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

Rithu

Medium : Malayalam
Starring : Nishan, Asif Ali, Rima Kallingal, MG Sasi
Director : Shyama Prasad
Music : Rahul Raj


Director Shyama Prasad’s new film ‘Rithu’ released with a different byline comment, “Seasons change…do we”. May be the director might not have given big hits, but his films ‘Agnisakshi’, ‘Akale’ and ‘Orey Kadal’ caught attention. I always loved his mini screen works like ‘Uyarthezhunnelppu’ and ‘Maranam Durbalam’, which were unique creations in the particular area. The director’s fame is the main reason for ‘Rithu’ being in the news. We can’t avoid he debutant heroine and last year runner up in the Miss Kerala competition, Rima Kallingal, since she is the talk of the town these days. Thus it is also a factor that raised the fame of the film. Moreover the film is distributed by Megastar Mammootty’s distribution company, Play House.

This is the story of three childhood friends (played by new comers Nishan, Asif Ali, Rima Kallingal). After working in US for three years, Nishan reached the native to settle here. He asks other two people, who were in Bangalore, to join him. They agreed and while working here in an IT firm, he finds that those years made a gap in their friendship and attitude. That time itself, he wished to marry Rima. The good old memory of their friendship is still there in his mind. Now he finds that their approach is not genuine. He also has to face an official cheating from his close friend Asif, which made him to take the decision of leaving them. There after what happens to those three is mainly discussed in ‘Rithu’.

Thos who have watched the director’s previous films (excluding ‘Kallu Kondoru Pennu’) might know his style. Here also Shyama Prasad has followed the fluctuating style, which can’t be categorized into mainstream or parallel films. His attempt to create the story of the IT field with the new faces should be appreciated. (Don’t forget that director Kamal also wished to create the happenings in the same area with the experienced hands in ‘Minnaminniikkoottam’ and has failed in it). In ‘Rithu’, you have got the different activities in the IT field which is shown straight and seriously. The scenes involving the official team meeting, party gathering and negative comments against the native people are some examples. The portrayal of Nishan’s father and brother (done by director MG Sasi) characters are excellent. The performances of all the three main characters are good. The body language of the heroine suits well for the character, especially the area where she talks through mobile looks realistic.

Joshua Newton’s script is not extra ordinary, but the director’s presentation has given the life it demanded. Shyam Datt’s cinematography is good. Rahul Raj had given the music. The songs in different style are not catchy, but the background score goes with the mood.

‘Rithu’ is a cross section of a certain area of the society with many new faces. We should welcome different approaches like this.

Rating : 7.5 / 10