Peruchazhi - Malayalam Movie Review - Mohanlal show all the way !!!

Cast

Mohanlal as Jagannathan

Mukesh as Francis Kunjappan

Ragini Nandwani as Jessy

Vijay Babu

Baburaj as Pottakkuzhy Jabbar

Aju Varghese as Vayalar Varkey

Sean James Sutton as John Kory

Sandra Thomas

Poonam Bajwa

Shankar Ramakrishnan

Delhi Ganesh

Ramesh Pisharody

Aneesh Menon

Ashvin Mathew

John Wusah as Dup Lee

CAST

Directed by Arun Vaidyanathan

Produced by Vijay Babu, Sandra Thomas

Written by Arun Vaidyanathan,, Ajayan Venugopalan (dialogues)

Music by Arrora

Cinematography Arvind Krishna

Edited by Vivek Harshan

Production      Friday Film House

Distributed by Fox Star Studios (ROI), Friday Tickets (Kerala), Singapore Coliseum (Singapore), PJ Entertainments (Europe), Achu Achu's Creations (Australia)

Release date    August 29, 2014

Running time 154 minutes

Country India

Language Malayalam

Unable to  stand the ever growing popularity of Jaganathan & considering him to be a threat to his 'seat' Minister Francis Kunjappan when got a chance tricks and send him to the United States of America to help 'Sunny' his relative who is he campaign manager of John Kory, standing for contesting election for the Governor's post in the state of California. What happens as Jagan and his close aides Jabbar & Varkkey reaches USA forms the rest of the story. 

"Please switch off your mobile phones & logic" is the message that welcomes you into the movie, being of spoof & satire genre there can't be a better hint for things to come (Also warning note for the so called intellectuals ;-) ). ["Alcohol consumption is injurious to health, wealth etc etc... is another funny note that could be spotted in the fast moving titles].  

The titles are shown with some of the iconic dialogues of Mohanlal, which was a interesting thought. The 1st one hour of the movie went in rocket speed, with tons of laughter, Mohanlal playing it to the gallery, very well supported by Baburaj & co. Towards interval the pace slows down and the 'very long' 1st half ends on a good note. Eventhough the second half is comparatively shorter in length (felt so !) it couldn't match upto the initial one as the fun factor reduced and too many sub plots and silly twists took the fun away from the movie. But still the one man entertainment troupe fondly called 'Lalettan' binds everything together. Climax was okay, especially if you remember the 'warning note' shown first.

Peruchazhi takes a dig at the Indian Political system and our Politicians. Its a spoof / imaginary story on what happens if cultural exchange happens in the field of politics between the World's 2 biggest democracies. There is no point on applying logic in such movies, take Hollywood for eg, or even 'Tamil Padam' for that matter. Such movies are just made for fun, but where Peruchazhi suffers is that its too long, by atleast 20 mins and the fun part is missing greatly in the 2nd half. The romantic thread was completely unnecessary and weird. The item number could have been cut short and the action block in the 2nd half was not upto the mark.

Mohanlal is once again seen in all his elements, everything a fan expect from him has been cleverly incorporated which he beautifully delivered. Apart from few scenes he was looking good and energetic too. Baburaj after a small gap is back to his 'comic ways' and his combo with Lal brought the entire house down on multiple occasions. Aju had nothing much to do & Ragini event though looked gorgeous got a completely unnecessary character. Mukesh was good, but his role was limited and the much cherished, loved Lal-Mukesh magic wasn't there. Vijay Babu was very good and Ramesh Pisharody scored in what ever (limited) scenes he got. Among the foreign actors Sutton and Johnn Wusah was impressive.

Direction was average and the script wrote by Director himself lot the steam mid way. Its the actors along with Ajayan Venugopalan (Akkara Kazchakal fame)'s dialogues that made the film entertaining. Camera was good, captured USA in its glory & Editing was efficient. Music was good (but Lyrics wasn't) and the Background score simply rocked. Special kudos to Blaaze. 

In all 'Peruchazhi' is a typical LALtainer, even though it falls short of the humongous expectations the makers created pre-release. 

Must Watch for all Mohanlal fans and one time watch for others (Except those pseudo-intellectuals :p) 

Peruchazhi Kerala & Rest of India Paper ADs and Theaters list

Peruchazhi gets the widest release ever release for a Malayalam film outside Kerala. The film in addition to the paper ads posted here is releasing 30-40 more screens in Rest Of India, in total about 130 screens. All India screen count is 260+ as Multiplexes are increasing shows and playing in additional screens due to huge demand for tickets. Film is also releasing in many international markets for sure. Peruchazhi is sure to set the biggest opener record tomorrow, If not All Kerala, for sure All India & Worldwide

Peruchazhi - Collection of Rocking Posters !!

The set contains official as well as fan made (Unofficial) posters, credits to all the designers !!!

Peruchazhi - Biggest & Widest release ever !!

'Peruchazhi' will be distributed in 'Rest of India' markets by 'Fox Star India',  a joint venture between 20th Century Fox, one of the world’s largest producers and distributors of motion pictures and STAR, India’s media and entertainment company, both owned by Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox. Sources confirm that it will be the widest and biggest release ever for a Malayalam movie in outside Kerala markets a record which is currently with Bangalore Days (105 screens & Mr. Fraud 100 screens). The film is set to cash in the the new found interest and wide reach of Malayalam films, thanks to 2 Blockbusters, Drishyam & Bangalore Days.

Peruchazhi will be having subtitles for Outside Kerala markets. The overseas rights also have been sold for record price. The theatrical trailer which was released recently is widely being appreciated and is one of the most watched Malayalam movie trailers. The film according to makers will be a treat for Mohanlal fans and a perfect Onam treat for Families alike. Film is co-written by 'Akkarakazchakal' fame Ajay Venugopal.
The post production works are now going on. Film will hit the screens on August 29th.

Peruchaazhi, a big budget feature film written & directed by the award winning filmmaker Arun Vaidyanathan is produced by Vijay Babu and Sandra Thomas under the banner Friday Film House. The complete actor Mohanlal will play in lead role as Jagannadhan alias Peruchaazhi, an Indian politician in USA. Portraying a new avatar with many interesting antics, he appears on screen with two assistants; Rayappan and Vayalar Varki who are laugh riots. The movie comprises elements of friendship, betrayal, love and revenge with a lot of humor.

Kerala Box Office - 2014 Half Year Exclusive Report

Kerala Box Office - 2014 Half Year Exclusive Report

6 Months into 2014, lets look at how how Kerala Box Office performed so far this year. Total 91 Malayalam film released till June 27th including 10 Dubbed ones. The Top grossers are

1. Bangalore Days

The first blockbuster of the year is the mega multi starrer Bangalore Days. The film is also the first and biggest success in Malayalam by a Women Film Director. With Ramzan fasting beginning from tomorrow June 29th) it will be interesting to see whether the film will beat Mayamohini & T20 to grab the 3rd or 2nd biggest hit of all time title.The film is a huge success in 'Rest of India' markets too grossing around 6 crores, becoming the 2nd biggest hit following Drishyam.

Gross - 19.61 crore in 29 Days 

Distributors Share - 8.64 crore

2. Ring Master

Another summer vacation, another Dileep hit. The film was made for ladies and Kids and it worked out well thanks to the target audience. As usual critics thrashed it and mass audience accepted it. The film didn't take a great opening but sustained through out as the Vishu releases slowly faded out.

Gross - 14.56 crore 75 days

Distributors Share - 6.15 crore

3. How Old Are You HOAY

Ladies were queuing up for the film from FDFS. Even though competition with Mr Fraud hurt the film in the initial days later the film picked up as Fraud went down. Thanks to the strong support from Family, especially Women, audience the film attained Super hit status. Its also the biggest grossing Women oriented film in Malayalam.

Gross 12.25 crore 42 days

 Distributors Share - 5.15 crore 

4. Ohm Shanthi Oshaana OSO

2014 is a rare year for Mollywood as two Women oriented film attained huge success, first OSO, then HOAY. The film made Nazriya a household name and the most popular Malayalam actress since Manju Warrier, looking at the response she is getting in theaters.

 Gross - About 10 crores

5. Mr Fraud

The film took a thunderous opening and had the biggest 1st week of the year (which BD later broke). Fighting social media activists and critics the film attained success thanks to the mega opening. Unlike Grandmaster the film was a disappointment at Outside Kerala markets. 

Gross - about 9.5 crore

 Distributors Share - 4.25 crore

6. Jilla

Film featuring 2 of the biggest mass super stars @ Kerala Box office raked in 2.63 crore, the biggest ever, on day 1. But the insignificant role Mohanlal got proved to be a curse for the film. The Drishyam Tsunami also affected it greatly as the film couldn't create life time records as far as Tamil films are concerned.

Gross - about 9.5 crore

 Distributors Share - 3.5 crore 

7. 7th Day

The film surprisingly took a huge opening, Prithviraj's biggest, despite low key promotions and not even a trailer being released.  The film got mixed reviews and couldn't sustain the early momentum.

Gross - 9-9.5crore

Distributors Share - about 3.75 crore

8. 1983 

The film got tremendous reviews which helped the film which began in a low key manner to acheive HIT status in the long run. The successful run of Nivin Pauly in 2014 began with this film.

Gross 7.5 crore

Maan Karate - the biggest Tamil hit of 2014 so far, in Kerala,  based on Returns on Investment. The rights were purchased for 15 lakhs and the total gross is about 1 crore. 

Among dubbed films Bhaiyya (Yevadu) was average while Lucky The Racer (Race Gurram) did above average business, while all others where wash outs.

Among Hindi films 2 States was a huge hit, and now Ek Villain took good opening.

Among Hollywood films X-Men Days of Future Past is the biggest hit of 2014 so far.



* Figures are approximate values and may not necessarily be exact. Actual Figures might be slightly different

Kerala Summer (April - May) Box Office 2014 - Exclusive Report

Kerala Summer (April - May) Box Office - Exclusive Report

2 month long Summer Holidays will be official over by today marking an end to one of the biggest seasons for Movie makers and goers. Schools, Colleges will reopen and Monsoon is expected with in a few days creating a dent in collections, especially with Ramzan to come later this Month. Let's see what all movies during Summer 2014 at Kerala Box Office

Ring Master - The highest grossing film this summer and this year, so far. A fun film targetting Ladies and Kids even though didn't take a great opening, was rock steady through out the first month or so. Movie is still registering good collection at major centers.

Budget: 9 Crore

Last Reported Gross: 12.95 crores

Satellite Rights: about 6 crores

7th Day - Film took very good opening, but couldn't sustain it in the following weeks.

Budget: 5.5 crores

Gross - around 9-10 crores

Satellite Rights: 2.5 crore

Mr. Fraud - Film took the biggest opening for a Malayalam movie (till then) and had a smashing first week. But average reports had its effects from 2nd week.

Budget: 7.5 crore

Gross - 9 crore+

Satellite Rights: 5.5 crore

How Old Are You - Good hype, tremendous word of mouth, superb rush of Ladies crowd from Day 1, this very well can be called movie of the Season (Summer). Manju Warrier made a rocking come back to Movies.

Budget - 6 crore

Gross - 8 crore+

Satellite Rights: Not Sold

God's Own Country - Even though film got good reviews lack of publicity affectred the movie. By the time people came to know about it was removed from many stations. Have made come back in few of them this week

Gross - 4.25 crore+

Budget - 3.9 crore

Satellite: 2.6 crore

Pauly Technic - 4.20 crore

Mosayile Kuthirameenukal - Gross 3.95 crore

Drishyam - 46 crores (Kerala) 56 crores (All India)

Bangalore Days which released on May 30th has taken the biggest opening for a Malayalam film this year, details will be updated later.



* Figures are approximate values, till last available udpate, may not necessarily be exact. 

Peruchazhi - First Look Teaser Trailer - Mohanlal

Mr.Fraud takes Thunderous opening - Exclusive Box Office Report

Mohanlal's latest release Mr. Fraud took a thunderous opening all across Kerala. Being the next release after Drishyam and making lot os news in the past weeks the film released to awesome response from movie goers, last Saturday. The Day 1 gross was about 1.35 crores with distributors share of about 65 lakhs (approx). Eventhough the film got mixed response from general public the fans have been extremely happy with the way Mohanlal has been portrayed, especially in the first half. So the second day the business zoomed to 1.42 crores gross, with a distributors share of 1bout 68 lakhs(approx).

The 2 days total from Kerala Box Office is 2.77 crores with distributors share of 1.33 crore (approx). The film had a regular drop today, being Monday. But main centers are still super strong, Multiplexes which began on a slow note also showed improvement towards matinee and night shows. The film also took great opening Rest of India too. The film got the biggest release outside Kerala, releasing in same amount of screens as in Kerala. Addition of subtitles helped many non-Malayalees thronging theaters to watch the film, thanks to Drishyam.

As per early estimates the gross should be around 70-80 lakhs today taking the total to 3.5 crores and by tomorrow it looks like will cross the life time gross of Gangster. With music, video rights being sold for record breaking figures and satellite rights close to 6crores and the film yet to release in overseas markets, it looks like producers will be laughing all the way to the banks...


Kerala gross in 2 days 2.77 crores
Kerala Distributors share in 2 days 1.33 crores
All India Gross in 2 days: - About 3.5 - 4 crores (Yet to confirm)


* Update - 3rd Day All Kerala Gross 80 lakhs
 All Kerala Gross in 3 days  3.57 crores
 All Kerala Distributors share in 3 days 1.71 cr  (approx)

Mr. Fraud - Malayalam Movie Review - Mohanlal, Unnikrishnan B

 Mr. Fraud Malayalam Movie Review

Crew

Director: B.Unnikrishnaan
    Producer: A.V Anoop
    Executive Producer: B.Unnikrishnan

Banner : AVA Productions
    Script: B.Unnikrishnan
    Cinematographer: Satheesh Kurup
    Makeup: Pradeep Rangan, Liju Kumar S
    Music: Gopi Sundar
    Playback Singers: Shankar Mahadevan, Shakthisree Gopalan, Sithara & Gopi Sundar
    Editor: Manoj
    Lyrics: Hari Narayanan, Chittoor Gopi & Santhosh Varma
    Costume: S.B Satheesh, Murali
    Art Director: Joseph Nellikal
    Stills: Sinat Savier
    Production Controller: Aroma Mohan

Cast

      Mohanlal as 'Fraud'
    Dev Gill
    Pallavi Purohit
    Mia George as Saraswathi
    Manjari Phadnis
    Vijay Babu
    Vijayakumar
    Siddique
    Sai Kumar
    Suresh Krishna
    Rahul Madhav
    Ashvin Matthew
    Rajeev Parameshwar
    Arjun Nandhakumar
    Balaji
    Sathaar
    Devan
    Gopi Sundar (cameo appearance)
    Amritha Anilkumar

Mohanlal plays a 'Fraud' who has many names and many faces, a non sympathetic cunning hi-tech robber. He gets offered a job with enough money that he can very much retire after this. But its not easy as it seems and is 'one of the most difficult mission' he has come across as the character says. The treasure belongs to an Old Kovilakam and they are going to open the chest for the first time in 41 years with all the relatives, police and top level private security team guarding it. So will he able to do it forms the rest of the story.

Mr Fraud is a heist movie presented in a mass masala packaging, so there's no logic in asking for a unique or different storyline as all of them have universally one theme. The first half is racy and entertaining largely thanks to Mohanlal who was simply free flowing and outstanding making even minutest expressions and simple dialogues clap worthy. The Director being a Lal fan has added elements to please the fans. The packaging and the way everything is setup in the first half is really good. Its in the second half the movie suffers a bit. Totally its an above average 2nd half with an average, rushed up climax. The first half makes us prepared for a better 2nd half which the film couldn't provide, also the unnecessary sentimence ruins the pace. It would have been great if the film had a climax like 'Mankatha' or 'Don' (SRK's).

With the limited budget Malayalam can afford Director was able to show the heist scenes convincingly. May not be a patch on Hollywood counter parts, but still they serve the purpose. Unnikrishnan B is definitely improving every time as a director, and this one is his best Directorial outing. Even though his scripting faltered here and there in the 2nd half, for most of the run time it was engaging. The dialogues as always were good, made look even better by Mohanlal.

It can be called a one man show by Mohanlal, after a long time Malayalees gets to see his Mass entertainer side which he did with elan. He carries the movie in his entire 'slanting' shoulder. Siddique, Mia George, Sai Kumar, Ashwin were good. Vijay & Manjari was okay. rest of the cast did their role. Dev Gill's villain character was a disappointment, as it was an underwritten role, the film could have had a better villain character.

Gopi Sunder is back in full form after a long back as both his songs and BG are very good. Back Ground score infact is a great plus for the movie. Cinematography was good, editing was sharp. VFX team have done a great job. Art work was superb. Action choreography was average.

Over all Mr Fraud is a Mass-Heist movie - must watch for fans, one time watch for others

After 150 days of delivering 'Class' to the world, its time to give some MASS with Class, good old Lalettan way, which no one can replicate

Rating 3/5

Verdict: Good

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Mohanlal's Mr. Fraud Kerala Paper ADs & All India Theaters List