Cast: Jayaram, Gopika, Siddique, BijuMenon, Innocent,Suraj Venjaramood, Jaffer Idukki

Director: Akku Akbar

Cinematography: Shaji

Akbar, of the Akbar-Jose director duo (of Mazhathullikilukkam, Sadanandante Samayam fame), has now started directing films alone under the name Akku Akbar.

The first film he directed under this name is Gauri in Hindi. And now he is moving on to his second film Veruthe Oru Bhaarya, which has already started rolling. The film is being produced by Salavuddin under the banner of Cinema Kottaka.

Scripted by K. Gireesh Kumar, Veruthe Oru Bhaarya has in lead roles Jayaram and Gopika and also has in the cast Jagathy Sreekumar, Innocent, Madhu Warrier, Suraaj Venjaramoodu, Sivaji Guruvayoor, Kalabhavan Prachod, Sarayu, Mini Arun, Mahima, Nivedhitha, Jaffer Idukki etc.

Cinematography by Shaji and art-direction by Saloo K. George are the highlights of this film, which is being shot in and around Thodupuzha.

Veruthe Oru Bhaarya will be brought to the theatres by Pyramid Saimira.

Cast: Mohanlal, Kavya Madhavan, Jayasurya, Bhama, Jagathy Sreekumar, Rajan P.Dev, Siddique

Director: Unni Krishnan

Banner:	Fabulance Entertainments
Cast:	Jayasuriya, Sooraj, Saikumar, Manikuttan, Jagathy, T G Ravi, Augustine, Maala, Bindu Panikkar
Direction:	V K Prakash
Music:	Vayalar Sharth- Alex Paul

Preview

V K Prakash, the ad maker turned film director has impressed the Mollywood cinema goers with the technical wizardry with which he realized his products. He is a director who was bestowed with the best directorial newcomer award in the national level, for his debut film ‘Punaradhivasam’.

V K P was never able to create competent films in terms of content, there after. His other movies like ‘Mullavalliyum’, ‘Thenmaavum’, ‘Moonnamathoraal’ and ‘Police’ were applauded for its savvy production values but the big loopholes in their scripts did shatter each of these film' s box office potential.

Now after a while V K P is back, trying for another commercial breakthrough with the new film titled 'Positive'.

'Positive' is moulded as a romantic thriller. The film has this title as it is more about the positive mindsets of people. And quite obviously, the positive becomes more relevant when the negative aspects are also shown “says Prakash, who is casting Jayasurya and Vani Kishore for the first time, in the lead of the film.

Ace scriptwriter S.N. Swamy, who pens for the film, tells the story of a group of youngsters - Raju, Winnie, Udhayan and Cherry. The team who were together in their studies forms a music troupe, to continue with their meetings and friendship.

In the meantime a romantic affair blossoms between Raju and a young girl named Jyothi, which starts spoiling their playful life.

As Jyothi's parents try to get her married off to a Police Officer named Aniyan, Raju desperately make arrangements to avoid the marriage. Even though this marriage doesn't takes place, something drastic happens in the life of Raju which brings every other members of the troupe into difficult proportions.

They are now brought face-to-face with Aniyan, who confronts them as a police officer.

Jayasurya is Aniyan, a mature and affable cop. Anniyan is stylish and warm and is a stern, non indulgent officer which means he is quite unlike me in many ways, remarks Jayasurya about his character in the film. Notebook fame Skanda (Suraj) does the role of Raju who plays the key board and is into vocals as well.

Debutante Ramesh Pisharody, does the role of Cherry, while Manikuttan with long tresses and a 'designer beard' is drummer Udayan and Vani Kishore becomes Winnie, the vocalist of the band.

Another debutante Ayilya G Nair does the role of Jyothi while young singer Al Sabith also does a pivotal character in the movie.

The film is Cinematographed by R. Ganesh while Bava does the art direction. Music is by Alex Paul while Sarath Vayalar pens the lyrics.

'Positive' being produced under the banner of Fabulance Entertainment Pvt Ltd, is slated for a May release.

Cast: Naren, Jayasurya, Indrajith, Meera Jasmin, Roma, Samvritha Sunil, Radhika

Director: Kamal

Cast: Mammootty, Sarath Kumar, Thilakan, Nedumudi Venu, Jagathy Sreekumar, Captain Raju, Lalu Alex, Manoj K Jayan, Biju Menon, Kalabhavan Mani, Suresh Krishna, Subair, Siddique, Roshan, Manikuttan, Kanika, Padmapriya, Urmila Unni, Valsala Menon, Nikhila .

Director: Hariharan

Producer: Gokulam Gopalan

Lyrics: ONV Kurup

Cinematography: Venu

Story Writer: M. T. Vasudevan Nair

Review:
The Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 is considered to be the first organized revolt against British rule and as the first step in India's struggle for independence. But more than half a century prior to that, Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja of the Padinjare Kovilakom of the Kottayam family, irked by the unpopular revenue policy followed by the East India Company in Malabar, threatened to cut down all the pepper vines if the Company persisted in revenue collection. A determined but futile attempt was made by the British to capture the Raja in his own palace at Pazhassi in April 1796.

Subsequently a proclamation was issued forbidding people from supporting the Raja, threatening confiscation of their property if they did so. In January 1797 the Raja's men launched daring attack on the security personnel stationed at Pazhassi, exterminating the entire party save one. In pitched battles fought over three days, the Raja's men using swords, spears, bows and arrows, overpowered the British forces armed with muskets. The British had to sign a temporary truce.

When the occupying forces broke the terms of the truce, the Raja revolted again, but by then the British had control over most of the south. The Raja, accompanied by his wife and immediate attendants, took refuge in the jungles. In 1804 the Raja's properties were confiscated and a reward was proclaimed for his head. Towards the end of 1805, the Raja was surrounded and shot dead by the side of a stream.

Hariharan, MT Vasudevan Nair and Mammootty, the people behind Oru Vadakkan Veeragaatha, an epoch making film that became a milestone in Malayalam cinema, are in the making of another epic, which is to hit the screens during the Christmas season. The film, which is being shot with a Pan Vision camera and exploits the latest technical advancements, has Mammootty playing the lead role of Pazhassi Raja. Tamil actor Sarath Kumar makes his debut in Malayalam with this film, playing Edachena Kunkan, the best friend of Pazhassi Raja.

Cast: Jayaram, Mukesh, Sreedevika, Jagathy Sreekumar, Sona, Salim Kumar, Kottayam Nazeer, Kalabhavan Mani, Narayanan Nair, Chali Pala, Shobha Mohan etc.


Director: Anil

Producer: Screen Cine Entertainments

Lyrics: Kaithapram Damodaran Nampoothiri

Cinematography: Anandakuttan

Editing: P.C. Mohanan

Art Direction: Balu Alappuzha

Screenplay: Rajan Kiriyath

Story Writer: Rajan Kiriyath

Review:
Director Anil (of the Anil-Babu duo) teams up with Jayaram once again after Anchil Oraal Arjunan to deliver Parthan Kanda Paralokam, another light-hearted flick. The film takes us to a little village named Krishnapuram where Parthasarathy lives. Parthasarathy became an atheist after his father died in an accident, that too while returning after a visit to the temple.

Parthan, as Parthasarathy is usually called, is a good-hearted person (Now hasn't Jayaram done that kind of a role one time too often?). Parthan has miraculously survived death on several occasions, right from his childhood days. Several times, while he was taken for dead, he'd survived, which led to people referring to him as "Paralokam kanda Parthan", i.e., 'Parthan, who had seen the other world'.

Parthan has lots of friends and of course some enemies too. And chief among the latter is the Panchayath president Phalgunan Thampy, who happens to be his nephew too. When Phalgunan's daughter Satyabhama returns after having completed her education, he takes care that Parthan doesn't get too close to her. But things are not fully under his control.

Meanwhile another guy named Madhavan, who claims to be Parthan's friend, makes his entry into Krishnapuram. Parthan himself doesn't recollect Madhavan, but is amazed that everything Madhavan says about his early days is perfectly correct. With the entry of Madhavan, whose identity seems to be shrouded in mystery, the story takes a turn.

Jayaram is Parthan while Mukesh becomes Madhavan. Jagathy Sreekumar does the role of Phalgunan Thampy and Sreedevika becomes Satyabhama.

Cast: Mammootty, Gopika, Lakshmi Rai, Siddique, Janardhanan, Hairsri Ashokan, Suraaj Venjaramoodu, Salim Kumar, Rajan.P.Dev, Cochin Haneefa, Kunjan, Manianpillai Raju, Bijukuttan, Kiran Raj, Anil Murali, Master Monu, Master Sonu, KPAC Lalitha, Urmila Unni, Remadevi, Shivanibhai, Kulapully Leela, etc.


Director: Anwar Rasheed

Producer: Shahul Hameed Marikkar ,Anto Joseph

Lyrics: Vayalar Sharat Chandra Varma, Bichu Thirumala, Santhosh Varma.

Cinematography: Loganathan

Art Direction: Suresh G. Kollam

Screenplay: Benny P. Nayarambalam

Story Writer: Benny P. Nayarambalam

The new Vishu offering from Mammootty 'Annan Thampi' is fetching the best of the collections in its opening weekend. The movie has made a gross collection of around two crores from its four day run in seventy five theatres.

The movie which opened as a early as 3.40 am on the release day at Thaanoor, one of the Mammootty strong holds, has been shown six times daily in many centers at North Malabar. Even in the capital city the movie made 33 shows in four days which yielded around 11 lakhs, the best ever for a Malayalam film in half a week.

Even in lesser centers like Kondotty, Alappuzha, Manjery, Attingal, Changanaseery and Vadakara, the movie has opened to the surprising initials.

Expected to break all the collection records, set by their previous venture ‘Rajamanikyam’, which collected around four crores from the three metro cities itself, ‘Annan Thampi’ is continuing its dream run in double centers in almost every major cities. An open month ahead with no real big releases should only ensure more business for its investors, Marikkar Films, who never had cared to market their films more than fifty days.

Review:
Annan Thambi is a laugh-a-minute comic escapade that would help boost your spirits and stretch those lips into a wide grin. A delightful blend of high and low humor pulled off splendidly with style, the film is a rib tickler that aims right at your funny bone.

Appu and Achu (Mammootty) are twin siblings who were born with swords drawn at each other and as years pass by, the no-holds-barred bullfight between the two goes on. A highly voluble Appu majestically rules over the Pollachi Market and is wooed by Thenmozhi (Laxmi Rai), niece to his erstwhile-associate-turned-foe Dharmarajan (Rajan P Dev). A dumb Achu meanwhile relives the Puranas in his dad's drama troupe while lamenting a lack of issues even after five years of matrimony with Lekshmi (Gopika).

Anwar Rasheed's Annan Thambi is a double dhamaka with nothing subtle or unique about it, and yet it's a movie that's fashioned to please. You do stand the risk of busting a gut on a couple of occasions despite the film unraveling a tale that's as old as mankind itself. Oh yes, we can see it all coming on time and right in place and we might even rail against it at times; it's nevertheless a charming film made bright by a few droll souls who spread loads of joy and cheer all around.

It's a mixed bag of hilarity in Annan Thambi; there are several of those slightly awkward moments and quite a few of the stomach ripping, laugh 'n roar kind. Brimming with unexpected and often uproarious events, the film strikes just the right balance between the salt and the sugar. Benny's might as a writer lies in the participative nature of his humor. He's quite in the swing of things here and accustomed to the beat of brotherhood and to the bonds that bound us all. He's sharp too and dabbles with a distinctive tone, to provide an appealing finish to his characters.

Rarely has there been an instance of an actor mimicking himself on screen. And when Mammootty does the apparently unthinkable, he drives an audience into a frenzied rapture with his highly infectious comic energy. With a free reign to be insane, the actor is a delight to watch in his dumb act, rediscovering the amusing facets of his personality time and again. The fun contingent with an immensely jovial Suraj Venjarammoodu at its helm, ably propped up by Harisree Ashokan and Salim Kumar stirs up a highly flavorsome concoction, with the right doses of wit, slapstick and gags. Among the lady leads, Gopika puts up a remarkable feat while Laxmi Rai is around with the right dosage of oomph.

Annan Thambi teems with obvious humor and stereotyped characters, and is nonetheless agreeable, mostly because the movie does not pretend to be anything it isn't. It might not be a refined comedy, but it's positively enjoyable since within its formulaic precincts, the humor works unusually well continually. It's a comedy that has likeable, earthy characters as well as consistent laughs which could have done infinitely better with a robust setting as well.

Which is why, stripped down to its core, I would brand Annan Thambi as a Rajamanikyam reincarnate in a dual avatar. And incredible filmmaking this certainly is not, but if you're on the lookout for an entertaining, undemanding couple of hours, you could for sure give Annan Thambi a try.

For the fans of glamour who got heart broken after realizing that Nayantara is not acting with Mammootty in the new film 'Parunthu', this news comes as a consolation. The crew of 'Parunthu' will bring in glamour conscious tall siren 'Navaneeth Kaur' to do the female lead of the movie that was earlier slated for Nayantara.

Navaneeth has been in the industry for quite some time without tasting any success, but was able to begin her roller coaster career in Telugu with R.P.Patnayak's 'Sreenu Vasantha Laxmi'.

This Punjabi ice maiden became much famous with her T.V.commercials and well known filmi albums. She is currently busy with AVS's 'Room Mates’ and Captain Vijayakanth's ‘Arsangam’.

Navaneeth will join the sets of the movie by the next week.

Cast: Suresh Gopi, Urmila Unni, Madhuben, Harikrishnan

Director: Rupesh Paul

Producer: E.A. Joseprakash

Lyrics: Rafeeque Ahmed

Cinematography: V.Vinod

Art Direction: Sujith Raghav

Story Writer: Subhash Chandran
Preview :

Produced under the banner of Mother Movies and based on a short story by Subhash Chandran, Laptop is the debut directorial venture by journalist-cum-writer Rupesh Paul. The film tells the story of an unwed mother and her only son Ravi, who as he grows up, gets distanced from his mother, due to a very strong passion for the theatre. He drifts away into the world of the theatre, getting totally separated from her.

Gradually Ravi becomes a world-renowned artist and travels to different countries across the globe and performs at all places. In due course a young girl named Payal, who is much younger to him, develops a liking for him. After a gap of thirty long years, Ravi comes back to see his mother. But on the eve of his return, his mother drifts into a coma.

Ravi returns to Kerala with Payal, who hails from Kolkata. The story takes a different turn from here and ends in a very dramatic and symbolic manner, very sensitively delving into the realm of relationships. Laptop, which is almost complete, will be brought to theatres in May by Kichu Release.

George Kithu, who was earlier an associate of Bharathan and who, as an independent director has given us the well-made Savidham, Adharam, Samagamam, Innalekalillathe etc, is on to his new film Swapnangalil Hazel Mary, which has started rolling.

The film is being shot in and around Kannur. The director, who had last given us the totally insufferable Suryakireedom, now attempts a heroine-oriented, low-budget film scripted by John Paul.

Swapnangalil Hazel Mary tells the story of a young girl named Mary whose life goes through very strange twists and turns. It's Bhama who plays the central character.

The cast also includes Vineeth Kumar, Manikuttan, Thilakan, Jagathy Sreekumar, Mukesh, Rashmi Verma, Valsala Menon, Kannur Sreelatha etc. Produced by Muhammed Hassan under the banner of Mangalassery Films, Swapnangalil Haizel Mary features lyrics by Gireesh Puthencherry and Hasilal, music by Jerson Antony, art-direction by Nathan Mannoor and cinematography by M.D. Sukumaran.

Innathe Chinthavishayam: Review




Cast: Mohanlal, MeeraJasmine, Mukesh, Innocent, Sukanya, Mohini,
Mammukoya

Director: Sathyan Anthikad

Producer: Aashirwad Cinemas

Lyrics: Gireesh Puthencherry

Cinematography: Alagappan

Editing: G Rajagopal

Art Direction: Santhosh Raman

Screenplay: Sathyan Anthikad

Let's get a few things straight here first. It's a world cut out in black and white out there; the women clad in white and the men in black to be more precise, and there just aren't any grey souls around. Sathyan Anthicaud's Reflection for the Day dwells audaciously on a rather infantile notion of women's lib that would regrettably find very few allies among the fairer sex.

Tresa (Sukanya) has crossed swords with her husband-with-the-roving-eye Dr. Murali (Mukesh), since the dentist has repeatedly displayed a tendency to lug at frail women hearts than their teeth. Pramila (Mohini) has to deal with an exceedingly domineering and distrustful spouse Peethambaran (Vijayaraghavan), who simply refuses to let his wife vanish beyond his sight. Noushad (Ashokan) is the typical MCP on the block, who would be tremendously glad to have his erudite lawyer wife Rehna (Muthumani) wield the broom than her books.

It's a fine night, when into their disruptive lives rides in GK, short for Gopakumar (Mohanlal), a fabric exporter and a smooth dealer in human relations gone kaput. Along with his sharp-witted designer damsel Kamla (Meera Jasmine), GK sets about tying up the loose ends.

It's indeed true when they say that it doesn't rain, but it pours. Here is a director who has been toying around for the past few years with more than a few fraught strategies to recreate the yesteryear magic that has been waning with time. With Innathe Chinthavishayam, Sathyan Anthicaud has hit the bottom, and misses the mark by a mile at his attempts to convincingly convey the 'deliberation' across. It seems more plausible that a story or something that resembles it was forcibly woven around an iota of an idea, a passing remark or perhaps a fleeting comment.

It would forever remain mysterious as to why Mohanlal gives the nod to a script as the one in question. GK offers him little scope to be the actor we so much love; the mediator role is merely a flawed extension of the innumerable guy-next-door roles that he has donned to perfection. Supposedly the female lead, Meera Jasmine has nothing much to do expect mouth a few idealistic lines and look sober and silly at once. Kamla should be an amusing coffee break for the actress from the grave stuff that she has been grappling with, lately. The supporting cast does a competent job as well, despite being caught up in embarrassingly tricky and illogical sequences.

Barring the protagonist, men in Innathe Chinthavishayam would fall into three categories - lechers, chauvinists and psychos. Women, who bear the brunt of it all, hence spend their lives on their own, fending off unsolicited advances from sex maniacs and tolerantly waiting for their errant companions to turn up remorsefully at their doorsteps. You see then, that there isn't a character around with a bit of life; they pop out of aberrant conditions like deviant androids and continue to prance around for a while before biting the dust.

Innathe Chinthavishyam has a hastily conceived feel all about it. It doesn't move much beyond those tear-jerker soaps that harp on and on about marital discord and remains as foreseeable as the tides. And it's just too sad that so much of the film is clumsy, manipulative and unnatural, or simply so hard to believe.

Sorry, but this simply ain't enough food for thought.

Banner:	A V A Productions
Cast:	Sara, Jagathy, Jayasuriya, Thilakan, Edavela Babu, Mala, Aravindhan, Nedumudi Venu, Salim Kumar, Indrans, Kochu Preman, Rajan P Dev, Kollam Thulasi, M R Gopakumar, Lena, Sukumary, Kaviyoor Ponnamma
Direction:	Balachandra Menon
Production:	A.V. Anoop
Music:	M Jayachandran

Here comes another Balachandra Menon film, that too with a more than interesting title 'De Ingottu Nokkiye' (meaning 'Hey, look here’). This is a movie which marks the coming back of Mendeingottu070408_1t.jpgon after five years of the release of his 'Krishna Gopalakrishna', in the credit titles of Story- screenplay- dialogue and direction. Many from and off the trade expects the movie to become the dark horse among the Vishu releases due to its curious, but potential content and cast lines. Even Menon went in to describe the movie in its initial posters as ''an idiotic movie created with intelligence''.

'De Ingottu Nokkiye...' is a family story set against a political milieu, which tells much about family politics and families in politics. Menon, is for the first time making a satirical attempt loaded with references to current political happenings, told in his own humorous way. Featuring Jagathy Sreekumar in an interesting double role, the movie is also much awaited for being the last film of Bharath Gopi. The other highlights includes the new heroine Sarah, a Chennai based model debuting into cinema.

Menon has been very careful to keep the storyline of the movie more to himself and his crew. But as far as it is known to the media, the movie tells a plot in the backdrop of a big joint family headed by three brothers. Janardhanan plays the elder brother Vettikad Sadhanandan, while Jagathy Sreekumar is Vettikadu Sadasivan, a high profile political leader who becomes the chief Minister of the state, but is still the hero of a running love story ( like the great legendary Tamil actor turned politician MGR) Jagathy also appear in the second role as his twin brother Vettikkadu Sadashivan.

Sarah plays Paravathy, the daughter of Sadanandhan while Jayasuriya is another member of the family, Vettikadu Sivan. Balachandramenon is said to have taken care to include all the dirty games in present day politics that he had witnessed as a journalist. The director firmly believes that this is a different type of film which surely will get the acceptance and applause from the masses.

The cast of the movie also includes Thilakan, Edavela Babu, Mala, Aravindhan, Nedumudi Venu, Salim Kumar, Indrans, Kochu Preman, Rajan P Dev, Kollam Thulasi, M R Gopakumar, Lena, Sukumary, Kaviyoor Ponnamma and Kalpana.

Balachandra Menon also appears in a small cameo in the movie as a police officer. The music section of the film is handled by M Jayachandran who gives music to songs written by Chandru, Kaithpram and Gireesh Puthencherry. Jibu Jacob handles the camera while Bhominaathan does the editing. Produced by A V Anoop in the banner of A V A productions, the movie will be distributed by Vaishakha Release as a Vishu movie.

As an independent director, he's just two films old. But young Anwar Rasheed, who is all set to release his third film this month, is already a director to reckon with. His debut venture itself placed him in the big league. With Rajamaanickam, which was Anwar Rasheed's first film as an independent director, he created so tremendous an impact at the box office as was never expected from a debutante director, especially one so young. Rajamaanickam started rewriting box-office fundas and catapulted Anwar Rasheed into the big league. He then repeated the box office success with Chotta Mumbai. And now he is all set to release his third film, Annan Thambi. Anwar Rasheed speaks to Nowrunning.com about Annan Thambi, and about his earlier ventures, all with a voice marked with tons of confidence.

Excerpts:

Let's begin with Annan Thambi. What's the film all about?

Annan Thambi, as the name itself suggests, is the story of two brothers, Appu and Achchu. Circumstances somehow take these two brothers to two different poles, two different worlds. This is all I would like to say for now. The rest you can see for yourself, as the film is all set for release.


Rajamaanickam and Chotta Mumbai were basically entertainers. What about Annan Thambi?

Annan Thambi too is an entertainer, a full-fledged entertainer. The film has been packaged with all ingredients necessary for a wholesome entertainer. It has everything in it - a well-narrated story, drama, sentiments, comedy, action, romance, songs, dances and all.


Do you expect Annan Thambi to repeat the kind of success enjoyed by your earlier two films?

The film is packaged in such a way that it should appeal to the common man, who comes to the theatre expecting nothing but entertainment, wholesome entertainment. I hope people like and accept the film. That's what I pray for.


You had been instrumental in Mammootty re-inventing himself in a totally new kind of role in Rajamaanickam. The film saw Mammootty sending the audience into peals of laughter. What has Annan Thambi got in store for the fans of Mammootty?

Mammookka is doing a double role in the film. Of course he has done double roles in many films, but in Annan Thambi it is going to be different. One of the characters that he plays is dumb, something which he has never played. And it should be pointed out that Mammookka, the ace performer that he is, has added a new dimension to the role. The two characters that he is playing in the movie are entirely different, and we are all going to see Mammootty in full form as Appu and Achchu.


Now let's go to your beginnings as an independent director. It's heard that Rajamaanickam happened by sheer coincidence. Is it true?

Yes. Rajamaanickam was initially to be directed by director Ranjith and I was to assist him in the film. But even before it started, he had to back out due to personal reasons and it was he who suggested me as the director. It all happened so suddenly that it was a pleasant shock or surprise for me. It was much more than a dream come true. And Mammookka gave me all the support I needed and thus Rajamaanickam happened.


In Rajamaanickam, the slang was the highlight. Chotta Mumbai had the life of Fort Kochi as the backdrop. So, what are you now up to in Annan Thambi?

You'll have to just wait and see. All that I'd like to say is that I don't want to make films along a particular pattern, though all of them are basically entertainers. Rajamaanickam was a hit because of the freshness in treatment and the slang. I didn't want to repeat that kind of treatment or the usage of any slang in Chotta Mumbai. I made it in an entirely different way. And now, Annan Thambi is going to be different from these two earlier films of mine. Just wait and see.


Ok, then. All the best!

Heroine:Meera Nandan

Banner:	Sagar Balaji Creations
Cast:	Dileep, Meera Nandan, Reena Bashir, Sruthi Menon, Biju Menon, Innocent, Mala Aravindan, Salimkumar, Sukumari, Anoop Chandran, Bineesh Kodiyery, Rizabava, Ashok, Suja

Director: Lal Jose

Cinematography: Vipin Mohan

Art Direction: Gokul Das

Screenplay: Sindhu Raj


Review:
Lal Jose's Mulla is a train that terribly goes off rails on a bridge and sinks deep down without a trace. A keen hunt for a few respites amidst the wreckage turns out to be futile, as Mulla tells a tale that's as fusty as yesteryear's bread.

Mulla (Dilip) was named after his mother; a nameless hooker merely known by her warm smile and the fresh fragrance of jasmine on her hair. When she throws herself before a speeding train, Mulla grows up as an orphan, alone, to be a local thug on the parched sands of the Karakkad slum. As he runs into an abandoned child and Latchi (Meera Nandan), a young girl striving to overpower the turbulent tides of life on her own, he mends his nasty ways and learns to march to the beats of a different drum. Destiny though, has other plans in store.

Mulla is a film that stumbles early and never really picks up. It's dazed and confused and falls flat in its efforts to be the least absorbing. Sindhuraj's script has not much of a story to occupy the running time and by the end there is neither a conflict nor an agreeable dénouement. The set-ups are simply too outrageous and backbreaking to sit through. The plotting is clumsy and never rises above a self-imposed blandness. The characters are never really clearly defined nor is there a reason for us to care about them.

Dileep as Mulla, does nothing less of a fair job and nothing more. The solid hair-cut is all striking, but he is shaken up by a flood of pointless events and seems all bewildered. He finds himself in an unenviable position when he has to use nearly every acting trick in his armory to distract us from a plot that's as fragile and frail as a house of cards. Debutante Meera Nandan, looks pretty as a portrait, despite being oddly made-up and ridiculously clad. She appears at times slightly jumpy, and at others distinctly uncomfortable. Biju Menon makes a reappearance in an outlandish wig and Bhavana resurfaces in one of the worst cameos ever.

Vidyasagar saves his face in an otherwise disappointing album with a solitary Kannin Vathil; a lilting lullaby all set to be a chartbuster. And Vipin Mohan is back with a biggie bang; his terrific camerawork is one of the few redeeming features in this film that's plodding and quite wanting in reason.

It feels impossible to believe that the film comes from the much-admired director of Classmates and Achanurangatha Veedu. This is indeed a mighty fall, and the effects quite detrimental and traumatic. For it is truly inconceivable even if you overlook that carcass of a script, that the film lacks an essential sense of direction.

Disfigured by a hollow script, winding performances and sullen direction Mulla is a big-time debacle and a colossal downer. Be the least amazed if you walk out of it wondering what hit you in your deep slumber!