Neelavelicham (2023) User Reviews

A beautiful homage to Bhargavi Nilayam

[Jithindurden · 7/10 · 23 April 2023]

I don't think this film is supposed to be enjoyed without watching the original adaptation Bhargavi Nilayam. There are so many choices in the movie that would only make sense to someone who's already a fan of the original classic.

There are enough changes from the original that is expected to be the minimal changes from the original but not changing too much pkus the songs, etc further proves how much of a homage this film is.

The unnamed writer protagonist here is made to much more apparent as a version of Vaikom Muhammad Basheer himself here unlike the original and again that adds to it being such a loving homage. Technically it is amazing and the anamorphic format is always the best in theaters.

Tovino manages well as the protagonist. Roshan looks uncomfortable but somehow managed his character but Rima, even though not outright terrible, was really a miscast here.

Chithra's voice also felt unfit for the songs she sung.

With the dialogues being exactly the same as from 60 yeara ago and a general stiffness in acting that looks kind of a stylistic choice, this very well may feel like a bad movie that is shot beautifully to the majority. But for the fans of the source material this is a breezy watch.

Decent remake !! Well enacted too

[sanjubhat · 7/10 · 7 January 2024]

Film Review: Malayalam language film Neelavelicham streaming on Prime Video ( available with English subtitles!!)

Directed by Ashiq Abu, Neelavelicham tells the story of a writer, Tovino Thomas ( Basheer )who rents a mansion that is reportedly haunted by the spirit of a young woman who committed suicide after being betrayed in love . As he starts staying there and writing the tragic love story between Bhargavi ( Rima Kallingal) and Roshan Mathew (SasiKumar) he stumbles upon evidence that suggests something otherwise. Will Basheer uncover the truth & free Bhargavis soul ?

The film is based on Vaikom Muhammad Basheer's renowned short story and a remake of the 1964 blockbuster, Bhargavi Nilayam.

To watch or skip - cinematography is nice and the beautiful sleepy seaside village ambience has been captured beautifully. Lead cast including Tovino Thomas, Rima Kallingal, Tom Chako & Roshan Mathew have performed well in their respective roles!!

On the flip side the narrative might seem a bit slow especially in the first half. Some songs and flashbacks end up slowing the pace of the film bigtime. However we have to remember that this is a remake of a film from a bygone era and the reconstruction hits the mark perfectly!!

If u have watched Guru Dutt & Meena Kumari's Sahib Biwi aur Gulaam or Satyajit Ray's Monihara .... This film will remind you of the treatment given to these evergreen classics !!

I enjoyed it but be warned, this is a film devoid of any chills thrills and action ... Hence not everyone's cup of tea!!

Going with 3/5 for this one .. Adios 🙂!!

#Neelavelicham #sanjuzzreviews #tovinothomas #RoshanMathew #tomchako #PrimeVideoIN.

Plot is way too straight

[kirraj-58950 · 5/10 · 5 June 2023]

I was expecting some interesting twists and turns it's the story. Not seen the original but even if that was linear they could have improvised here. Last 30 minutes were very disappointing. You were like ok this happens next and then this and then this like watching the replay of a game you know the result of and then game over, go to bed. Disappointed because it was a great premise with excellent camera work and direction. Only if the script were better. On the performances Tovino did well, rest were forgettable partly due to lack of character development. Movie could have been made tighter with lesser songs and shorter screenplay.

An average show that overstays its welcome.

[srikkanth-m · 6/10 · 21 April 2023]

The sound design and cinematography were fantastic. Tovino did an excellent job. However, this is the classic case of a movie overstaying its welcome. I did not watch the original and haven't read the story before. So, I went in with a fresh perspective. The fact that they marketed this as a Horror is what killed it for me. This is a Drama through and through. There's no horror.

A lot of scenes dragged on for no reason. I was told that this is a faithful remake of the original. But because something is old doesn't make it good. TBH, had the movie paced a little faster it would've been more engaging. Most of the movie focused on Basheer befriending Bhargavi. There was no emotional connection with Bhargavi or Sasi Kumar. You don't feel invested in their characters. There was no emotional connection to Basheer either. No explanation given on what makes Basheer not to be scared of the ghost. Sure, we do understand that he is a soft-spoken character. At least one scene that establishes him would've gone a long way in establishing that emotional connection. They could've cut short the first half and spent a little bit more time on Bhargavi and Sasi Kumar's relationship.

Overall, a very average movie.

Just added sound effects and worsen screenplays

[nixenalex · 2/10 · 21 May 2023]

When watching the newer version of the film, I was taken aback by how the editing quality was not nearly as good as the original version. The cuts between scenes felt disjointed and awkward, and the flow of the story was not smooth. Additionally, I felt that the lead actor, Tovino, was not up to the task of handling the main role. His performance lacked the charisma and energy that the previous actor, Madhu, had brought to the character.

Furthermore, I also noticed that the characters in the newer version of the film seemed to be much older than their counterparts in the original version. However, their acting skills did not seem to be up to par with their seniority. They appeared to be struggling with their roles and emotions, especially in comparison to the original performances. Overall, I was disappointed with the newer version of the film as it could not capture the charm, vibrancy, and energy level of the original version.

Scaring of ghost

[jyotijassu · 7/10 · 16 June 2023]

To watch the new version of the movie I was taken aback by how the editing quality was not as good as the original version. The music is mermerizing and the frames are aesthetically supreme the sound effect are not really to make some one scare with that. On the performance tovino did well rest were forgettable partly due to lack of character development the protagonist monologue addressing the ghost which he only half believe in is heart warming . The master story teller of Kerala was portrayed with lots of love and care. Other actors like Roshan and Shine also did justice with their character.

A Regrettable Misfire

[pandthu · 2/10 · 20 May 2023]

Neelavelicham, the highly anticipated film of 2023, unfortunately fails to deliver on its promises, leaving viewers feeling disappointed and unfulfilled. Despite the anticipation surrounding this release, it quickly becomes evident that the film falls far short of expectations.

One of the biggest issues with Neelavelicham is its muddled and poorly executed storyline. The narrative lacks coherence and fails to engage the audience from the beginning. The plot meanders aimlessly, leaving viewers confused and struggling to connect with the characters and their motivations. The lack of a clear direction or compelling story arc makes it difficult to invest emotionally in the film.

Moreover, the character development in Neelavelicham is severely lacking. The main characters feel shallow and poorly fleshed out, lacking the depth and complexity that would have made them relatable or interesting. Their actions and decisions often seem arbitrary, making it challenging to empathize or care about their journey. The performances, although earnest, are hindered by a weak script that fails to give the actors much to work with.

Another major flaw of Neelavelicham lies in its technical execution. The editing is choppy and disjointed, making the viewing experience jarring and confusing at times. The overall production values appear low, with inconsistent sound design and unremarkable visual effects, detracting further from any potential enjoyment.

In addition to these shortcomings, the pacing of the film is sluggish and uneven. The story drags on, and key moments lack the necessary tension or excitement to hold the audience's interest. The film's length feels unnecessarily stretched, adding to the overall tedium and frustration.

In conclusion, Neelavelicham falls disappointingly short of its potential. With a muddled storyline, underdeveloped characters, technical flaws, uneven pacing, and lackluster thematic execution, this film fails to engage and resonate with its audience. Regrettably, it does not live up to the expectations it generated, ultimately leaving viewers feeling let down and dissatisfied.

Finally a decent portrayal of white saree clad ghost in modern times

[ar-reviews · 10/10 · 23 May 2023]

We have been putting up with white saree clad ghosts who are always sad, singing and out to get their revenge in soulless movies for decades. Neelavelicham brings back the original white saree clad ghost. There is a back story which explains why she is what she is.

The protagonist's monologues addressing the ghost which he only half believes in is heart warming. Tovino brings to life the essence of Basheer. He is depressed from a recent break up, broke financially and still manages to crack jokes to himself. The master storyteller of Kerala was portrayed with lots of love and care.

Rima's Bhargavi is hated by most of the male characters in the movie. It beautifully paints the picture of a patriarchal society where a rebel young woman walked with her head held high. Her character arch and backstory were beautifully told.

Other actors like Roshan and Shine also did justice to their roles. The roles were portrayed a bit theatrically paying homage to the original. The recreation of songs was also well done. It has subtle differences from the original but the essence of the songs and the emotions are preserved. There are a few jump scares. Tovino's expressions when his character experiences the supernatural is the best thing with this movie. All blood drains from his face though he believes the ghost to be not malevolent is the best portrayal of human kind reacting to the concept of unknown.

In short, beautiful movie worth watching. Subtitles on Amazon Prime are decent, so non Keralites can enjoy it too.

Poor Direction

[bejinkj · 1/10 · 27 December 2023]

Director shows a house with no electricity in the movie . Hero always carries a kerosene lamp. But the house has electric fan, switch board and electric lights shown in the movie . Why don't the director switch on those electrical device rather than giving a kerosene lamp to the hero. Director has gone to 1960 without giving any attention to minute detail and completely ruined the plot . The actress selection for the ghost also ruined the movie . It's a complete goof up in every sense , right from direction to casting. Tovino and shine tom has done a good job . Movie is boring , don't waste your time.

Evocative and nostalgic

[sonusabir12 · 10/10 · 25 April 2023]

I admire Aashiq Abu for making this aesthetic treat.

It is a risky step, to remake an old time classic and adapt a known story to the present-day audience.

The music is mesmerizing and the frames are aesthetically supreme.

There are problems with the casting, especially the lead actress, they could have cast an actress with more talent and versatility perhaps.

The dialogues could have been adapted better for the present times, some of Basheer's cheesy lines could have been modified to give it a relatable feeling for the present-day viewers.

But, I cannot take anything away from the tremendous effort of the director in recreating the time-period and experimenting with a movie that looks beyond just commercial success.

Disappointed

[zkzuber · 4/10 · 11 July 2023]

For some one like me who is not from south doesn't understand the language but have certain level of expectations from malayalam movie this movie does not reach to that level. I watched it with sub titles so it was not difficult to understand the movie. What i liked most about this movie is the location as far as the village near the scene i dont know if that was real or a movie set but it looked beautiful, its definitely not a horror movie but few scenes are little scary, the back ground score is good, the biggest fault is the script very poor, the climax action scene seems unnecessarily dragged and it look foolish to see the leading character trying to save the villian who murdered two people and was also planning to kill him.

Very touching movie

[nassir_y · 10/10 · 15 June 2023]

Bhargavi Nilayam: The classic musical score was tantalising. I arrived at this movie by chance. I was looking for a good ghost Tamil movie in Amazon and was redirected to a ghost movie Malayalam! Well there was English subtitles so...

The Sitar/Veena (which one is it really)? Simply was captivating. Beautiful song which were all poetic rather than just songs. We were able to ride with the music.

The villain or was he the hero?? The villain played his role perfectly. I wanted to throttle him that is how much I disliked him thanks to his superb acting.

The hero /the writer was perfect but the girl was not perfect. However we loved the movie. Please make in Tamil. Now heading for my laptop to watch the original on YouTube!

Perfect movie.

Neelavelicham

[shashi_tiwari · 10/10 · 7 June 2023]

Highly recommended to see this movie the movie is full of thrills and enthusiasm

The movie all the characters are really awesome and wonderful the characters which is most like is the hero and and actress of the movie Though the movie is so awesome and amazing I will highly recommended this movie.

To see qfor all with the family member

And ur know to buy watching this movie I can say one word in our common language it's called ok Paise wasul of the movie Yes. Though the all the characters are really horrible and wonderful the main thing which I point out is the amazing performance of the hero and actress.