How Old Are You - Malayalam Movie Review - Manju Warrier, Kunchako Boban

How Old Are You - Malayalam Movie Review

Crew

Directed by     Rosshan Andrrews
Produced by     Listin Stephen
Written by     Bobby Sanjay
Starring     Manju Warrier
Kunchako Boban
Music by     Gopi Sunder
Editing by     Mahesh Narayanan
Studio     Magic Frames
Distributed by     Central Pictures
Release dates   17 May 2014 (Kerala)
Country     India
Language     Malayalam

Cast

Manju Warrier as Nirupama Rajeev
Kunchako Boban as Rajeev
Kaniha
Siddhartha Basu
Lalu Alex
Vanitha Krishnachandran
Vinay Forrt
Sreerag Nambiar
Jayaraj Warrier
Muthumani
Sethulakshmi
Amritha Anil as Lekshmi Rajeev

The return of Malayalees favorite heroine of perhaps all time has been in the news since months. Finally the film has hit the screens over coming 'various' odds. Did it satisfy the hype or did PR team over did their job, lets see.

Nirupama Rajeev is a Govt. employee, a loving wife and a caring mother. She is the representative of millions of Indian house wives/working mothers who have kept their ambitions and dreams locked up for their family or their husbands. Thanks to her Male Chauvinistic husband and an 'incident' that happens in her life Nirupama is forced to take some stern decisions which turns her life around. Was its for good or bad - the remaining reels tells us.

The trailer and basic story line gives an impression that the movie is inspired from 'English Vinglish' with a hint of 'Ethir Neechal'. Yes, in a broad sense it can be called. But How Old Are You has multiple layers that makes it a stand out film at the same time stand along with the recent women oriented, much celebrated, films like English Vinglish & Queen. Its difficult for majority of women folks in our country to break the barriers they themselves or the society builds around them post marriage (even though the situation is slowly changing). The films remembers them to break the shackles, chase the dreams, after all Age is just a number.

The 1st half movies largely at leisurely pace with some nice humor (some crass too) thrown in the mix. It was breezy and entertaining. The 2nd half takes some what a serious tone and pace drops a bit. It do goes to preachy/philosophical mode at times. But as a whole the film is inspirational, emotional and entertaining.

HOAY is the perfect come back vehicle for Manju Warrier. She arrests our attention and owns the screen like she used to do in her prime. The gap of 14 years wasn't felt much apart from couple of scenes. The film truly rides on her. Kudos to Kunchako Boban for doing the role of an MCP where the female character has more screen time and opportunities to score. Sethulakshmiamma (who did the role of Indran's father in 'LRL') was excellent. Rest of the cast were okay. Kaniha and the kid who played the daughter were miscasts.

Roshan Andrrews after an average outing is back to his full form in 'HOAY'. He handles the theme neatly and naratesa good family entertainer to the viewers. Bobby-Sanjay's scripting was as always good (the only time the duo mis fired was in 'Casanovva') and their dialogues were impressive. Cinematography was good, Editing could have been better. There's one song during the movie which was good, while the BG score was tad average.

In all its a film every family should watch, every Women must watch.

Rating: 3.5/5

Verdict: Very Good

Last Word: SHE IS BACK !!!!

PS: If the 'Master of Ring' had some questions for you take back some polite answers from the 'Queen' :wink:

Law Point - Malayalam Movie Review - Kunchako Boban, Namitha Pramod

Crew

 Director: Lijin Jose Producer: David Kachappally Music: Mejo Joseph Lyrics: Rafeeq Ahmed Cinematography: Neil D.Cuhna Editing: Manoj Art Direction: Jothish Shankar Story/Writer: Devidasan 

Cast

Kunchacko Boban (Satya), Namitha Pramod (Maya), Nedumudi Venu, K. P. A. C. Lalitha, Devan, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Joy Mathew, P Balachandran, Riya Saira

 Satya is a tough nut and a cunning, conniving, shifty, sneaky, scheming and down right sly of a lawyer, who goes ato any lengths or do anything to win cases. One day Sathya gets to appear for the accused in a Suicide case. Since the case hasn't been registered, he tries to convince the girl 'Maya' for an out of court settlement. Will he manage to convince her, if yes how, is everything as we see, who is playing whom, forms the rest of the story.

The title and the tag line, 'Law Point - Law gets pointless' could mislead you as there is just one court scene in the movie, that to just to establish the character of Kunchako Boban. Its basically mind games between few individuals, but by the time you get to know it, its too late. The film takes too much time to get into the track. If not for 'Maya' and superb portrayal by Namitha Pramod the first half would  have been damp squib. The second half, about 40 mins long , rushes through proceedings. The film gets exciting only at the final reels where the 'twists' are revealed, and there are quite a few of them, thrown at you one after the other. These multiple twists keep the movie from being said 'predictable' but if the scenes leading to it aren't exciting, the mission is a failure. Also the audience is not given the actual picture itself to call those twists to be jaw dropping or surprising. Still could have worked to an extent, with good direction, recent example being 7th day.

Kunchako Boban looked uncomfortable and unconvincing as the tough nut lawyer and appeared forced in the initial scenes. Namitha Pramod was, as said before, very good, in the portrayal of smart young no-nonsense girl doesn't easily give into Sathya's charms. Krishna Shankar was good and rest of the cast were okay.

Direction could have been better, the script didn't help the case too. Cinematography was good, Editing wasn't bad either. 'Oru mozhi' song has been used very well. Back ground score was okay.

In all, Law Point is Half baked mystery/thriller.

Rating: 2.5/5

Verdict: Average

Pauly Technique - Malayalam Movie Review - Kunchako Boban, Bhavana

Pauly Technique - Malayalam Movie Review - Kunchako Boban, Bhavana

Crew

Director:  M.Padmakumar

Script:  Nishad Koya

Producers:  Kala Nair and Liyakath Tirur

Banner:  Mrinalini Gandhi Cinemas

Distributor:  Percy Pictures

Music:  Gopi Sundar

Editor:  Ranjan Abraham

Cinematographer:  Pramod K Pillai

 Lyrics:  Rajeev Nair

Cast

Kunchacko Boban - Pauly

 Bhavana - Aswathy

Vijayaragavan - Sukumaran Nair 

Aju Varghese - Becker

 Ambika 

Devi Chandana 

Shiju 

Kochupreman 

Thesni Khan 

Idavela Babu

Pauly is a jobless youth, who along with his childhood friends are members of the communist party youth wing. He is involved in all the social activities of his villages and often gets in the way of Panchayath President Sukumaran Nair, who is at logger heads with Pauly from his school days. In a terrorist attack happened in Mumbai Pauly's father, a Commando, gets killed  With the compensation money he got from the Govt., Pauly decides to buy the closed 'Dakshyani' Biscuits factory and reopen it as agro Processing and storing facility. Sukumaran Nair understanding this puts up road blocks, one after the other, to disrupt Pauly at any cost. The feud intensifies when Asawthy, daughter of Sukumaran Nair, Pauly's sweet heart from child hod refuses to marry anybody other than Pauly. The techniques that Pauly adopts to fight the corrupt politicians and officials, win over his love and make the factory run forms the rest of the story.

PAuly Technique resembles many Malayalam movies of the past, like Mithunam, Punyalan agarbathis etc, but still is able to stand on its own thanks to the interesting script by Nishad Koya, who also wrote 'Ordinary'. There wasn't much hype surrounding the film leading to its release, and even the release wasn't sure till the last moment, but finally the makers can relax as they have managed to deliver a good entertainer.

The film is predictable and we can predict every single twist and turn. Plus there aren't much 'techniques' that we don't predict coming. It gets melodramatic here and there and drags at places. The songs prove to be hindrances than anything else.

The light humor sprinkled through out the film is what makes PT works.Plus its a clean family entertainer without any double meaning dialogues or cuss words. Kunchako Boban shines as Pauly and is from the start to finish. Aju Varghese is a treat and gets almost equal footage as Boban. The rest of the cast also did a good job. Bhavana was looking great, but didn't had much to do.


This is the first time Padmakmar will be handling a Comedy subject and did an okay job is presenting a neat film. Its the second film of writer Nishad Koya, and already he is proving to be some one producers can bank upon. The predictable story has been narrated interestingly by him. Cinematography and editing also adds flavor to the film. Music and BG were average.

In all Pauly Technique is a clean family comedy entertainer that should appeal to all. The definitely have some techniques up in its sleeve.

Verdict: Good

Rating 3/5

Last Word: Entertaining Techniques.....

Vishudhan - Malayalam Movie Review

Directed by     Vyshakh
Produced by     Anto Joseph
Written by     Vyshakh
Music by     Gopi Sundar
Cinematography     Shehnad Jalal
Editing by     Mahesh Narayanan
Release date(s)     NOV 22, 2013
Country     India
Language     Malayalam

Cast
    Kunchacko Boban

Lal
    Mia George
    Suraj Venjaramood
Nandu

Hareesh Peradi

Shalin

Krishnakumar

Vishudhan tells the story of a man who life goes through phases of being God, Human & Devil. Kunchako Boban who has donned the role of priest who gets appointed at a church in a remote village in Idukki & Mia plays a nun from the local monastery. How the lives of these two change when they uncover certain truths which involves church, believers/followers and a local aristocrat (played by Hareesh Peradi).

'Vishudhan' will be Director Vysakh's first attempt at making a non-commercial, serious movie dealing with real life events. In fact Vysakh wanted this to be his debut film, but he ended up doing 4 commercial pot-boilers before, all of which ended up as big hits. Vishudhan takes the exact opposite route compared to his previous films. It is not a commercial, mass masala, potboiler.

'Vishudhan' is a fictionalized version of some real life events that happened in Kerala some time back. Basically its a revenge story but told with some convictions and honest intentions. Any film based on church or priest hood have always created unnecessary controversies, but this tells a controversial story without getting into to much details, without hurting anybody's sentiments. It discusses a issue that due to the influence of some powerful people didn't reaching people and was brushed under the carpet.

But good intentions don't make good films. Films should be entertaining and shouldn't test the patience of the viewers, which unfortunately Vishudhan does. Many scenes are without any purpose far stretched. The slow narration in fact affects what ever noble intention the film had. A non art-house kinda direction would have did the movie a world of good.

But the movie is not bad watch either. Its just that it could have been made much much better.

Kunchako Boban has given his career best performance till date - 3 variant characteristics - Priest, human and devil - shown with elan. Rest of the cast have also did a decent job. Lal's cameo length role felt like an unwanted set piece.Hareesh Peradi's acting reminded pretty much of his own iconic character [especially the dialogue modulation and delivery] , Kaitheri Sahadevan  from 'Left Right Left', which if not intentional, will be a big disadvantage for his future career.

All of Vysakh's previous films owes him a great deal for their success [except may be Sound Thoma], but this time its Vysakh the writer that fails the movie coupled by his direction which felt immature to handle such a theme.

Writing could have been crispier, even though there are quite a few note worthy dialogues.

Cinematography is the another positive aspect of the film, can say that the beautiful locations did half the job. There are few shots which are in fact breath taking. Editing should have been sharper, with many shots moving endlessly. There are 2 songs in the film which are hummable. BG score was okay.

So, in all Vishudhan is good attempt which got 'lost in translation'

Rating 2.75/5

Verdict Above Average

Last Word: You can watch it, for Kunchako

Manju Warrier in Roshan Anddrews's 'How Old Are You' - First Look Poster

How Old Are You

Direction: Roshan Anddrews

*ing Kunchako Boban, Manju Warrier

Written by - Bobby - Sanjay

Produced by: Listin Stephen

Banner: Magic Frames

Pullipulikalum Aattinkuttiyum - Malayalam Movie Review

 Pullipulikalum Aattinkuttiyum - Malayalam Movie Review

 Directed by     Lal Jose
Produced by     Zulfi Hasis
Shebin Backer
Written by     M. Sindhuraj
Music by     Vidyasagar
Cinematography     S. Kumar
Studio     Balcony 6
Country     India
Language     Malayalam

 Cast

    Kunchako Boban as Chakkattutharayil Gopan (Chakka Gopan)
    Namitha Pramod as Kainakari Jayasree
    Irshad as Chakka Maniyan
    Shiju as Chakka Vijayan
    Joju as Chakka Suku
    Shammi Thilakan as Kavalykal Kuriyachan
    Suraj Venjaramoodu as Mamachan
    Harisree Asokan as Suseelan
    Subeesh as Babu
    Chali Pala as S.I.George
    Sivajy Guruvayoor as Kapyar
    Dinesh Nair as Vakkeel Asokan
    Anusree as Kochurani
    K. P. A. C. Lalitha as Madhavi
    Bindu Panicker as Kainakari Revamma
    Reena Bhasheer as Lizy
    Thesni Khan as Jalaja
    Seema G. Nair as Vimala
    Ponnamma Babu as Kapyar's wife
    Anjana as Ramani

'Pullipulikalum Aattinkuttiyum' is the story of four brothers, 3 of them interested only in making troubles

(Pullipulikal) & one (Aatinkutty) who gets tangled up in the mess that his brothers creates. Kunchako Boban plays Chakkattutharayil Gopan aka 'Aatinkutty'. His nemesis Kavalykal Kuriyachan is played by Shammi Thilakan & Kainakari Jayasree, his love interest by Namitha Pramod.


The film is made as a festive entertainer for the masses and families, a no logic one ulike the previous Lal Jose movie. But the movie which looks similar (vague) to 'Marykundoru Kunjaadu' failed to entertain me. The ages old story by Sindhuraj itsel is a big disappointment. His script was entertaining in the first half, but sufferes heavily in the second half, with nothing much to show it drags like a soap opera. Also touted as the highlights of the movie, the 'Pullipulikal' gang gets lost in the proceedings as the movie turns its focus on the silly rivalry with Kuriachan and romantic angle with Jaishree. The last 30mins it drags like hell.

The title role I think was tailor made for Dileep, it is not that Boban was bad, but Dileep who excels in such films and roles with his on contribution could have lifted the movie to better heights. The supporting cast has done a very good job especially the 'Pullipulis'. Suraj manages few laughs after quite a while. And its after a long gap Harishree Ashokan & Bindu Panicker got something interesting to do. Namitha Pramod looked beautiful did a good job, sad that she couldn't dub it for herself.

Music by Vidyasagar was average, but the Background score was very good. Camera work was very nice, capturing 'Kuttanad' in all its glory. Editing was crisp.Direction by Lal Jose was Good, packaged it as a festive entertainer.

All these are my view points about the movie, but at Box Office most probably this will be the biggest hit of the season, coz such films works big time with masses and families. Looking at the crowd, it is definitely their first choice this EID.

An average fare

Watchable for few laughs in the first half