Snake&Ladder(2012)-Inspired from V.K Prakash&Hrithik Roshan

V.Menon strikes again with a family movie featuring Kalabhavan Mani in the role of a quadriplegic multi millionere. But he keeps his inspirational history intact as this failed attempt of his is also inspired from more than one source. First one is V.K Prakash’s “Beautyful” (2011) where intense bonding of two friends, one quadriplegic and other a musician.    Chek out at : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2133191/   Second is Olivier Nakache’s “Intouchables” (2011) where after he becomes a quadriplegic from a paragliding accident, an aristocrat hires a young man from the projects to be his caretaker. In fact this was a version attempted by Olivier Nakache himself of his own documentry film .   Chek out at : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1675434/plotsummary?ref_=tt_stry_pl   Third is Hrithik Roshan’s “Guzarish” (2010)  which is said to be inspired from the 'The Sea Inside' cinema.  Here the paralyzed Magician-turned-Radio Jockey files a Petition in Court seeking permission to end his life.But this movie also has one more plot which is copied in “Snake&Ladder”. Here Hrithik Roshan appointed a lady as a home nurse. Due to this act, under some sudden circumstances Hrithik becomes fell in love with her.  Quite similar to “Snake&Ladder”.   Chek out at : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1438298/plotsummary?ref_=tt_stry_pl

Annayum Rasoolum-Rajiv Ravi,the George Cukoor of Mollywood(Movie Review By Yoonus Mohyudhin)

It's a proven fact now that there is only one person in Malayalam Cinema, who can give you much better “Romantic movies” than the “Vinayan” kind of cinema made some decades back. Gone are the days when “Romance” meant just cute faces and some Skin show incorporated deliberately. At present viewers are more interested in seeing genuine Romantic movies based on original themes. Here RR comes  with a topic with his debut.

More than 15 years ago, when I saw “Thoovanathumbikal”, I felt missing such person is there in Mollywood who knows his work and also understands the “Romantic” genre. But then malayalam films going behind the action and comedy films. And now Mollywood is back with same kind of sparks in “Annayum Rasoolum”. Though “Annayum Rasoolum” is quite repetitive in story but it works due to its treatment and brilliant performances from a  lead pair.

The movie has its moments to enjoy, but you may also feel less supplied to you in respect to info about the subject. The explanatory factor is missing in the script and it only stresses at showing the results of the romantic Spell on the lovers. The climax where in a “Lovers” disconnected by fate is same as you have seen earlier in “Romio and Juliot” & “Sethu”.

In “Romio &Juliot” there was John Barrymore, Sivakumar played the role in “Sethu” and there is “Sunny Wayne” in “Annayum Rasoolum” giving the top most performance of his career. He plays the role of Ashley and he has acted superbly. Not once the viewer can think that he is acting as he looks so real in his get up and act. Thats the reason he is seen in almost all newgeneration films and its time others in the industry also use this talented artist more often.

The lead pair, Fahad & Andrea Jeremiya both impress with their top rate performances. Fahad is surely a great discovery. He has some resemblance to Mohan Lal but has acted like an experienced performer. Soubin Shahir makes an impact as Collin. Ranjith as  Usman manages to give you shocks but also crosses the border in certain scenes. The actress playing Fazila gives the required romantic touch to the movie. The project is a collective & commendable effort by the whole team.

One observation, I would sadly like to mention here. I think Malayalam Audiences come to see “Romantic Movies” in the theater not to enjoy the theme and subject, but only to relax and feeling imotional intentionally. Moreover during the whole movie you can hear laughters and giggles in the cinema. May be this is another way of enjoying a “Romantic Flick”, but certainly not as it should be. I hope the subject of Romance needs a silent and intense watch and I fear “Romance” is not taken as another form of “Comedy” by our dear viewers.

Though you may feel similarities with Tamil new generation flicks at times but still the movie is worth a watch if you love this genre of cinema.

Rating : 3.5 / 5

Boadyguard(2010)&Kuch Kuch Hotha Hain(1998)

“Boadyguard”, may be one of the most appreciated movies of the recent times but it is still not an original work by the director. It is now widely known that the original source for “Boadyguard” was "Kuch Kuch Hotha Hain”. But I couldn’t find any reference or acknowledgement to the Hindi movie by any actor or director of the Malayalam adaptation. Though Dileep & Nayan Thara did a fine job in the movie as the lead, but I liked the amazing act of the Child Artist more than anybody else. The only regret is that they should have given credit to the original makers too.    Chek out at : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172684/

ENTRY-Neither an action nor a thriller(Movie Revie By Yoonus Mohyudhin)

Its more difficult to make a good thriller than a action  or an emotional drama. The reason being that there is a very thin & minute line between a good thriller and some cheap sequences trying to make you thrill. The present movie should be considered in the second category where you keep waiting for the expected thrilling moments but nothing comes and the film ends just like that.

The story idea of a “biker” getting involved with “police” was good but its lacks the required punchy execution for a thriller. The script fails to entertain and also could not make use of the talented starcest it had. Both the plots get confused with each other, which results in a movie going in an unknown direction. Cheap imitations of real life characters is not tastefully done.

Baburaj is completely wasted and in my opinion apart from his other roles, the comedy movies are the one which he should choose with utmost care. After his past successes in comic roles, people now go for a movie only for him. But the writer neither gave him good scenes nor good dialogues to deliver. I suppose he was more concerned with showing Ranjini Haridas and her silly affairs with everyone in the story.

While watching you wonder what Bhagath Manuel & Ashokan are doing in the movie. They are just playing their role because they have signed the movie. Ashokan doesnt seem interested anywhere in the 2 hours and Bhagath looks like just enjoying doing a light thriller for a change. Ranjini Haridas is over possesive about her “anchor” image.  Musically there is nothing to comment upon as its just another musical score for a movie with nothing exceptional. In the end, I can only say that the movie is not entertaining enough with even Baburaj being there as the lead. I was expecting at least some good moments but sadly couldn’t find enough to recommend the movie to others. Rating : 1 / 5

Clean Slate(1994)-(Movies To See Before You Die-Comedy)

The movie is about  a private investigator who is the key witness in a murder case.  The master filmmaker Mike Jackson’s only comedy moviewith Dana Carvey and Valeria Golino playing the lead characters .

 

A brilliantly directed movie well supported by Michael Gambon, James Earl Jones, Bryan Cranston, Kevin Pollack and more.One of my favorite comedies."Clean Slate" is a funny movie.  Remarkably shot by Mike Jackson in a unique and highly enjoyable style, the movie is not at all boring as it seems from its subject. In fact it’s quite difficult to choose this kind of story for a movie project and only Mike Jackson could have done it with such an excellence. A pure cinematic gem, for the thinking viewers.

Directed By Mike Jackson Starring : Dana Carvey, Valeria Golino, James Earl Jones & Michael Gambon Music By Alan Silvestri

Rathi Manmathan(1977)-A Well Made Inspired Musical

Impressed by the entertaining musical “Rathimanmathan”, I really wanted to believe that this time, it’s an original attempt by the director , Shashikumar. But instead, he continue to stick with their inspirational tie ups and again follow a Tamil musical from the other part of the India.
This time its “Kumari Penn” released in 1966, directed by Ramanna. A story of Shyamala's grandfather wants her married before he dies, everything is quite similar to RATHI MANMATHAN.

But as usual, Shashikumar again come up with a fast paced and highly entertaining inspired movie which was declared a major Hit of 1977. But I only wish it was an ORIGINAL.

Check this out : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317859/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_36

NEE KO NHA CHA-A new angle in the love triangle but not youthful(Movie Review By Yoonus Mohyudhin)

New generation  camp is moving on a tough road since last few months and they hope to move on to the highway again with Nee Ko Nha Cha. But the journey may not be that easy as the movie is intense, mature and also has repetitions at a very slow pace. It lacks the youthfulness of “Rthu”, so you may not get the result as expected looking at the young and peppy promos.

Excitement of watching “Nee Ko Nha Cha” goes down the moment movie starts with the main title song. 

The story is about the lives of three friends played by Sunny Wayne, Sanju and Praveen Anidhil.The story is about a killer lover boy “Sunny” who goes on betraying his girlfriends and regrets his past when he himself is dumped by a girl. The two girls he hurts are Rohini Mathew & Merin. 

If you feel that it’s an original story idea then you must see John Cusack’s “High Fidelity” in which he also tries to find out why his affairs were not successful in his youth. And then goes back to his girlfriends asking them the reasons of their breakups. The only difference is that here Sunny goes back to say sorry for his deeds to his past girlfriends.

First half of the movie hugely resembles “Forgetting Laura Marshal” . This part bores you as you know every scene which is coming one after another. It features Poojitha Menon, who looks cute in some and aged in few scenes. There is no novelty in this part of the movie.

The second part is a bit bold as it shows a live-in relationship between Sunny & Rohini Mathew. Rohini gives a very subtle performance in this part and looks ravishing in her revealing outfits. She acts well in the scene when she is left by Sunny on the wedding day.

The third part has a fresh and gorgeous face of Poojitha who dumps Sunny . In fact Poojitha takes the highest numbers in the looks department as compared to the other two. She has the minimum footage but has a descent dress sense and impresses the viewers in the few scenes she has.

Post interval Sunny goes back to Rohini & Merin to ask for their forgiveness. Out of the two, Rohini sequence is the best one, which is also highly influenced by “Bluff Master” and “Neuvi Rianas”. Sanju as his muslim friend looks perfect and has also acted brilliantly. This part of the script is well written and executed. Merin sequence is too fast and looks hurried up a little.

The second half is bit slow in parts and that makes you hear noises in the theater. There are some intense dramatic scenes which are heavy for the young audiences and they may miss the youth factor in the movie.

The persons who impress you most on the whole are Sunny, Sanju and Poojitha Nair. Though Rohini & Merin get more footage but Poojitha scores over them with her powerful screen presence. Rohini acts well but her limitation is that she has to play the role of a supermodel (which is a reality too).

Sanju looks great and equally acts his part with competence. His getup proves that being from Muslim themselves, new generation camp knows how to portray a Muslim in films (much better than Priyadarshan).

Sunny has a very camera friendly face and he is brilliant in his act of a person at different stages of his age. No doubt a far better attempt from “Second Show”. Both Sunny and Poojitha dont look like doing their second movie. Together they look the best in the movie and you will surely enjoy watching them together.

Director Gireesh, is excellent in some sequences and knows his job well. But the screenplay makes the movie slow at times which proves a handicap for the director.

In my opinion if only the Rohini–Sunny-Sanju story was adapted for the complete movie then it may have resulted in a more entertaining flick. The conclusion is that it is a mature and intense film lacking the youth factor which was expected. It is slow paced at times and will face mixed responses at the box office. Musically its a hit but at the ticket window, it will face a rough road. Rating : 2.5 / 5