Best Of Luck

Medium : Malayalam
Starring : Mammootty (guest role), Prabhu, Asif Ali, Kailash, Urvasi, Rima Kallingal, Archana Kavi, Jagathy
Director : M.A.Nishad
Music : Euphoria, Rajamani (bg score)

Like other languages, the youth trend is slowly happening in the malayalam cine industry also. The shooting of many such projects are going on. The acceptance of movies like 'Apoorva Raagam' and 'Malarvaadi Arts Club' gave the extra energy for producers to invest amount on projects having young actors. Director of 'Pakal', 'Nagaram', 'Vairam' etc had come up with his new movie 'Best Of Luck' with many popular young faces introduced through 'Rithu' and 'Neelathaamara'; senior actors like Prabhu and Urvasi are placed in notable roles and more important Megastar Mammootty is doing a guest appearance, which makes the project big. Sanjeev Shankar is the cinematographer and Samjith is the editor.

Manu (Asif Ali) and Soorya (Kailash) are friends. Both of them are having their own ambitions in the life. They had got lovers (Rima for Manu and Archana for Soorya). Manu wants to enter the movie industry, Soorya is living with the small amount of money he gets monthly from his step brother (Prabhu). They are having some financial liabilities and wants to solve it by the help of Soorya's brother who is very rich. Soorya called him and told a lie that his marriage has happened. They thought that the brother will register the house in Soorya's name. One day, the brother decided to visit them when Archana was in abroad, Soorya had to show some one as his wife, Rima acted in such a role, there the confusion drama had started. Mean while Manu tells his story to actor Mammootty as a part of doing a movie and the star had asked him to work on it. How the friends achieves their ambitions, is told in a humorous way here.

'Best Of Luck' is not a fresh theme like the recent releases 'Cock Tail', 'Four Friends' and 'Anwar'. It is the remake of hindi movie 'All the Best' starring Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgan and Fardeen Khan by Rohit Shetty ('Golmaal' fame) and some of the episodes reminded us of many situation comedies that came in Priyadarshan movies in the past. But the director had not succeeded in presenting the movie in an acceptable way. This is mainly due to the immaturity of the players who had participated in a game which is not at all familiar to them, even the refree. Asif Ali is ok. Kailash is not flexible, it is neatly evident in many areas especially songs. The performance of Rima Kallingal and Archana Kavi are not natural. Prabhu's heaviness in the character is not revealed as expected. Urvasi's dialogue slang is an over doze in some areas. Bheeman Raghu's role felt too funny at times. The role given for Jagathi and Suraaj Venjarammood are not creating a good comedy.

The combination scene involving four-five artists to create the comedy is filled with bad timing sense and hence too horrible most of the time. The dialogues involving chewing gum name had been told many times, which is good for an advertisement only. The songs given by Euphoria band are not good. Bg score by Rajamani is also affected as rest of the situations. Since the majority areas are straightly lifted from hindi, Vinu Kiriyath's task was only to write the dialogues, which is also not done in the best way. Mammootty's role in three scenes is an addition in malayalam version, which is good, but with in all the other instabilities it can't be highlighted alone.


If you are very particular about this comedy subject, it is good to take the dvd of hindi movie 'All The Best' and enjoy; those who want to watch Mammootty, try some of his good movies; At any cost no need to "die" for a bad remake like 'Best Of Luck'.


Rating : 2 / 10

Apoorva Raagam

Medium : Malayalam
Starring : Nishan, Asif Ali, Nithya
Director : Sibi Malayil
Music : Vidyasagar, Biji Bal (bg score)

This week witnessed the release of another malayalam movie without many experienced faces coming in the lead roles. Nishan and Asif Ali once gain joined hands after 'Rithu' and Nithya ('Aakasha Gopuram', 'Happy Journey' in 'Kerala Cafe' fame) are those lucky artists. One of the senior directors in the field, Sibi Malayil has directed the project, titled 'Apoorva Raagam'. It is a fact that the master craftsman who was capable of delivering versatile hits like 'Thaniyaavarthanam', 'August 1', 'His Highness Abdullah' and 'Summer In Bethlehem' once, has not got any big surprises in the last 7-8years other than 'Ente Veedu Apoontem'. Any way Sibi has tried his luck with new script writers G.S.Anand and Najim Koya. It is produced by Siyad Koker and distributed by Gokulam Gopalan. Ajayan Vincent who gave the colorful visuals in movies like 'Bhramaram' and 'Aagathan' is the cinematographer.

Roopesh (Nishan) and Tomy (Asif Ali) are close friends studying in a college. Nancy (Nithya) who belongs to the rich family, is a student of the same college. Roopesh is fond of Nancy, and soon they loves each other. Thus developed a series of incidents till the climax of 'Apoorva Raagam'. (i can't mention the story in detail, its better you watch...)

The new writers had developed an excellent script here and the director with all his experience did a wonderful job. The humor treatment of the college episode is the best example. Such scenes are arranged in a realistic way, knowing the pulse of the youths. The dialogues used in the movie needs special mention. The transitions happening from one scene to other are also done neatly. The twist and turns happening in every reel is beyond our expectation. The new comers who did the companion roles of the heroes and the old man who came in the heroine's father's role have done their best. The melodrama happening in the second half could have been cut short, but we know that in such a situation it can't be avoided.

The film is colorful and technically perfect in every department. Cinematographer Ajayan Vincent, who comes from the living legend Vincent master's family, had once again did a promising job through some rich visuals. Editor Bijith Bala had given some neat cuts. Vidyasagar's couple of fast numbers won't be the best, but it goes with the mood. Bg score by Biji Bal is excellent and gave the tempo it required. Fight sequences by Thyagarajan is not an over doze. Dubbing department has done their part well for the majority of characters and Shammi Thilakan, Sharath, Harishanth etc needs claps in such an area along with the girl who gave voice for heroine's friend.

From the output, it is evident that the new script writers G.S.Anand and Najim Koya did a good home work for developing such a theme. The fast paced style in story telling by the director Sibi Malayil has helped the project to lift a lot. Nithya is charming and done well in the heroine's role. Her actions and emotions are attractive. Asif Ali, who did the guest role in 'Kadha Thudarunnu', had got a different range here and has performed well. Though there are ups and down in executing the role, Nishan also suits the character.

It is good to have hero oriented subjects, but at the same time please don't avoid different attempts like 'Apoorva Raagam' also. Other than simply sitting and raising criticism (by praising other language movies), it is better to watch it and welcome more like this in future.


'Apoorva Raagam' is an youthful romantic thriller which has ever happened in malayalam in the recent past.


Rating : 8 / 10