
- The News Minute
MollywoodThe film has been written by Syam Pushkaran who had teamed up with Fahadh and Dileesh for 'Maheshinte Prathikaram'.Tnm StaffScreenshot from the teaserA really thin Fahadh Faasil is fishing for long minutes, walking around picturesque places and coming back to fish again. The teaser of his new film Joji ends thus, with the news that it is premiering on Amazon Prime Video on April 7. "The voice of your eyes is deeper than your speech," says the tweet put out by Amazon Prime Video In, along with the teaser. The quiet teaser gets darker towards the end and the music turns menacing as something finally gets caught in the fishing rod. But there, the teaser ends. The voice of your eyes is deeper than your speech. Teaser out now! #JojiOnPrime premieres on April 7.#DileeshPothan #FahadhFaasil #Baburaj #UnimayaPrasad #ShammiThilakan #AlisterAlex #BasilJoseph @BhavanaStudios pic.twitter.com/PNFkrv67yd — amazon prime video In...
- 3/31/2021
- by Cris
- The News Minute
MollywoodZakariya's strength is the ability to tell a very human story, touching on a number of issues without high drama or a pulsating revolution.Sowmya RajendranZakariya's films are like watching a flower bloom. The transformation is quiet, the changes slow and almost imperceptible. With every minute, your view of what you're seeing alters, making the wait just as rewarding as the result. In Sudani from Nigeria, his first film, Zakariya made us believe the story is about sevens football; then he made us believe it's a comedy about two cultures coming together due to circumstances; it then became about a son and his troubled relationship with his mother and stepfather. Gently through the humour, surefooted in his storytelling, Zakariya and his team gave us a film that was about many things and yet about the one thing that can heal - love. Halal Love Story, now streaming on Amazon Prime Video,...
- 10/15/2020
- by Shiba
- The News Minute
MollywoodThe film will be written by Syam Pushkaran. Tnm StaffThree years after his classic film Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum, actor-director Dileesh Pothan is going to make his third, titled Joji. The film, says the tagline of the black and red title poster, is inspired from Shakespeare’s Macbeth. As in his previous two films, Fahadh Faasil will play the lead. Not just Fahadh. Syam Pushkaran, the man who wrote the first film that Dileesh directed – Maheshinte Prathikaram – is on the team. So is Shyju Khalid, the cinematographer. The film will be a production of Bhavana Studios, partnered by Dileesh, Fahadh and Syam. Their last work was the critically acclaimed Kumbalangi Nights. Happy to announce, “Joji” Excited to team up again with Dileesh Pothan & Syam Pushkaran. Produced by Bhavana Studios in... Posted by Fahadh Faasil on Friday, October 2, 2020 “Joji is inspired from the epic play of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. It’s a...
- 10/3/2020
- by Cris
- The News Minute
Bollywood The remake will be bankrolled by Reliance Entertainment in association with Ashiq Usman Productions and AP International.Digital NativeThe Malayalam movie Anjaam Pathiraa released earlier this year turned out to be a massive hit. Directed by Midhun Manuel Thomas, The film starring Kunchacko Boban hit the marquee on January 10th to a good response. Excellent reviews and positive word mouth has the audiences flock the theatres in large numbers and the Anjaam Pathiraa team is happy over the outcome. Now the film is all set to be remade in Hindi. The remake will be bankrolled by Reliance Entertainment in association with Ashiq Usman Productions and AP International. Announcing about the same, Reliance Entertainment tweeted,"#RelianceEntertainment, #AshiqUsmanProductions and @APIfilms come together to produce the Hindi Remake of Malayalam Crime Thriller #AnjaamPathiraa. " In a media statement, Shibasish Sarkar, Group CEO, Reliance Entertainment was quoted saying "Anjaam Pathiraa is one of those...
- 9/1/2020
- by Sreedevi
- The News Minute
MollywoodMidhun Manuel Thomas will write the script and Arjun Das of ‘Kaithi’ fame will play the male lead.Digital NativeArjun DasNoted Malayalam filmmaker Anwar Rasheed’s last film to release at the theatres was Trance earlier this year. Following the critical success of this psychological drama, Anwar Rasheed is keen on directing a Tamil film. It has been confirmed that he has roped in Arjun Das of Kaithi fame to play the lead role. Midhun Manuel Thomas will be penning the screenplay for this venture. Confirming the news, Midhun wrote on his social media page that it is official he is penning the screenplay for Anwar Rasheed’s upcoming Tamil directorial debut and that Arjun Das has been signed up to play the main lead. His message reads, “Yup, it’s official. I am writing the screenplay for the first Tamil film that Anwar Rasheed is directing. Arjun Das is the hero!
- 8/25/2020
- by Cris
- The News Minute
MollywoodThe film was a superhit in theatres.Digital NativeMalayalam movie Anjaam Pathira which released earlier this year turned out to be a massive hit. Following its hit status, the filmmakers are planning on releasing it on an Ott platform. The film’s director Midhun Manuel Thomas has revealed that plans are on to release the film on an Ott platform and television but that there are no plans of releasing it on DVD. The director has been quoted by Cinema Express as stating, “A DVD release is unlikely given the fact the facilities that punch DVDs are all shut down at the moment. So attempts are being made for a satellite or digital release.” The Kunchacko Boban starrer Anjaam Pathira hit the marquee on January 10 and opened to a good response. The film was directed by Midhun Manuel Thomas with the star cast including Sharafudheen, Unnimaya Prasad, Sreenath Bhasi, Remya Nambeesan,...
- 4/1/2020
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
EntertainmentFrom Fahadh and Nazriya to Prasanna and Sneha, there are now several couples who work in the film industries and also collaborate with each other professionally. Tnm StaffWhile it's not unusual for people from the film industry to date each other and get married, it's not too common for both of them to continue to have an active career in the film industry. In most cases, it is the woman who takes the backseat while the man continues to work in the industry. However, times are changing and there are now many couples who work in the film industry. Some of the women may have taken a break but have since made a comeback and are continuing to find work. Naga Chaitanya and Samantha: Samantha is probably the first woman A-list star in the south to have married a fellow actor and continue to pursue her career without any break whatsoever.
- 3/5/2020
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
MollywoodThe film’s director Midhun Manuel Thomas and producer Ashiq Usman met lead actor Kunchacko Boban on the sets of his next film for the celebration.Digital NativeKunchacko Boban’s Anjaam Pathira emerged as the dark horse at the box office last week with the film garnering a lot of positive response. Excellent reviews and positive word of mouth has the audiences flock the theatres in large numbers and the Anjaam Pathira team is elated over the outcome. The team recently had a success celebration on the sets of Kunchacko Boban’s upcoming film directed by Martin Prakkat. Anjaam Pathira’s director Midhun Manuel Thomas and producer Ashiq Usman met Kunchacko Boban on the sets and had a cake cutting session. Shyju Khalid, the cinematographer of Anjaam Pathira and the upcoming Kunchacko Boban film, was also present during the celebrations. Anjaam Pathira, directed by Midhun Manuel Thomas, has Kunchacko Boban...
- 1/20/2020
- by Cris
- The News Minute
MollywoodThe film’s director Midhun Manuel Thomas and producer Ashiq Usman met lead actor Kunchacko Boban on the sets of his next film for the celebration.Digital NativeKunchacko Boban’s Anjaam Pathira emerged as the dark horse at the box office last week with the film garnering a lot of positive response. Excellent reviews and positive word of mouth has the audiences flock the theatres in large numbers and the Anjaam Pathira team is elated over the outcome. The team recently had a success celebration on the sets of Kunchacko Boban’s upcoming film directed by Martin Prakkat. Anjaam Pathira’s director Midhun Manuel Thomas and producer Ashiq Usman met Kunchacko Boban on the sets and had a cake cutting session. Shyju Khalid, the cinematographer of Anjaam Pathira and the upcoming Kunchacko Boban film, was also present during the celebrations. Anjaam Pathira, directed by Midhun Manuel Thomas, has Kunchacko Boban...
- 1/20/2020
- by Cris
- The News Minute
MollywoodThe film is directed by Johnpaul George, who has earlier directed ‘Guppy’ and ‘Ambili’.Digital NativeKunchacko Boban is teaming up with director Johnpaul George for his next film, which has been titled Mariyam Tailors. Ashiq Usman is producing the film under the banner of Ashiq Usman Productions which is expected to go on floors soon and reach theatres in 2020. The actor had announced the project on his birthday last year, along with another one, for which he will be teaming up with actor-director Soubin Shahir. Incidentally Soubin played the lead in Johnpaul’s last film Ambili, which also marked the debut of Naveen Nazim. Kunchacko also has another upcoming film titled Ancham Pathira directed by Midhun Manuel Thomas. Touted to be a thriller the film also has in its cast Sharafudheen, Unnimaya Prasad, Sreenath Bhasi, Remya Nambeesan, Indrans, and Jinu Joseph. Shyju Khalid will be cranking the camera for Ancham...
- 12/28/2019
- by Cris
- The News Minute
Mollywood'Pada' has Kunchacko Boban, Vinayakan, Joju George and Dileesh Pothan playing the main roles. Digital NativeIt has been confirmed that Malayalam mega star Mammootty will be making a cameo appearance in Pada. Scenes involving him were shot for four days, we hear from sources. The film is directed by Kamal Km, who has earlier made the critically acclaimed film ID in 2012. Pada has Kunchacko Boban, Vinayakan, Joju George and Dileesh Pothan playing the main roles. It is bankrolled by E4 Entertainments. Sameer Thahir has cranked the camera for this venture. Reports are that the shooting of this film has been wrapped up and it is in the post production stage. Kamal’s first film Alif was done in 2010. The film is about a Muslim father and son and the resistance they face when the dad wants the child to become a doctor as against the Muslim neighborhood’s wishes to...
- 12/11/2019
- by Cris
- The News Minute
MollywoodKunchacko Boban plays a singer in the film that is scripted by Bobby and Sanjay.Digital NativeIt was reported a few months ago that Kunchacko Boban and Jis Joy are teaming up for a film. An update about this film is that it has been titled Mikacha Nadan Mohankumar. The first schedule of the film was wrapped up in Ernakulam and the next began in Kashmir. Bobby and Sanjay have penned the script for Mikacha Nadan Mohankumar and this is the fourth time the scriptwriters are associating with Kunchacko Boban. Siddique plays a film personality and Kunchacko Boban plays a singer in this film. The rest of the cast includes Sreenivasan, Saiju Kurup, Vinay Forrt, Ramesh Pisharody, and Basil Joseph in supporting roles. Prince Joy is composing music, while Bahul Ramesh has been signed up as the cinematographer, and Ratheesh Raj as the editor. The film is bankrolled by Listin Stephen’s Magic Frames.
- 12/9/2019
- by Cris
- The News Minute
Mollywood Aditi was last seen in the film ‘Aruvi’ in Tamil which was a box office hit.Digital NativeDirector Shaheed Kader is all set to venture into his next project with Kunchacko Boban in the lead role. While it was earlier stated that Nithya Menen would be playing the lead lady in the film, new reports have emerged which indicate that Aruvi fame Aditi Balan will be playing the lead. Shaheed Kader, an erstwhile associate of the late director Rajesh Pillai, has Chennaiyil Oru Naal, a remake of the hit Malayalam movie Traffic, to his credit. This time around, the director has planned a complete family entertainer which will revolve around a husband and wife. The story of this film is set in Kolkata and the shooting will begin next month. To be titled yet, this film is bankrolled by under the banner E4 Entertainment. Kunchacko Boban currently has Pada...
- 10/19/2019
- by Nimeshika
- The News Minute
MollywoodThe film, which has not been titled yet, is scripted by Shahi Kabir of ‘Joseph’ fame.Digital NativeDigital NativeDirector Martin Prakkat is back wielding the megaphone. He has roped in Kunchacko Boban and Joju George for his upcoming film. Interestingly, Martin had produced Udaharanam Sujatha along with Joju George, which received positive reviews and did well at the box-office. Kunchacko was quoted by the Times of India as saying, “It is going to be different from Martin’s previous films. Joju and I play the lead in it. I am excitedly waiting for it.” Martin’s new directorial, which has not been titled yet, is scripted by Shahi Kabir of Joseph fame. The rest of the technical crew includes Shyju Khalid for camera work. The film will be produced by director Ranjith under his banner Gold Coin Motion Pictures. Martin told Toi, “We are currently working on the script. The...
- 9/24/2019
- by Vidya
- The News Minute
MollywoodThe film is directed by Kamal Km, who has earlier made the critically acclaimed movie 'ID'.Digital NativeImage courtesy: Green Studio PhotographyThe shooting of the upcoming Malayalam film Pada has been wrapped up. The film has been progressing steadily for the past two months and has finally reached the post-production stage. The end of the shooting was marked with the team selfie which was posted on social media by its lead actor Kunchacko Boban. Vinayakan, Joju George and Dileesh Pothan also play important roles in this film directed by Kamal Km. Pada is bankrolled by E4 Entertainments. Sameer Thahir has cranked the camera for this venture. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kunchacko Boban (@kunchacks) on Jul 31, 2019 at 10:42am Pdt Kamal has directed two films before -- Alif and ID – and the latter was critically acclaimed. The film’s world premiere was at the prestigious Busan International Film Festival.
- 8/5/2019
- by Cris
- The News Minute
MollywoodTouted to be a thriller, the film will start rolling from August 1. Digital NativeDigital NativeDirector Midhun Manuel Thomas’ new film is titled Anchaam Pathira. The film will have Kunchacko Boban playing the male lead and the rest of the star cast includes Sharafudheen, Unnimaya Prasad, Sreenath Bhasi, Remya Nambeesan, Indrans, and Jinu Joseph. Touted to be a thriller, the film will start rolling from August 1. Aashiq Usman is bankrolling the film under his banner. Shyju Khalid will be cranking the camera for Anchaam Pathira with Sushin Shyam has been roped in to compose the tunes. The film is likely to hit the marquee later this year. Kunchacko Boban had played the title role in Allu Ramendran which hit the marquee earlier this year. Allu Ramendran was a comedy thriller directed by Bilahari. Girish had penned the script in association with Sajin Cherukayil and Vineeth Vasudevan. The film was produced by...
- 8/1/2019
- by Luke
- The News Minute
MollywoodAishwarya Lekshmi is the soul of this film which inverts traditional ideas of romance.Neelima Menon Mayaanadhi-compressed.jpgIt’s a crucial audition for Aparna. She is a bit flustered by the appearance of actor Aparna Balamurali, who is in for the same role. As the actor tries to make small talk, she excuses herself to go to the washroom and calls Mathan—“Just praise me. Just make me feel better. I need it now.” He goes on a verbal rampage about her beauty, talent and fighting spirit. But when that doesn’t buck her up, he loses it—cutting straight to the uncomfortable truth (she desperately needs to prove a point to the world). As tears trickle down her cheeks, she wipes her face and smiles—“Yes, I’m better now.” During another instance, when she is tired and ravenous after a long day and having to listen to her sister’s problems, Mathan beckons her for a hot cup of Boost. This, on the day she meets him after a long gap following their break up. Mayaanadhi is about this man and woman, about Appu and Mathan who are fastened to each other’s souls. They aren’t fairy-tale lovers declaring undying love for each other. It’s a weird love affair—wildly passionate, deep, and volatile in turns. It’s a romance where the intensity doesn’t hit you until after a long time. Written by Syam Pushkaran and Dileesh Nair, the Aashiq Abu-directed Mayaanadhi begins in Kodaikanal. Leading man Mathew (Tovino Thomas) is part of a gang involved in illegal money transactions. But the deal goes for a toss when the cops barge in and kill the men. Mathew manages to flee but accidentally shoots a cop. The Tamil-speaking cops are on his trail even as he escapes to Kerala. On a parallel track we are introduced to Aparna, the woman tucked inside his phone gallery—a struggling actor and model. Mayaanadhi trails their journey together. Aparna (Aishwarya Lekshmi) is the post-modern pragmatic middle-class city girl. She is drawn with a lot of realism. When the casting director (Unnimaya Prasad) at an audition sneers at her and calls her “plastic”, Appu quickly hides her resentment, lowers her guard, and tries to be herself. When her famous actor friend uses her as a sidekick of sorts (putting down her used garments and two-bit roles), Appu takes it all, again without showing her indignation. She is someone who finds it difficult to say ‘no’ to people. It’s only with Mathan that she seems to be herself—she snubs, taunts, and shuts the door on him. Yet he keeps coming back to her, like a lost puppy. Mathan, on the other hand, is helplessly in love with her—he keeps gazing at her pictures on his phone. Even with the cops hot on his heels, Appu remains foremost on his mind. Yet the relationship oddly remains a two-way street despite Appu taking him for granted. A lot of stereotypes are debunked in this male-female dynamic. It’s Appu who calls the shots, including in matters of physical intimacy. He is the more traditional of the two. After a particularly wild lovemaking session, he suggests settling down in Dubai and she tells him—“Sex isn’t a promise.” For her, it’s just a happy, celebratory act after a successful audition, while Mathan considers it as the final deal for marriage. How beautifully and wantonly the ancient theory of chastity (especially on celluloid) being the sole purview of women is stirred up in that one statement. Humour is infused nicely at some junctures. The admaker who explains to Appu (in broken English) that it was Arvind Swami in Bombay who took up the “first blue whale challenge.” The actor friend who goes ballistic when she sees a shot of her exposed navel and the director who whines when asked to chop the portion. The young and upright cop who is recently married and finds himself being taken for a ride by his seniors. Then of course come the usual stereotypes—the coy transgender make-up artist, the over-enthusiastic manager of the actor, the ambitious and sly actor(Leona Lishoy). Mayaanadhi has some delectable night shots (Jayesh Mohan is the cinematographer). The auburn ebony colour tone adds a depth and mystique to the romance, helped amply by the music of Rex Vijayan and the vocals of Shahabad Aman. Aishwarya Lekshmi is the heart and soul of the film—Aparna required an actor who looked sensual, vulnerable, and resolute. Emotions flit easily across her face—as a lover, the struggling model, the mortified daughter. She is a natural. Tovino has just poured himself into the shape of Mathan (his eyes show immeasurable love and I liked the way he tries to hide his hurt) and it’s easily his career best act. Mayaanadhi is a modern romance with all its trappings—yet the intensity cannot be more searing. Kelly Clarkson said it right—what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. He must have been talking about Aparna. Enanble Notification: NoTNM Marquee: No...
- 12/23/2017
- by Editor
- The News Minute
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