Vedivazhipadu - Malayalam Movie Review - 'One of India's boldest film'

VEDIVAZHIPADU  - Malayalam Movie Review

Written & Directed by: Shambhu Purushothaman
Produced by: Arun Kumar Aravind
Banner: Karmayug Movies
Director of Photography: Shehnad Jalal
Editor: Prejish Prakash
Art: Subhash Karun
Music: John P. Varkey
Sound Design: Godly Timo
Associate Director: Nitin Michael
Make Up: Baiju Balaramapuram
Costumes: Shibu Parameshwar
Production Controller: Jith Pirappancode
Stills: Najeem M. Bawa
Designs: Thought Station

Distributor: Thameens Films

  Cast: Indrajith Sukumaran, Murali Gopy, Saiju Kurup, Srijith Ravi, Sunil Sugatha, Ashvin Mathew, Mythili, AnuSree, Anu Mol

The reunion of the successful team of 'Ee Adutha Kalathu' & 'Left Right Left' [Arun Kumar, Indrajith, Murali Gopy] gave the movie good hype since the day it was launched. The quirky title, posters and trailer added only to the publicity. But it got the maximum reach thanks to the CBFC who initially refused to clear the movie. Overcoming all hurdles the film has hit the screens and lets see how it is..

'Vedivazhipadu' deals with events happening to four couples on a single day, the day of 'Aatukal Pongala'. Bored with their routine lives the 'boys' decides to have some fun on the day on Pongala when their wives will be busy in temple with the festivities. Initial half sets up the characters and their 'master plan' and the later half unravels the plan, will everything work out as they 'planned' what happen to their lives etc.

The film is no means for 'Kids' and those who hate adult comedies, its an out an out film for 18+ audience. If you hated 'Trivandrum Lodge' please don't even bother going anywhere near to a theater playing VV, coz as my friend its the baap of TL and one of the boldest movie to be produces in India. There are no double meaning dialogues here, everything is direct, in your face, most of these happen in the 2nd half. Still can't beleive that Director, who is also the writer was expecting a U/A certificate for this.

Mixing such an adult story with 'Aatukal Pongala' and using the 'pongala commentry' in sequences in 2nd half could have forced the Censor Board to deny permission initially, can't really blame them for being paranoid after what all we saw in neighboring state recently.

With that being said, I like adult comedies and I liked VV too. It had plenty of laughs. It also questions sexual hypocracy, double standards, moral policing etc. Its a mirror placed against society, especially the Kerala one which is the most double standard, one according to many.

Saiju Kurupp & Anumol steals the  show in the acting department. Saiju got most of the claps and may be his best and toughest role so far. Kudos to  Anumol for doing such a role with elan, I cannot imagine any other heroine doing such a bold role, you have to watch it to understand how raw and real it is, Hats Off. Others have also did their part well. Srijith Ravi, Sunil Sugatha were impressive too. Rest of the cast also did decent job.

Director has made a confident debut, his writing was good too. Camera, Editing were efficient. BG was Okay. There are no songs in the movie.

So, in all, Vedivazhipadu is a bold watchable Adult entertainer

Rating 3/5

Good, Time Pass

Vedivazhipadu - Kerala Release Paper AD with theater list

 Vedivazhipadu - Kerala Release Paper AD with theater list

Ezhamathe Varavu - Malayalam Movie Review

 Ezhamathe Varavu - Malayalam Movie Review

 Director, Lyrics, Music by     Hariharan
Producer Bhavani
Written by     M. T. Vasudevan Nair
Cinematography     S. Kumar
Editing by     Bavan Sreekumar
Studio     Gayathri Cinemas Enterprises
Release date(s)     September 15, 2013
Country     India
Language     Malayalam

 Cast

    Indrajith as Gopinath
    Bhavana as Bhanu
    Vineeth as Prasad
    Kavitha as Mala
    Vinu Mohan
    Suresh Krishna
    Mamukkoya
    Kanchana
    K T C Abdullah

 Story

Gopinath is a rich aristocratic estate owner, whose main pass time is Hunting. Bhanu is his wife who is longing for love and affection. Prasad is an archaeologist, and also Bhanu's college mate. Mala is a tribal girl who introduces Prasad to the forest.  The incidents that happens between these 4 as a Tiger begins to hunt the villagers forms the major plot of 7A.

I am nobody to judge legends like Hariharan or MT Vasudevan Nair, so conisder this not as a review, but just comments of a layman after watching the movie.

7A is the remake of 'Oridathoru Shathru' [Hariharan-MT-Sukumaran-Venu Nagavally] which in fact never got released. The film reportedly got tons of positive reviews back then when a preview show was conducted & the reason behind the title 'A creature coming very 7 years to kill/eat 7 girls', got me very excited about the movie, but unfortunately it was very much disappointing.

The film is lengthy, but it looks even lengthier thanks to the snail pace in which the film movies. Nothing much happens in the movie in most of its run time. The first half was better which sets up everything nicely for what could have been an exciting 2nd half with a brilliant climax. But the post intraval portions drags even more. could hear people murmuring and few even booing during the flash back portions.

Most of the characters seems under written. The script is very loose and drags in most of the part. MT is well known for his hard hitting dialogues, this time that too fails.The film is predictable in every corner. All the build up to the 'Tiger' and the myth of the creature fizzles in the end, by raising expectations through out the movie

The posters were full of Indrajith's face, but he gets an extended cameo/supporting type of role. Indrajith has given an honest performance, but his character is horribly underdeveloped. Viewer never really feels anything towards 'Gopalan'. Same is the case with ohter character in the movie.  Its Vineeth who is there through in the movie & his role is what he has been known for over the years, nothing exceptional, he had a cake walk. Bhavana's character was a bit confusing one, but she did try to give a good performance. Mammookoya, debutant Kavitha did their roles well.

Camera work was excellent, In fact the locales were so breath taking that it did half the job, but shooting like this in the forest in commendable. Songs are just speed breakers in an already dragging movie. Resul Pookutty once again gave his best in Sound department. Editing should have been a lot crispier, the movie deserved a run time of 2hrs or there abouts. 

Watch the film for some nice visuals, a film with out mass/crass elements and because its a film by the 2 legends.

Rating: 2.25/5

Verdict: Average

Last Word: Disappointed !!!

'Naku Penda Naku Taka' Poster - First Malayalam film to be set in South Africa

'Naku Penda Naku Taka' 

"Naku Penda Piya-Naku Taka Piya-Mpenziwe" is the first line of Michael Jackson's hit number  "Liberian Girl" - means "I love you too - I want you too - my love"

''Naku Penda Naku Taka' [meaning 'I Love You, I Want You' in Swahili] will be the first ever Malayalam film to be set & shot in South Africa. The film, a romantic thriller, will be directed by Vayalar Madhavan Kutty & written by Jaya Mohan. Camera will be handled by Krish Kymal & Music by Gopi Sundar.

Indrajith & Bhama plays the lead roles in the film.Bhama plays a girl who is obsessed with America and is ready to do anything to get there.Character played by Indrajith gets married to Bhama, faking his country of occupation as the United States, when actually he works in South Africa. The incidents that the couples face in South Africa forms the rest of the story.

NPNT will be produced by Gokulam Gopalan of Sree Gokulam Movies [Producer of Pazhassi Raja]. About 20 days shoot has been scheduled in SA. Film will release some time next year.

101 Chodyangal - Exclusive Movie Review

 

 

101 Chodyangal - Exclusive Movie Review

 

Directed by     Sidhartha Siva
Produced by     Thomas Kottakkakam
Written by     Sidhartha Siva
Music by     M. K. Arjunan
Cinematography     Prabhath E K
Editing by     Bibin Paul Samuel
Studio     7E Studios
Release date(s)   July 26, 2013
Country     India
Language     Malayalam 

Starring 

Indrajith Sukumaran
Lena Abhilash
Minon
Sudheesh

 

Story

A Class V student is given an assignment to frame 101 questions. The film is about the kid's journey to frame those questions and his  its answers. There is also a story running parallel to it, of the kid's father, who loses his job as a factory employee . The two parallel streams converge at the end as each of the '101th question' is unfolded before us.

101 Chodyangal is directed by Debutant Director Sidhartha Siva [noted actor, comedian & host]. The film has won awards for best children's film & best child artist (Male) at Nation Awards 2012-13. Minon, for his impressive debut, also won best child artist (Male) awards at Kerala State Film Awards & Kerala Film Critics Awards.

'101' chodyangal is a simple story story told in a simple manner. After TD Dasan & Manjadikkuru another film that tells the story of kids, based on his POV. It is a must watch movie for Parents & especially Kids. It may not be entertaining, might not have crass comedy, mass songs, over the top action but it has got a soul and is pure from the heart. 

Debutant Siddarth has done a nice job, without going the art house way told us an entertaining and thought provoking story. All the actors have done very good job, especially Minon. Just one song in the movie. Music & BG are passable, not something we look forward to in such a film. Camera work was okay, but could have avoided some cliched/ unnecessary shots. Editing is good, it doesn''t lag at any pont with a runtime of under 3 hours.

Please take your kids to movies like these

Verdict: Good 

 

VKP's next starring Indrajith titled 'A-Ku-Pu'

One of the complaints that most Malayalam film/language lovers had regarding recent Mollywood films is the trend of using English titles. They felt the good old titles with 'scent of the soil' is missing. Then came some new generation films with titles like 'Ninne Kollum Njanum Chavum, 'Natholi Oru Cheriya Menalla' 'Otta Oruthiyum sheriyalla' etc which also these so called people couldn't agree upon. Now the latest entry in the bandwagon of weird/catchy titles is VKP. His next film has been titled 'A-Ku-Pu' [Asooya Kushumbu Pucham].

According to the Director he film will be a Cynical satire in the likes of the cult classic 'Panchavadi Palam (1984)'. The film will portray certain 'typical' characters of Malayalis adds him. The film will be scripted by two Civil servants Prashanth & Ambady. Indrajith plays the title character Shankaran Vatsyayanan who is an aspiring politician. Rest of the cast will be announced later.

According to the writers the film will be socio-political drama with a hint of magical realism. Shooting begins this November & releasing planned for early 2014

Left Right Left - Malayalam Movie Review

Left Right Left - Malayalam Movie Review

 Directed by     Arun Kumar Aravind
Produced by     M. Renjith
Written by     Murali Gopy
Music by     Gopi Sunder
Cinematography     Shehnad Jalaal
Editing by     Arun Kumar Aravind
Studio     Rejaputhra Visual Media
Release date   June 14, 2013
Country     India
Language     Malayalam

Starring

 Indrajith
Murali Gopy
Remya Nambeesan
Lena
Hareesh Peradi

 

Story


LRL is the story of few lives that got toiled up between the politics of the land, people and politicians.
The story begins the flash back of 3 people Indrajith,  Murali gopy and Haresh Peradi, incidents that changes or moulds the person that they become later in their life and the rest of the film teaches how those changes their lives, for ever.

Its after a long time that a socio-political film has released in Mollywood. It deals many issues that we are familiar with. But the main concentration is on communist parties, and their prominent leaders. The film also discusses the downfall of the communism in the state and various aspects like money greed etc which lead to change from once 'common peoples party' to a 'party for people with power or money' .

LRL is a must watch for those who (or used to) live & breath communism. The film is full of powerful dialogues and visuals, which even non-communists & common man can identify very well with. It also questions the 'existence of opportunist politics'.

The film gives many goosebumps which will be with you even after you leave the cinemas. Every single actor, even those coming in single scene, have done terrific job. But still Hareesh Peradi definitely deserves a special mention. He was simply outstanding as the leader of one faction in communist party. He overtook in all aspects Sivaji Kovoor who played similar character in 'Arabikadha' and won tons of accolades.

The BG work by Gopi Sundar is outstanding, suiting the pulse and feel of the movie. His songs are also god, especially the Cheguvera number.

Director-Editor Arun Kumar has done a very good job. Kept up his reputation. Camera work was also good.

Didn't find any negatives worth mentioning in the film, eventhough the length (2.45hr) could have been shorter. After EAK Indran-Arun-Murali team has delivered yet another gem.

The claps that these three got is an extremely positive hint of changing times.

All in LRL is a film to be watched, felt and carried in your hearts for a long time.

Verdict: Excellent

Rating: 4.5/5

Box Office: HIT+