Balyakalasakhi - Malayalam Movie Review

Balyakalasakhi - Malayalam Movie Review

Crew

Directed by     Pramod Payyannur
Produced by     MB Muhsin, Sajeeb Hashim
Screenplay by     Pramod Payyannur
Based on     Balyakalasakhi by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer
Music by     Bijibal
Cinematography     Hari Nair
Editing by     Manoj Kannoth
Studio     Red Cinema, Livinart Film Factory
Release dates   February 7, 2014 (Kerala)
Country     India
Language     Malayalam

Cast

    Mammootty - Majeed/Majeed's father
    Isha Talwar - Suhara
    Meena - Majeed’s mother
    Seema Biswas - Selvi
    Tanushree Ghosh
    Sunil Sukhada
    Sasi Kumar
    Mamukkoya
    Priyam Shaikh
    Kavita Nair
    Parambrata Chatterjee
    Shari
    KPAC Lalitha

 

 'Balyakalasakhi' is the big screen adaptation of  Vaikom Muhammad Basheer's classic novel of the same name. The story deals with the love and life of Majeed & Suhara, the main protagonists. Majeed & Suhara has been in love since they were kids. But economic and social disparities creates some issues in their lives which changes the course of their life entirely. How the characters lived their remaining lives in the beautiful memories of their past, despite a harsh present, forms the rest of the story.

Adapting a novel to big screen is never an easy task. Novelist can create any kind of situation, all they need is the reader's imagination. But movies have limitations, especially in a small industry like Malayalam. Plus there is the constraint of 'run length' too. So considering all those aspects one can say that BKS is a faithful adaptation of the book, in the best possible way that they could. 

Those who have read the novel might feel something missing as it has been made in the constraints mentioned above. Even though censor certificate shows 121min the theatrical version is just around 100mins [May be the festival version gives a better perspective of the novel]. 

BKS is not every body's cup of tea. It is aimed ad festivals and award circuits. The film doesn't have any commercial elements and nothing that excites the common/mass audience. IT lacks pace and is dragging here and there, but the run length is on shorter side, which is a plus. The Kolkata sequences came out really good. The period feel has been maintained very well through out.

Mammooty, who is playing Majeed and his father, has got one of his best role(s) since 'Paleri Manickyam' and he as always has come out with flying colors, but doubt if it can be called award worthy [But Never say never as far as awards are concerned !]. Except few weird wigs everything was good about Mammoty's portrayal of Majeed & his father. Isha Talwar was a bad choice for Suhara, even though she has improved from her previous films. Her chemistry with Mammootty was weird to say the least. Seema Biswas was too good. Rest of the cast were good too. 

Pramod Payyanur's debut directorial venture is something he can be proud of, even though there is a 'drama' hang over in many of the scenes.The idea to shoot in Kolkata was an artistic master stroke. Cinematography is outstanding. Songs are beautiful and BG is good. Kudos to art/costume department. Editing looks jarred, as many scenes ends abruptly, may be due to the cuts made for 'theatrical version'.

Last year's 'Celluloid' released in the month of State/National awards, but looks like that will be delayed this time, so the benefit that the former got @ Box Office won't be there for BKS.

Recommending For lovers of the novel, for those who can enjoy the film that require some patience and those who doesn't consider oodles of commercial elements only make a good film.

If you support attempts like this now film makers will be encouraged to think beyond Box Office &  we will get better products in the future 

Rating: 3.25/5

Verdict: Good+

Last Word: Good Cinematic version of all time classic

Nadan - Malayalam Movie Review

 Directed by     Kamal
Produced by     Anilkumar Ambalakkara
Written by     S. Suresh Babu
Music by     Ouseppachan
Cinematography     Madhu Neelakandan
Editing by     K.Rajagopal
Studio     Ambalakkara Global Films
Country     India
Language     Malayalam

Cast

    Jayaram as Devadas Sargavedi
    Remya Nambeesan as Jyothi
    Sajitha Madathil
    Joy Mathew
    K. P. A. C. Lalitha
    P. Balachandran
    Hareesh Peradi
    M.Mukundan
    Jayaraj Warrier
    Shankar Ramakrishnan
    Balaji Sarma

Kamal is one such among the bunch of legendary directors on 90-2000's who has still got his strong grip in the changing tides of Malayalm cinema. After the much appreciated, National/state award winning 'Celluloid' he is back with his next. Kamal usually balances commercial and non-commercial movies with each of his release, but by doing Nadan & Celluloid back to back, he has broken that pattern.

If 'Celluloid' told us the story about the birth of Malayalam cinema and the struggles its first director had to go through, this time Kamal deals with 'Drama' & Theater Artists. The film through the title character Devadas Sargavedi portrays the current fate of the once immensely popular art form, in Kerala. 

Devadas Sargavedi belongs to the 3rd generation of theater artists in his family, who also owns the troupe 'Sargavedi' which his father found after a split in Communist party & KPAC [

Kerala People's Arts Club]. The struggles that Devadas had to face to keep the troupe going and make two ends meet forms the crux of the story.

The major plus point of the movie is the incredible performances that every artist associated with the movie had to offer. Leading the pack is Jayaram, who undoubtedly gave his career best performance as Devadas, especially in the later half. Equally good was KPAC Lalitha, she was living as the character with many of the dialogues that we can very much connect with her real life too. The movie features many of the state's best drama artists, which was a great tribute in itself to them. 

The story, because is a fiction [even though based on reality] may find a normal one, but its the skill full direction, dialogues and performances that makes the movie an engaging watch. The movie do get bit of over melodramatic towards climax and gets to drag a bit. where the focus shifts to love, infidelity etc. There is nothing much for mass audience in the movie and is a must watch for all others and especially those who have enjoyed, at least once, the experience of watching a dram in an open stage surrounded by charged up crowd.

Kamal the director once again showed how one can make a class movie, without art house narration., that is equally entertaining and enlightening with out depending upon commercial elements. Kamal once again prooved that when it comes to real life stories, he is master class. Equally supported by  his efficient crew, with pleasing cinematography by Madhu Neelakandan, smooth editing by Rajagopal, Soothing music & apt back ground score by Ouseppachan [think he did both]. The art, costumes and make-up department also deserves a pat on their back for their work, especially in the drama portions.

'Drama' was one of the most celebrated art forms of Kerala and many of them had such huge impact that Govt. were forced to ban them [as explained in the movie]. With the onslaught of new-age entertainment art forms like Mimicry, Serials, Ganamela etc Drama lost its significance and going through a pretty low phase now. But still there are many who consider this as their life and ready to even die on the stage for the art form they love. 'Nadan' is a dedication to such people and a homage to the golden period of Drama & theater artists.

'Nadan' may not be a perfect film, but is definitely one of the best of 2013. 

Rating 3.5/5

Last Word: For the noble intentions and excellent acting, just give it a try

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