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Category / Movies
December 14, 2019

Mardaani-2: Intense and Pacy

In 2014, when the feminist movement hadn’t yet turned a corner, Rani Mukerji had showed that a female cop could look menacing on screen. That perhaps was the USP of Mardaani, which received appreciation for its rawness and intense portrayal. Given the popularity of Rani Mukerji’s character and the success of the film, a sequel was inevitable—especially in the present scenario.

The film is set in Kota, Rajasthan where Shivani Shivaji Rao (Rani Mukerji) is now posted. Since her sensational handling of the Karan Rastogi case (in Mardaani), Shivani has climbed up the ladder significantly to become one of the finest cops in the country and is now Superintendent of Police (SP). Terror grips Kota when a psychopath (Vishal Jethwa) starts raping and murdering random women, sending shockwaves across the city. It’s up to Shivani to hunt him down before things get out of hand.

As the sequel of a reasonably successful film, comparisons are inevitable. Pradeep Sarkar, who directed the first part, isn’t helming the sequel and it’s Mardaani’s writer Gopi Puthran (also one of Pradeep’s associate directors in Mardaani) who makes his directorial debut here. His writing is on point, and although it isn’t as razor-sharp as it was in the first installment, things do work well for a major part.

Movie Review, Movies
By Hariprasad Sadanandan
December 14, 2019

Mamangam does not do justice to the legend

Ever since the cover page of Vanitha magazine with Mammooty, in an effeminate get-up, on it, there was an ominous feeling about Mamangam, Mammootty’s soon-to-be-released magnum opus. Can Mammootty pull it off?

By the time this ambitious film hit the interval, viewers were treated to a hitherto unseen avatar of Mammootty, and the response among the audience was that of total silence. They weren’t mesmerised by the talented actor’s performance but were possibly cringing at the scenes that were playing out on screen. The sadder fact is that this character bodes no relevance at all to the film in any way. What could have been a proud entry in the annals Malayalam cinema turned out to be dull and will be remembered for Mammooty portraying his most cringe-worthy character ever.

The history of Mamangam is quite well known. The blood feud that arose between the Zamorins of Kozhikode and the ruler of Valluvanad over the proprietorship of this lucrative trade fair went on for over three centuries. Legend has it that a pre-teen warrior was the first to get close enough to the Zamorin to hurt him. Though the young warrior was killed, it also put an end to the bloody game of thrones. There is everything in this legend to make for a magnum opus—courage, martial arts, politics, deception, strategy, emotions, pride and all that shebang. Forget creating a masterpiece action-drama, the makers simply couldn’t put together a decent run-of-the-mill period film.

Movie Review, Movies
By Toms Varghese
December 12, 2019

Kettiyolaanu Ente Malakha normalizes marital rape

Spoiler Alert: Some scenes are discussed in detail

It’s not that I go to the movies with pre-conceived notions but in this instance, I was assured it was a romcom—so I let my guard down, all ready to laugh at the inanities that would delightfully lace a Malayalam film in that genre. The film does wander around in that zone till half-time and then takes a wrong turn.

Sleevachan (Asif Ali), 34, is a bachelor living in the Idukki High Ranges. He is a busy farmer with special interest in cultivating a certain variety of pepper and besides, he runs a DTP/Photostat shop in town. He finally decides to get married not because he needs companionship but his mother needs that more.

Movie Review, Movies
By Minu Ittyipe
December 7, 2019

Panipat: Takes liberty with History

It won’t be wrong to say that period films made with lavish budgets are reaching a saturation point these days—at least in Bollywood. Lots of the film-makers feel that they can cash in on the Baahubali wave. Ashutosh Gowariker, who is a pioneer in this genre, comes up with yet another magnum opus, on the third battle of Panipat.

The film is set in the 18th century, during the Maratha Empire, with Sadashiv Rao Bhau (Arjun Kapoor), nephew of Baji Rao, at the helm with his wily wife Parvati Bai (Kriti Sanon). Panic ensues when the news of Afghan king Ahmad Shah Abdali’s (Sanjay Dutt) impending invasion spreads like wild fire. The film begins prior to the war and focuses on the battle in detail.

Like many of the period films that have been released in the last couple of years, Panipat does not match the high standards set by Baahubali which has become the barometer for war films. Gowariker, who left us stunned with his execution in Lagaan and Jodhaa Akbar, clearly has been on a downward graph since the Hrithik Roshan-starrer in 2008. The films that he has done thereafter have not only tanked at the box office but also not been up to the mark in terms of quality.

Movie Review, Movies
By Hariprasad Sadanandan
December 6, 2019

Pati Patni Aur Woh: A fine remake

It’s a known fact that Bollywood loves remakes. Nothing guarantees success (at least on paper) like the remake of a successful film. So, we’ve seen remakes made from blockbuster films of other industries and in recent decades, also witnessed production houses remaking blockbusters of their own. Pati Patni Aur Woh, the official remake of the 1978 cult classic with the same title, is the latest addition to the list.

Like the original, this film also is a romantic-comedy that involves a love triangle of sorts. Set in Kanpur, Abhinav (Kartik Aryan) works in the PWD department and is married to Vedika (Bhumi Pednekar) who works as a tutor in an institute. Theirs was an arranged marriage between two Lucknow-based families. After a point, Abhinav starts to experience a sense of boredom in his life. That’s when Tapasya (Ananya Pandey) enters his life. She is in the city on business—doing plot visits—Abhinav ends up as her guide for the same.

Despite his best friend-cum-colleague Fahim’s (Aparshakti Khurrana) councel, Abhinav ends up in an emotional soup. One on hand, he has his dutiful wife Vedika, and on the other, he finds himself attracted to the energetic Tapasya. It all starts from a lie that he tells Tapasya and things go haywire from there.

Movie Review, Movies
By Hariprasad Sadanandan
December 5, 2019

Does Cinema perpetuate our nation’s rape culture?

A week ago, Film Companion had released a video of an actors’ roundtable hosted by Anupama Chopra, attended by Vijay Sethupathi, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Vijay Devarakonda, Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Deepika Padukone, Manoj Bajpayee and Ayushmann Khurrana. There was nothing really insightful about the conversation, except for Sethuapthi’s earnestness, Parvathy’s fervour, and Deepika’s support of Parvathy’s fervour, but it still became a hot topic of discussion in its aftermath. It was to do with a discussion that took place regarding cinema and its responsibility towards the society.

Parvathy was asked about her rule that she’d never work in a film that has an item number or presented a misogynistic worldview and she shared her opinion quite bluntly. It started with Alia Bhat bringing Todd Philips’ Joker into conversation while talking about cinema with troubled protagonists. Parvathy went a bit further and compared it with Arjun Reddy and talked about representation versus glorification.

The internet was quick to appreciate Parvathy and the way she handled herself while criticising a film whose main lead was present at the roundtable. But some felt it was unfair to Vijay Devarakonda that he was being asked questions about a film that was released two years ago. Nevertheless, the fact that he was at the table because of the film, I thought it’s only fair. Some people rightfully questioned Parvathy’s usage of the word ‘bipolar’ and she was quick to acknowledge her mistake.

Entertainment, Movies, Opinion
By Sankeertana Dantuluri
December 1, 2019

Puzhikkadakan: Script lacks Imagination

There are 18 moves in kalaripayattu. And if all these fail, there is the 19th–Puzhikkadakan. This is a deceptive move in which the fighter obscures the opponent’s vision and disarms or kills the enemy. The term puzhikkadakan or its more popular alternative ‘avasanathe adavu’, or last resort, is used to denote that one is at his/her wit’s end and will attempt the riskiest move in a do or die attempt.

Puzhikkadakan is the story of a soldier Havildar Samuel/Sam (Chemban Vinod), who faces a tragedy back home. And having tried everything to get justice, he is forced to engage in a gambit that could very well end his life.

Sam’s arrival at his village in Idukki on leave is quite dramatic. His neighbour and friend Koshy (Alencier) in a drunken haze mistakenly interprets a late-night phone call to be that of Sam’s death. A surprised Sam is welcomed by a host of bewildered villagers drinking hot black tea outside his home early morning. There is a reason for stretching out the opening scene. That’s how the 120-minute film feels like, a stretch.

Movie Review, Movies
By Toms Varghese
November 29, 2019

Enai Nokki Paayum Thota: The bullet misses its mark

It’s difficult to retain enthusiasm for a film when its release gets delayed for an extended period. Gautham Menon’s Enai Nokki Paayum Thota had started rolling in early 2016 and that point, there was a considerable buzz, given the unconventional director-actor pairing of Menon and Dhanush, both known for different kinds of cinema. It has taken more than three-and-a-half years to hit the screens, and not surprisingly, it has arrived with not much hype attached to it.

Raghu (Dhanush) is a final year college student who has a relationship with actress Lekha (Megha) who is shooting at his college. She has a troubled life largely due to her ‘guardian’ Kuberan (Senthil). Although Lekha has to separate from Raghu to ensure his safety at one point, destiny reunites them after a span of four years in different circumstances.

You could be forgiven for thinking that this film has something to do with Menon’s previous directorial Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada which featured Simbu in the lead. A boy-meets-girl plot, a romance that bears the Gautham Menon stamp and then a sudden shift to the action-thriller genre. Except for the change in the lead pair, there is a huge sense of deja vu that you cannot avoid. Moreover, the voiceovers which Gautham loves to use in his films have now become an overdone prop, causing irritation.

Movie Review, Movies
By Hariprasad Sadanandan
November 28, 2019

Another bad hair day for Shane Nigam

What’s with Shane Nigam? Is the 23-year-old actor arrogant, an addict or just plain stupid? These are some of the questions that have been doing rounds in Mollywood for a while now. Some have already passed their judgment while others are still wondering what went wrong. But things are going awry for the talented youngster.

The son of late Kalabhavan Abi, one of the most beloved mimicry artists and comedians who never got his due in Malayalam cinema, Nigam has had his share of struggles. He started off with a dance reality show in his early teens, acted in a TV series and went on to do bit parts in films until he was noticed in Rajeev Ravi’s Annayum Rasoolum. He earned kudos for his debut as the hero in Kismath. Shane Nigam then went on to give impressive performances in C/o Saira Banu, Parava, Eeda, Kumbalangi Nights and Ishq. And just when Malayalam film lovers were getting used to the swift rise to stardom of the talented young actor, Nigam’s change of hairstyle brought matters to a head.

What led to the dramatic turn of events began when Nigam posted a video blaming Veyil producer Joby George of threatening him and his family last month. Joby claimed that Nigam had changed his hairstyle in violation of their contract. Though the issue was initially settled with the intervention of FEFKA and AMMA, matters seemingly didn’t get better. With Shane posting a completely new hairdo on social media with the tagline ‘Pradhishedham’ (protest), things spiraled out of hand.

Entertainment, Movies
By Toms Varghese
November 23, 2019

Varthakal Ithuvare: Falls flat midway

A host of talented actors, an interesting plot and a 90s setting: This had the potential to be a good entertainer only if it was written, directed and edited well.

Varthakal Ithuvare is set in the 90s precisely the year 1990 in a village in Kollam. The story surrounds a police station headed by SI Ittan (Nedumudy Venu), head constable Pilla (Alencier) along with constables Vinayan (Siju Wilson), Mathews (Vinay Forrt) and Habib (Saiju Kurup). Nothing much happens here except for petty thefts by local thief Kumaran (Mamukoya) or skirmishes caused by the loud-mouth Chakkappan (Nandu) and his nemesis Iththak (Sunil Sugadha).

Vinayan is talented but he is under-appreciated by Ittan who is partial to the opportunist Mathews. The police are instructed to keep a watch out for a notorious burglar named Charles, who writes ‘viplavam jayikatte’ (Viva la Revolution) on the walls of houses he plunders. When the same writing is found on the wall of Iththak’s house after his daughter’s gold chain was robbed, the life of everyone in that village turns upside down. Despite SI Ittan’s disdain towards him, Vinayan investigates the case leading to events that tarnishes his name and almost ends his relationship with his college sweetheart. Remainder of the film shows how Vinayan solves the case and wins back his love.

Movie Review, Movies
By Toms Varghese
November 23, 2019

Pagalpanti: Takes audience for granted

Aneez Bazmee has given us many enjoyable comic capers over the years like No Entry, Welcome and Singh is Kinng. Even his previous release Mubarakan was passable. The basic rule while watching mindless comedies is the clichéd, ‘keep your brains at home’. This genre works as an escapist fare, a comic relief from the everyday tensions that life is bound to give us. Bazmee’s latest venture in slapstick comedy is Pagalpanti, which as the name suggests, (an attempt at making) a madcap comedy.

Raj (John Abraham) is touted to be a person who brings bad luck on everyone and everything around him. To prove the case in point, the PNB bank where he finds work gets bankrupt on the very first day due to a scam by businessman Niraj Modi. Sounds familiar? Raj then goes to London to meet up with his friends Chandu (Arshad Warsi) and Chunky (Pulkit Samrat).

Out of cash and pretty much jobless, the three friends then get hired by a couple of wacky goons, Raja (Saurabh Shukla) and WiFi Bhai (Anil Kapoor) who are Jija-Saala (brother-in-laws) by relation. Things go from bad to worse with a series of loony sequences and then we get to see Niraj Modi in action. Amidst all this mess, the film also has its three lead heroines decking up as eye candy and then uttering some of the worst dialogues that you can think of in the modern era.

Entertainment, Movie Review, Movies
By Hariprasad Sadanandan
November 17, 2019

Sangathamizhan: A total misadventure

Kollywood seems to have caught a ‘Farmer fever’ in 2019. So many of the prominent films this year have dealt with the theme and it’s another matter altogether that they’ve made caricatures out of it. Vijay Sethupathy’s latest venture Sangathamizhan, directed by Vijay Chandar, uses agriculture as a major tool to take its story forward. The masala genre hasn’t been kind to Sethupathy (or maybe he just isn’t picking good commercial scripts) so far and hence, I was skeptical about this film.

Murugan (Sethupathy) is a wannabe actor who wants to excel in comedy roles. His sidekick Soori (Soori) is also an aspiring actor who wishes to be a lead hero. Murugan, who is poor falls in love with Kamalini (Raashi Khanna) who is, you guessed it, a rich girl. Her father (Ravi Kishan) is a wealthy industrialist and he gets the shock of his life when he meets Murugan. He is reminded of Tamizh (Sethupathy), a social activist of a village in Theni.

Kamalini’s father and Kuzhandaivel (Ashutosh Rana) had earlier plotted to murder Tamizh and his family. Now, on seeing a doppelganger, they decide to use Murugan in their ploy to set up a Copper factory in Theni. It was Tamizh’s leadership that had denied the corporates an entry into the village and with this newly devised plan (which is as old as the hills), the antagonist duo focus on completing their mission. Will Murugan fall prey to the trap? What are the issues that forced Tamizh to revolt?

Movie Review, Movies
By Hariprasad Sadanandan
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