Chaverpada

Medium : Malayalam
Starring : Bala, Manikkuttan, Arun, Siraj, Muktha
Director : T.S.Jespal Music : Alex Paul, S.P.Venkitesh (bg score)

Another movie with many young faces has been released. The title 'Chaverpada' will pass the message that its is an action oriented one. Though the movie is directed by new comer T.S.Jespal, he has got notable technicians like Bharani K.Dharan ('Puthiya Mugham', 'The Thriller', 'Police Police' fame) as cinematographer and Samjith ('Red Chillies', 'Puthiya Mugham', 'Vairam' fame) as the editor. The script is written by G.S.Anil, who is notable through the tele serial 'Kayamkulam Kochunni'.

The story is about a gang (Manikkuttan, Arun, Siraj etc) named 4tech studying in the college. They are notable for their brilliance in the academic activities. At occasions they clashed with some other notorious students of the college. For a time pass, the group had once hacked some confidential web programs including the traffic signal of the city. The police had arrested and knowing that they don't have any criminal backgrounds, they were released. That incident had caused them some dangers in the later parts.

The presentation of the movie looks amateur in many areas. The computer expert guy hacking the traffic signal (adapted from the english movie 'Italian Job') is done as a time pass and cannot be accepted here, as it is treated in a very light way. The word 'Kerala Police' is repeated many times in the scenes featuring police officers. The performance of some new faces placed in between the scenes, like the father of a gang member, the police officer etc were not serious. The introduction of the servant character done by Tesni Khan and its following sequences are too lengthy and boring. Only a malayalam movie can create such a poor sequence for comedy where the public over hears the mobile talk by professor (Kochu Preman) with another teacher through the college speaker. Actor Krishaprasad is in his late 30's, but he is shown as as a student for few moments, even though it is done to jutify the situation, we cannot easily digest that area. The hopeless item dance by the terrorist lady must have been done to cover 4 to 5 minutes without tension. The situation leading to the first song and the visuals in the songs won't felt good. The pathos song will make anyone restless in all aspects. Bala as the NSG chief didn't have the needed official appearance, he is shown in the beard look always. Manikkuttan is over acting in many scenes in the beginning including the songs. The bg sounds felt too noisy in some areas. Even the presence of Bharani K.Dharan and Samjith can't save the project due to its weak scripting. Songs by ALex Paul are going with the weak standard of the movie only. Bg Score is given by S.P.Venkitesh. Action sequences (done by Mafia Sasi, Run Ravi, Anal Arasu) are not the best, especially the unnatural in the rope scenes are evident in the last fight.


You can watch "Chaverpada', only if you are adamant enough to join this "chaver" group.

Rating : 2.5 / 10

Sahasram

Medium : Malayalam
Starring : Suresh Gopi, Madhu, Bala, Jagathi, 'Kaadhal' Sandhya, Lakshmi Gopalaswamy
Director : Dr.S.Janardhanan
Music : M.Jayachandran, Rajamani (bg score)

The director of many hit mega serials and Mohanlal film 'Mahasamudram' has now done a horror based investigation subject titled 'Sahasram'. The title is so, because the hero Suresh Gopi's name in the movie is a peculiar one, Vishnu Sahasra Naamam. It is going to be yet another police officer's role for him. U.K.Senthil Kumar, who worked with the same actor in his previous project 'Kanyakumari Express', is the cinematographer. Bala and 'Kaadhal' Sandhya have also done notable roles. Seven Arts Films is the distributor.

The story is told in the background of a film shooting. As per request from the production controller (Jagathi), the art director Vaishakhan (Bala) reaches the shooting spot just before the proposed day of shooting, for the set works. He had witnessed some unusual happenings there. His personal grudge with actor Sudheer (Suresh Krishna), had caused him problems at the location and he was forced to leave the job. The shooting started and while taking a combination shot of the heroine ('Kaadhal' Sandhya) and the villain, the latter one, who is also the minister's son is killed. The police officer, Sahasra Naamam (Suresh Gopi), who is in charge of the investigation reached there and the truth is found out in the racy second half through a suspense.

The director had kept a good suspense for the story. The main problem lies in the careless handling of some incidents and inclusion unnatural dialogues in the movie. The creator should realize the fact that a movie presentation is far different compared to that of a mini screen. The lengthy opening scene in which the heroine of a movie fall accidentally into the water and the after effects of that incident are all carelessly handled. The sequences involving Kottayam Nazir in the director's role, Jagathi as the production controller, Bala as the art director and who ever related to the film shooting spots are speaking very amateur dialogues regarding their profession. The discussion happening between the director and the crew members on the scenes to be shot, are suitable for a school drama only (it is not good to under estimate the viewers, they are intelligent enough to understand the cinematic things even if they are old in a more professional and serious way).

Suresh Gopi is there in his usual style, but some times he is behaving in an abnormal manner (it is all part of the investigation, leave it). The dialogue delivery of Niyaz as SI, felt odd in few areas. Even if the suspense is revealed in the anticlimax, the director had added a dramatic climax area for revenge, which should have been done more neatly. A senior actor like Madhu is not suited in such a role of the minister. 'Kaadhal' Sandhya is not graceful in the heroine's role. Bala is ok. Bg score by Rajamani is good for the mood. Cinematography by U.K.Senthil Kumar with Ramalingam and Sujith Vasudev, who worked for the second unit, did their job well. Mahesh Narayan is the editor. Action scenes by Mafia Sasi is ok, a couple of rope shots felt bad due to his inexperience in that side.

Even if there are few ups and downs on the making side, 'Sahasram' has got a watchable investigation plot, with a suspense.


Rating : 6.5 / 10

Avan

Medium : Malayalam
Starring : Bala, Vijay Yesudas, Riaz Khan, Vijayaraghavan, Jagadeesh, Muktha
Director : Nandakumar Kaavil
Music : Rajamani, Ramesh Narayan, Anil Gopal

The only attraction of the movie 'Avan' is that singer Vijay Yesudas has acted in an important role in it. Like his father, who had done some on-screen appearances ('Kayamkulam Kochunni', 'Kavya Mela', 'Achani', 'Nandanam', 'Boy Friend' etc), Vijay is also trying to extend his popularity. Young actor Bala ('Big B', 'Puthiya Mukham', 'Chembada' fame) comes in the lead role. Script writer Sumod Gopu, director Nandakumar Kaavil are all new comers. Nambiathiri ('Laal Salaam', 'Aayirappara', 'Kadha Nayakan' fame) is the cinematographer. This musical action subject has got Rajamani, Ramesh Narayan and Anil Gopal as the music directors.

The story starts when Krishnan (Bala), a criminal, participating in a tv reality show. In front of the anchor (Jagadeesh), he tell about his old days and how he reached in such a situation. Krishnan is having a broken and unstable childhood, but he was always fond of music. He studied the basic lessons, hearing the voice of music teacher (Devan) in the locality. Later, Krishan got involved in a murder incident and left the village, when grown up he became the main member of a quotation gang. He has involved in all sorts of illegal activities with his friend Dharman (Riaz Khan). They got advice from Balu (Vijayaraghavan), an old gang leader, in all such matters. Krishnan loves a girl (Muktha) in the colony. One day, Krishnan and Dharman got into a deal with business tycoon, to attack the up coming singer Ramanujam (Vijay Yesudas). They entered the latter's house, which later lead to a series of incidents.

The director has tried to tell the subject in the backdrop of a reality show.We have seen a similar situation in Jayaram movie, 'One Man Show' by Rafi-Mecartin. Most of the situations happening in the movie are not new, like the hero in his olden days studying music, the boy got involved in a murder and leaving the village, the attachment of the hero with his god father, the helpless hero being treated by the old singer and the young children, the relationship between Krishnan and Ramanujam, the post marriage life of Krishnan's lover, the end happening to the hero's god father, the climax portion of the movie etc have been witnessed in many movies in different languages before.

The portions towards the end, after Krishnan is being attacked by the rowdies, goes too fastly. Here the flasback of Ramanujam and his relationship with Krishnan has not been told convincingly. The reality show, projected as a 'live' programme doesn't felt realistic. Kottayam Nazeer, the spectator tells that he is there as he doesn't have any job to do and he is also over acting most of the time. Bala has tried to do his best, with the voice of dubbing artist Sharathdas. Vijay Yesudas, though doesn't have big job to do, is not looking confident in his scenes (he should concentrate more in the singing area, which is good for him). Vijayaraghavan is suited well in the serious role. Jagathi and Jagadeesh did the roles in their own way.

The songs are not the best, they comes as fillers in various intervals. Among them, Shankar Mahadevan's solo number felt different. To give the voice of M.G.Sreekumar for the highschool boy while singing, is not acceptable. A rare cine-phenomenon has also happened, one song has been rendered by Yesudas, which is performed by his son Vijay in the movie. The art work for the particular song should have been more serious. Mafia Sasi still continues his old techniques in action sequences, which is not good, it is time for him to watch more other language movies. Bg score by Rajamani goes with the mood. Nambiathiri's camera work is ok. Sreenivas is the editor. The attempt taken by Sumod Gopu and Nandakumar Kaavil for taking such a subject needs to be mentioned, they should do more home work and come back with a better project next time.


There is nothing new in a project like 'Avan'.


Rating : 3.5 / 10

Ring Tone

Medium : Malayalam
Starring : Suresh Gopi, Bala, Rajan.P.Dev, Saikumar, Megha Nair
Director : Ajmal
Music : Shaan

'Ring Tone', an usually used word in the day-to-day life, is the title of the new malayalam film by new director Ajmal. It has got Suresh Gopi and Bala in the lead roles, with a new face Megha Nair coming as the heroine. The film is a delayed release as we can see late Rajan.P.Dev also coming in a lengthy role here. Shaan, who has given notable theme music for films like 'Chinthamani Kolacase' and 'Tiger', handles the music section of this action film.

The story open up by showing the police lathi-charging the local protesters who are fighting for their basic needs. The old lady (Zeenat) who lead the march is brutally beaten by the police officer (Baburaj), there arrives Rakesh (Bala) to the scene in order to save her mother. As per request from his mother and the friends (Manuraj, Machaan Varghees), Rakesh leaves the town in a lorry, where the heroine (Megha Nair) was also traveling. On the way the lorry met with an accident and both of them were admitted to the hospital. They were later given shelter by the local landlord (Rajan.P.Dev), pretending that both of them were lovers. At this time, Nainan Koshi (Suesh Gopi), an officer from the central government, reaches the village for investigating a murder case. Later, the family members (Saikumar, Tara Kalyan etc) of Megha reaches there to take her back. Nainan thinks that the lovers are linked with the murder and takes them to custody. Megha reveals her story and about the people who came there as her relatives. Nainan and Rakesh engaged in acting against the mission of the baddies, is shown in an action packed climax. (the name used here for Bala and Megha are fake, as I am unable to recollect the original ones).

The in experience and un professionalism of the creators are evident in many areas in the film. The artist who comes as the police commissioner gave a very poor performance. The hospital scene in which the bomb blasting and associated things taking place is treated like a childish manner. The extra artistes who were placed a police constables substantiates the fact. In a running shot, a constable even nodes the commissioner by mistake. The chasing at the hospital is apt for a home video only. The doctor character (Jagannath Varma) is not flexible and he is also repeating the word 'oh my god' many times.

The over acting by the driver (Abu Salim) while drinking alcohol in the lorry, clearly shows that the vehicle is not moving and their singing was dominated by bg sound. The servant (Anoop Chandran) who is shown as a foolish character trying to create comedy, is too horrible. The heroine reveals about the opening scene where the person who does the crying 'act' at the check post, as a big suspense, the body language and performance of the particular guy at that time itself showed that it is not real. There is no use in putting the lovers in a room and over hearing their talk through a microphone, as the officer can question them directly. The relevance of the first song in such a situation is questionable. The heroine jumping from a top, lands on a tree and later to the water below, can be considered as an accident, but if the same sequences are repeating for the hero also, then it should be called as 'unrealistic'.

The art director had tried to show the place Warangal in Andhra by a name board and writing few telugu words on the wall, but he should know have noticed that correct spelling of the place is not 'Varangal' as shown in the board. A board in tamil regarding the public telephone, is the last method to convey that the young hero is now in Tamilnadu. It was good that the board on the bus with places in tamil letters were not easily readable. Like wise, the place in which Nainan's introduction scene is shown as he does the attack in Karim Nagar in Andhra, looks similar to the one where he investigates the case later associated with the young hero and heroine in Tamilnadu. It might happened, as both of them were shot in the hilly outskirts of Kerala. (If cheating has to be done, it should be executed without being noticed by others).

Cinematography by Bijoy Vargheese is good. Editor Rathish Ravi might have suffered a lot, as the timing in cutting the frames were not proportionate in most of the scenes. Songs given by Shaan is ok, but the bg score done by him is not good and the loops were mismatching in majority of the areas. Such a kind of rap sounds used for shots featuring the officer and his team was not at all needed. Police roles are like tooth brushing experience for Suresh Gopi these days. Bala is as usual. The new heroine, Megha Nair's looks are not the best in some angles. The story of the film is not bad, but the script by Sathish Kumar and the presentation of the film by the debutant Ajmal happened to be the main problem. The creators are promising, so they should do their home work and come up with a better project next time.


The content of 'Ring Tone' is not attractive as its title, hence it is not a promotable one.


Rating : 3.5 / 10