Category Archives: What to Watch

Prashobh Vijayan’s Adi takes on the central theme of toxic masculinity and its associated vulnerabilities, with a thrilling plot revolving around road rage in Kerala.

I must say, Prashobh Vijayan’s movies never excited me, which is why I opted for Madanolsavam over Adi. However, when a few people from the theater gave positive responses for Adi, I decided to give it a try. And, let me tell you, I was pleasantly surprised! Adi is the best movie from Prashobh, Ahana Krishna, and Ratheesh Ravi so far.

A Thin Plot with “I am Man!!” Pride

Adi revolves around Sajeev, an NRI played by Shine Tom Chacko, and his wife Geethika played by Ahaana Krishna. Their adversary, Joby Joseph, played by Dhruv, oozes with masculine pride. Sajeevan gets badly beaten by Joby Joseph, and it bothers him that it happened in front of his wife, Geethika.

The film effectively highlights the issue of toxic masculinity, with the characters repeating the line “I am a man!” before and after every act of violence. Eventually, the movie shows how Ahaana’s Geetika is challenging this “I am Man!!” pride.

Road Rage, Masculinity & Vulnerabilities

The movie addresses the alarming issue of road rage in Kerala, which is something that we should prioritize. Road rage and revenge have been the central theme of many movies like Hollywood’s “Unhinged” and Mollywood’s “Kali,” and Adi follows suit but with a less intensity compared to “Kali” or “Unhinged”.

Still, As the movie progresses, it turns its colors and Adi tries to explores the congeniality between relationships.

The movie initially gives the notion that it’s all about toxic masculinity, much like Ratheesh Ravi’s previous work, Ishq. Some viewers may have misunderstood as Adi as a male chauvinistic movie. However, in my opinion, the film aims to address the issue of toxic masculinity and its associated vulnerabilities.

Adi’s Cast Brings Depth and Intensity to Their Characters

All three main actors, Shine Tom Chacko, Ahaana Krishna, and Dhruvan, excelled in their roles. It was surprising to see Ahaana and Shine’s on-screen chemistry. Normally, the contrast between young actors and experienced actors like Shine Tom Chacko is visible, but Ahaana was able to pull off her character with ease. Dhruvan made a great attempt but there were instances where I felt he could have done it in a more sublr manner instead of exaggerations.

Athira Patel’s character may have been short, but it effectively points a finger at toxic relationships and the male ego.

Adi’s music is one of its strongest assets, thanks to Govind Vasantha, who composed music for the 96 movie. The music adds an emotional layer to the film’s many scenes, elevating the overall viewing experience.

Adi: A Conclusion without a cliched “Adi”

Overall, Adi has a great start, subtly addressing its core theme. However, when it reaches to the end, I felt like the climax of the film a bit forced and unconvincing. If the filmmakers could work on it a bit more, the movie could have impressed more viewers this festival season. I feel like, Adi is a movie best suited for youngsters, not for everyone.

With standout performances from Shine, Ahaana & Dhruvan, superb music, and a thrilling theme, Adi is a one-time watchable for anyone interested in exploring the issues of toxic masculinity and vulnerability.

Here you can read about the second release of the week, Madanolsavam.

Ratheesh Pothuval’s Signature Style

Ratheesh Pothuval’s movies always remind me of the old Raghunath Paleri classics.

When Malayalam film industry was filled with slap-stick comedy tracks, Raghunath Paleri scripts transport us to a different world, filled with dark comedy, subtle political satire, and a touch of Deadpan comedy with quirky characters like Pashune Kalanja Paapi, Meesha Vasu, Krishna Kurup, Doctor Vadhu…

Ratheesh Pothuval movies are no different as they are a modern version of those Raghunath Paleri classic films.

An Unexpected Turn of Events & A Political Game Changer

This title can be the one-liner of this movie.

The story revolves around Madanan, a young man who sells coloured chickens for a living. One day, a girl unexpectedly enters his life, creating the most hilarious (dark humor) event in the movie, even though it’s unrelated to the film’s central theme.

Madanan Manjakkaran, a BDF candidate played by Babu Antony, is about to win an election for the first time in Manjeswaram. However, the opposition party, led by “Porali,” decides to use Madanan as an imposter candidate against Manjakkaran to scatter the vote share. The rest of the story follows how Madanan’s life changes after this event.

Entertaining, But Lacking Freshness

Madanolsavam is a complete family entertainer that has enough elements to keep you entertained.

However, somewhere in the movie, I felt like the freshness of Ratheesh Pothuval’s previous scripting was missing, maybe because of the overused template of Kasargod slang, stereotypical character comedies, and subtle burlesque moments. I believe Ratheesh Pothuval needs to reinvent his writing to avoid losing the punch he had in his earlier works.

Tried and Tested Formula

Ratheesh uses the same eccentric political shades that succeeded in “Enna than case kodu.”

I love the way he builds the first act of the movie. Be it “Enna thaan Case Kodu” “Kanakam Kaamini Kalaham” even “Madanolsavam” he uses a “staright to the point” style. Within just 10-15 minutes, he will settle everything in place and make the protagonist ready for the confrontation.

From his aunt’s weak bowel movements to his marriage, it all happens within a few minutes in Mdanan’s life. With hilarious punchlines from characters like Mohanan (Sumesh Chandran) and Madanan’s aunt, it’s an entertaining gateway to the world of Madanolsavam.

Subtle Performances

Suraj Venjaramoodu fully steals the show with his full-fledged comedy role in Madanotsavam. However, there are some moments where he becomes too emotional, adding some material for the family audiences into this political satire. Madanolsavam employs Suraj’s ability to oscillate between comedy (his slapstick style) and serious (but not bordering on melodrama) elements.

Sumesh Chandran’s character, Mohanan, was a laughing riot in the film, and I am sure that he will be viral soon after Madanolsavam’s OTT release.

Rajesh Madhavan’s Namboothiri goon, Chandrika Madikkayi’s aunt role, Rakesh Ushar’s corporate strategist, Babu Antony’s Madanan, and PP Kunhikrishnan’s Chindilayappan are all characters that ensure Madanolsavam is a wholesome entertainer. 

Bhama Arun’s Alice deserves a special mention because even though it was her debut in Mollywood, she truly nailed it. Her chemistry with Suraj was well-portrayed, with awkward pauses, romantic smiles, and emotional eyes. I expect to see her in more movies soon (Hopefully without being stereotyped).

Missing a Signature: Sudheesh Gopinath

Though it was directed by Sudessh Gopinath, Madanolsavam has all Ratheesh Pothuval’s trademark humour and deadpan set-up throughout. 

Casting, Narration, Opening, Ending, in simple words it’s Ratheesh pothuval everywhere. Eevn he did an extended cameo role as well.

Overall, I felt if Sudhessh could manage to add some unique elements we could have felt the freshness from a debutant director.

On the other hand, it’s possible that Sudheesh Gopinath’s influence was present in Ratheesh Pothuval’s previous works, as he served as the chief associate director for all of those films.

Final Verdict

Madanotsavam is a solid family entertainer packed with witty one-liners. However, it falls short as a political satire, especially during the rushed climax. Climax was too fast and disrupts the convincing-natural flow of the film.

So, Madanolsavam is a dark-comedy enteratiner which failed to leave a lasting impact.

Corona Papers is an engaging thriller directed by Priyadarshan.This will be a different Priyadarshan movie for you, since the film is devoid of slap-stick humor or romantic songs.

Corona papers maintaining a thrilling atmosphere from start to finish. In this movie, Priyadarshan demonstrates his return to form as a master craftsman, presenting captivating visuals that keep the audience hooked.

Priyadarshan’s crime thriller, Corona Papers, starts with an acknowledgment that the filmmaker was inspired by Akira Kurosawa’s Stray Dog. This 1949 detective film revolves around a stolen gun and delves into the social and economic conditions in Japan after World War II.

And this acknowledgement is true I feel, the movie is not actually a remake of 8 Thottakal rather it’s an adaptation of Stary Dog.

The Riveting Plot

The story follows Rahul, a newbie Sub-Inspector in the Kerala police force, who is assigned shadow duty at his first station. Tragically, he loses his service revolver, and the bullets from it are later used in a bank robbery.

As the investigation unfolds, the audience is drawn into the core of the story, with the tension continuing to escalate.

Priyadarshan’s approach in Corona Papers is straightforward and focussed, unlike his previous thriller, Oppam. He eliminates all the unnecessary melodrama and humor, ensuring a laser focus on the script.

Engaging Performances and Visual Beauty

Corona Papers’ first half offers a unique, thrilling experience with the freshness in casting and the fast paced events.

In the second half, although the plot points are predictable, the focus lies on how they connect and drive the characters towards the central event. This intriguing aspect keeps the audience engaged.

Secondly, the film remains engaging due to the skillful execution by the actors and Priyadarshan’s enhancement of the visual beauty and dramatic elements.

For example, there is a memorable scene where characters are exchanging money on a rainy night, adding an intriguing layer to the thriller.

The supporting cast, including Shane Nigam, Shine Tom Chacko, Gayathrie, P P Kunhikrishnan, Henna Reji, and Siddique Lal Jr., all deliver commendable performances.

Siddique Steals the Show

Siddique stands out as suspended police officer Sankararaman, delivering an exceptional performance that showcases his talent. He effortlessly handles emotionally intense scenes, adding depth to the film.

A philosophical scene unfolds between Shane Nigam and Siddique, and it’s hard to picture any other actor delivering it so effortlessly. And here are few elements around Siddique’s character and it added some philosophical layers to this thriller.

For exmple, a scene where Siddique uses Alexander Pope’s famous quote “to forgive is divine” that voice modulation is an icing on the cake for that scene.

Some Weak Points

While Shine Tom’s character is not insignificant, certain aspects of his role feel disconnected at times.

Shane Nigam excels in emotional scenes alongside Siddique. However, Sandhya Shetty struggles to match their ease. Her acting and dubbing fall short, particularly when sharing the screen with the experienced Siddique, creating a noticeable contrast in their performances.

Additionally, her character Gracy could have been written better. It’s not that convincing and there is a lack of depth. It reminds me old Vani Vishwanath era of Mollywood thrillers.

An Anticipated Climax with a Twist

Priyadarshan tried to make this different from typical crime thrillers, the climax of Corona Papers is not a twist but an awaited resolution of the interlocked puzzle.

The film pulls this off decently, but for those expecting a twist, there is one included. However, it feels forced and unnecessary for an otherwise solid thriller.

1. Experience a sleek thriller with minimal drama,
2. outstanding acting by Siddique, and
3. Priyan’s masterful visuals.

These three key elements make Corona Papers a must-watch film for thriller enthusiasts.

In conclusion, Corona Papers is a decent crime thriller with a few flaws, but it will undoubtedly keep audiences captivated throughout its runtime.

Anyone familiar with Krishand’s Aavasayooham or other flicks can easily predict what’s waiting for them. Don’t be fooled by his titles; his film titles are not direct.

He always chooses a heavy subject and will deliver it in a fun and thrilling way.  Krishand, I believe, is a fan of superimposing dichotomies, such as war and peace or love and hate.This is his way of leaving his imprint on his works. Purusha Pretham is no different.

Purusha Pretham is a noirish crime comedy that is stuffed with numerous layers of Indian politics and social evils that still prevail including discriminations, domestic violence, exploitations and bureaucratic red-tapism.

When it comes to the plot, Krishand always crafts a central character, with confidence being an essential factor. SI Sebastian, aka Super Sebastian, is renowned for his bravery and is feared by many in Purusha Pretham.Sebastian’s reputation is tested when a lady named Susan comes to his station and wants to check whether an unidentified body is her husband’s or not.

Sebastian’s Macho-chauvinism and some Rashomon effects(another pattern in Krishand’s movies) are what make the first half of the movie. In the second half you will witness the fragility of the same macho elements and the shades of femme fatale.

Some of the frames in PP remind me of Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam and Pudhupettai, and those cinematic frameworks reflect Krishand’s outside the box making. Here everything is connected, be it an Orange juice, a bottle, a Rose flower, an underwritten character, everything serves a purpose and that elevates the experience of the viewer.

Darshana stated in a recent interview, “Usually, you have a master shot and then you go for a person’s close-up or over-the-shoulder shots and you are familiar with all of that.”But in Purusha Pretham, it wasn’t.” This is pretty evident in the film. All the characters are at the margins of the frame leaving a space besides (no spoiler 🙂 )

There are no stars (except Darshana), dramatic stunts, or slapstick comedy in the film. But director Krishand incorporated all the tiny elements that will entertain every category of viewers. There are parts of the film where silence would have been appropriate, but he still included some haunting background music and songs by Ajmal Hasbullah.There are some raps that replicate the contemporary style of mallu trends that will elevate the mood of the film, and that’s the beauty of this dark noir crime comedy.

I truly admire Krishand’s research for this film and the way he incorporated some cliches in Malayalam films when it comes to police officers (maybe he was mocking). In his previous film, there is a scene where the character Vava suddenly gets a lot of fish; similar cliched elements to excite the common man can be found in Purusha Pretham as well. Especially, in the climax event of ‘Super’ Sebastian.

Krishand and writer Ajith Haridas deserve praise for their nuanced portrayal of police characters in the movie. Instead of painting them all with a khaki shade, Krishand added separate character sketches for each police officer, which made them stand out from one another. Furthermore, the way he humanizes the police force is another entertaining factor in the movie. Sanju Shivram, Jeo Baby, Rahul Rajagopal, and Zhinz Shan all bring a smile to your face with their delightful performances.

Alexander Prashanth and veteran actor Jagadeesh were the two people who stole the show. The way Prashanth delivered ‘The Shades of Sebastian’ was impeccable. At some point, I felt like this character was written specifically for him. Jagadeesh’s portrayal of Dileep was an extension of his character from ‘Rorschach’.

In one word, this is a movie for every set of audience. This is an ideal material for a post-Friday film (a film that will be popular upon its release). I hope next time Krishand will deliver a Friday film since this is going to be the talk of the town soon.

Jithin Issac Thomas’ new malayalam film Rekha is about Rekha and Arjun, Arjun sneaks into Rekha’s house one night to spend time with her, but the next day, he is missing. The film explores how that one night changes everything for Rekha. Are you intrigued yet?

In the beginning if you think you are getting a feel-good film, think again, It’s a Jithin Issac Film. He makes us uneasy from the very start of the film.

I love the way Jithin scripted its confrontation act. A casual question about a pet dog asked during a sweet moment between the couple and a casual answer turns everything upside down. It is an intelligently written scene.

The star of the film is undoubtedly Vincy Aloshious, who portrays the titular tomboyish woman perfectly. It’s truly one of her best performances yet.

The visual and sound design of the movie is immersive, despite the minimalist approach. The director of photography, Abraham Joseph, who previously worked on “Kumari,” does an excellent job of creating an atmosphere filled with grit and menace.

As with Jithin’s other films, “Rekha” delves into politics. The movie sheds light on how people are labelled based on their origin(Character: Savitha Teacher or even Rekha), and the way Jithin incorporates Dalit politics into his movies is fascinating.

Remember if you compare this with a revenge drama like the Kill Bill/ 22 FK space I would say it’s a half-baked attempt because of the several pointless extended scenes of violence.

In conclusion, if you’re looking for an engaging movie with a captivating storyline, “Rekha” is a great choice. Don’t miss out on this must-watch film that showcases the talents of Jithin Issac Thomas and Vincy Aloshious in its most minimalistic appraoch.

Read more about Jithin Issac Thomas here.