Four Friends

Medium : Malayalam
Starring : Kamalhassan (guest role), Jayaram, Jayasurya, Kunjakko Boban, Meera Jasmin
Director : Saji Surendran
Music : M.Jayachandran

After a couple of hits like 'Ivar Vivahithaaraayal' and 'Happy Husbands', the same team (director Saji Surendran & his associates, script writer Krishna Poojappura, cinematographer Anil Nair, editor Manoj, art director Sujith Raghav, music director M.Jayachandran, choreographer Prasanna, still photographer Mahadevan Thambi etc), once again joined together for a new venture named 'Four Friends'. Jayaram, Kunjakko Boban and Meera Jasmin are doing the lead roles with Jayasurya who was also a common factor in the previous projects. The notable thing regarding this project is that 'Universal Hero' Kamalhassan did a special appearance in malayalam after 'Chaanakyan', breaking a gap of more than 20years.

The movie starts with a song, 'Yeh Dosti...' (remake from 'Sholay), showing the friendship of Roy (Jayaram), Soorya (Kunjakko Boban) and Ameer (Jayasurya). They are reaching airport for a trip to Malaysia. They are waiting for their another companion Gauri (Meera Jasmin) to arrive. In the mean time, their past, the way in which their friendship started, the motive of their journey etc are shown through a flashback. What happened to each of them and how they are prepared to face the life boldly forms the main theme of the story that are shown in the second half portions at abroad.

Unlike from the earlier movies, the presentation of the movie is different; Though 'Happy Husbands' was filled with humour oriented situations, here the story is more sentimental. In the beginning portions itself the problems are revealed, which later takes us to a sentimental journey till end. It shouldn't have done like that, there has to be a suspense element kept for the viewers to stay there. In this decade, you can't expect the people to enjoy a movie made like 'Thaniyavarthanam' or 'Aakashadoothu'. We can't blame the viewers, they are clever enough to identify that the incidents shown in the movies are real, but they don't want to see as it is through an entertainment medium. If the team behind is too particular about taking such a team, then they should tackle such a situation by presenting it differently, here the creators have failed on such a part.

I strongly argued with those people who says that the first two movies of Saji Surendran looks like a tele serial; but here I felt in many situations, such a view point must be right. The situations involving the doctor (Ganesh Kumar) and Soorya's parents (Lalu Alex and Seema) are too dramatic. Most of the time, the dialogues used in the movie felt like narrations or statements. The scenes showing affection between Roy and Gauri, the sudden start of the song after a tense behaviour by Gauri, Salim Kumar's comedy, the lengthy action scene in abroad, chasing done by Gauri's brother (Manikkuttan) , the doctor 's wig, the temple episode etc are few areas carelessly handled here. In general, the overdoze of sentiments creats laughing and humorous sequences are not upto its standards. The bg score given by M.Jayachandran is too loud most of the time. The remix song used in the movie won't make any change.

Jayasurya in the beard appearance is serious and humorous also. Jayaram and Kunjakko Boban did well. The character given to Meera Jasmin suits her well. The visuals given by cinematographer Anil Nair is colorful. If editor Manoj wants to trim certain sad situations, it would be confusing for him to decide, where should he started. It is good to see that Saji Surendran has handled the lengthy and motivating scene by Kamalhassan in an excellent manner, which is the only highlight of the movie.


'Four Friends' is a serious attempt targeting ladies. The presentation of the movie in such a way, won't gives you an attractive sight...


Rating : 3.5 / 10

Cock Tail

Medium : Malayalam
Starring : Jayasurya, Anoop Menon, Samvritha Sunil
Director : Arun Kumar
Music : Alphonse, Ratheesh Vega (bg score also)

We are usually hearing complaints regarding the non availability of new subjects, new technicians, new artists etc related to the malayalam movie industry. In the process of a much awaited youthful trend happening here, a new director has made his debut. After traveling as an editor companion with Priyadarshan for around 20 movies and also with the immense experience got through working for various projects like 'Ivar', 'Sound of Boot', 'Sesham', 'Seetha Kalyanam' etc, Arun Kumar has entered the direction field. The name of the movie is 'Cock Tail', It has got Jayasurya, Anoop Menon and Samvritha Sunil in lead roles. 'Cock Tail' is released with in a week's gap when Priyan's latest hindi movie 'Aakrosh' is also in the theaters; it is a coincidence that both movies were edited by Arun.

Pradeep Nair (former associate to Santhosh Sivan), who has worked for Jayasurya movie 'Nallavan', is the cinematographer. The story and screenplay is given by Shyam Menon. Anoop Menon, who has got experience as the script writer of 'Pakal Nakshatrangal', has written the dialogues for this movie. Alphonse gave a couple of songs and the duet number 'Neeyaam Thanalinu...' is composed by new comer Ratheesh Vega, who has also given the bg score for the movie. Milan Jaleel, who gave movies like 'Happy Husbands', 'Thuruppugulaan', 'Ben Johnson' etc is the producer.

Ravi Abraham (Anoop Menon) is working in a construction company. He has got a wife Parvathi (Samvritha Sunil) and kid. He is having ambitions about their family's future and is working hard for achieving it. On an usual day, the couple happened to meet Ambi (Jayasurya) which later lead to a series of incidents in their life and thus goes the thrilling journey of 'Cock Tail'.

The new director has presented the movie straightly, without much gimmicks and wasted comedies. Though some of the scenes in the beginning were slow paced with small dramatic shots, once the story starts rolling the required tempo is attained. An item song, though matching the situation, is apt for a bollywood culture. The story is happening in Cochin, but the foolishness of showing the board of a beverages shop with the Trivandrum address in a certain shot should have been avoided.

Pradeep Nair's camera work is good. Shyam Menon's screenplay based on some realistic incidents is good. Anoop Menon's dialogues felt realistic and he has performed well to fit the role. Jayasurya, with an unusual appearance has given a variety style of acting. Samvritha Sunil is good, but some where I doubted whether the role is heavy for her to handle. Music director Ratheesh Vega gave an immense support for the visuals with an excellent bg score, the song composed by him has got a different flavor. He had proved himself in editing area before, now 'Cock Tail', bearing an unusual theme showed that Arun Kumar is on the way to become a promising name in the direction side also. The story adapted from the foreign film 'Butterfly on a Wheel', is very relevant in the current period.


'Cock Tail' is a good suspense family thriller. We should welcome attempts like this, to encourage more productions with different themes in future...


Rating : 7.5 / 10

Nallavan

Medium : Malayalam
Starring : Jayasurya, Sidhiq, Saikumar, Sudheesh, Bijukkuttan, Mythili
Director : Aji John
Music : Mohan Sitara, Saanand George (bg score)

To do a character with a shaven head is treated as unusual and lucky phenomena for any artist irrespective of the language. Mammootty in 'Yathra', Thilakan and Manoj.K.Jayan in 'Perunthachan', Dileep in 'Mulla', Sharath Kumar in 'Sooryan', Charan Raaj in 'Gentleman', Kamalhassan in 'Aalavandhan', Soorya and Amir Khan in 'Ghajini' versions etc are some of the examples. No need to analyze the commercial successes of all the above projects, but it is a fact that all those appearances were having a strong motive or purpose defined in the role. The reason for discussing such a thing is just because of the rising star Jayasurya, who also got a bald appearance in his latest movie titled 'Nallavan', but on the contrast he comes in such a look which is very irrelevant, only to participate in a one to one action sequence in the climax and that too for a duration less than 5 minutes.

The problems happened between different organizations in the cine industry has delayed the release of 'Nallavan'. It is directed by debutant Aji John. He was working as an editor-director in the mini screen. Like Saji Surendran ('Ivar Vivahitharaayal', 'Happy Husbands' fame), he has also decided to start his filmi-career through Jayasurya. Mydhili ('Paleri Manikyam' fame) is the heroine. Saanand George, a busy re-recordist in the mini screen, enters the cine industry by giving bg score for this movie. It is produced and distributed by Anil Mathew and Murugan, who had given a super hit project, 'Puthiya mukham' before. Ajith Nambiar has written the script. The pre-production stills of 'Nallavan' was done in a big way and it caught attention very much.

The story starts by showing Kocherukkan (Jayasurya), running from the police custody. Kochu is now having the record of four jail breaks so far. In the flashback, Kochu and Malli (Mythili) are shown as orphans. Malli lives in the house of a village land lord (Saikumar) as a helper. Her love for Kochu is being objected by the latter and the rich man decided to arrange her marriage with his relative (Suraaj Venjarammood). Thus both of them ran each other. On the way they were defended by the police inspector (Sidhiq), but he can't catch them. They reaches a far away place, where Kochu's friend (Sudheesh) lives. When they went to the register office, it was found that the girl is only 17, thus as per request from the sub-registrar (Kochu Preman), they decided to wait for an year.

Next year, on the marriage day, Kochu is caught by the police inspector. He took revenge by putting false charges against him and produced him in the court. He escaped from there and reaches his lover, marriage happens and Kochu is again caught. Malli is killed later, flash back over and now the hero takes kills the police inspector, who is the real culprit, through a fight. In the final shot, hero is shown running with the heroine, it means he is dead (?). So majority of the incidents are not registered well.

Kochu is shown as a 20 year old guy. It is not apt for Jayasurya's appearance, hence to enhance it, he has given a childish performance, which felt irresistible most of the time. There is chance for Mythili to be type casted; her character ends almost similar as in the case of 'Paleri Manikyam'. She is over acting, Sreeja's dubbing is dominated over her performance. The jail breaking episodes are not shown convincingly, it is shown as if like a tooth brushing experience for the hero. The connection link between the flash back and the current period is lost at a certain point of time. The story (by director) itself is not the good one, the scripting by Ajith Nambiar also made the situation worse. The landlord is shown as a villain and the relevance of his character being killed by a criminal with the support of his relative (Vijayakumar) and the police inspector is not known. Suraaj Venjarammood is placed in a couple of scenes for generating comedy, but the situations happening there can make you cry.

Hero's friend shown in a song can be accepted, but the placement of the latter's mother (Bindu Paniker) in it as a dancer is unprofessional. Choreography by Kala is not attractive. Songs by Mohan Sitara is very poor and the voice of the new singers felt very amateurish also. Appearance of Sidhiq is good, but Saikumar's hair style is not a stable one. Bg score by Saanand George goes with the mood well. Cinematography by Manoj Pillai and Pradeep Nair is ok. Samjith ('Red Chillies', 'Puthiya Mukham' fame) is the editor.

An young actor like Jayasurya, with an experience of around 45 movies in a span of 10 years should analyze his project and read the script well before doing movies like 'Nallavan'. The title character won't be easily accepted even if he is going for different style appearances and doing adventures like 'shaving' the head etc...all those things became unnecessary in the end...


Rating : 2.5 / 10 (revised)

Happy Husbands

Medium : Malayalam
Starring : Jayaram, Jayasurya, Indrajith, Bhavana, Samvritha, Rima Kallingal
Director : Saji Surendran
Music : M.Jayachandran

The same team behind 'Ivar Vivahitharaayal', which is one of the few hit films that happened in the last year, Saji Surendran (director), Krishna Poojappura (script writer), Anil Nair (cinematographer), Manoj (editor), M.Jayachandran (music) etc had come up with their new project, 'Happy Husbands' produced by Milan Jaleel. They had got a big star cast this time. Jayaram, Jayasurya, Indrajith, Bhavana, Samvritha, Rima Kallingal, Vandana, Suraj Venjarammood, Salim Kumar etc. The film is presented in a comedy background.

Mukundan (Jayaram) is the managing director of Kerala Today magazine. His wife Krishnendu (Bhavana) is too possessive for her husband and always thinks that his husband might go behind other ladies. On the other side, Mukundan's friend Rahul (Indrajith) is not straight and had got a flirt character also, but his wife (Samvritha) dont know anything and she blindly believes that her husband is a good person. John (Jayasurya) is a neat bachelor who works for Kerala Today and he is loyal to his boss. His marriage is fixed now. One day a girl named Diana (Rima Kallingal), who is a bar dancer, comes to the life of these three guys. When Krishnendu sees Diana along with Mukundan, he tells that she is John's wife and thus starts the hide and seek game, confusions etc.

The story is not a fresh one, 'Happy Husbands' is the remake of tamil film 'Charli Chaplin' (Prabhu, Prabhudeva, Abhirami, Gayathri Raguram) which has been made in hindi as 'No Entry' (Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan, Bipasha Basu, Lara Dutta). No need to blame the director here for doing a remake, as you are getting an opportunity to watch the product that is popular in other languages and more over they have claimed in the beginning itself as the story is inspired from the tamil film 'Charli Chaplin'.

There is out and out comedy from beginning to end as if like a Priyadarshan style of movie in the 80's. Suraj Venjarammod's role has been added for this story and it is a replica of many of the same kind of characters that we have seen from the olden days itself. In some scenes, he had tried to justify the usage of 'trivandrum slang' also. The performances of Jayaram, Indrajith and Rima Kallingal are notable. A couple of the songs happens in foreign locations. The title song featuring almost all the artists is a style adapted from bollywood. The boldness of the team behind to shot some of the portions in the foreign locations, gave a freshness to the atmosphere.

Anil Nair's cinematography is colorful. Songs by M.Jayachandran goes with the visuals, his bg score is good. Krishna Poojappura, who made the script according to the malayalam atmosphere, had done his job well. Saji Surendran, who made this comedy subject targeting family audiences also, might enter the list of notable directors in the field here after.

'Happy Husbands' is an entertainer. Don't look for the logic and if you have not seen either of its previous versions in hindi or tamil, then you will receive a bulk of laughing situations...


Rating : 7.5 / 10

Gulumaal

Medium : Malayalam
Starring : Jayasurya, Kunjakko Boban, Suraaj Venjarammood, Mithra Kuryan
Director : VK Prakash
Music : Manu Ramesh


Though director VK Prakash has not given any hit films, his caliber as a technician is notable through films like 'Punaradhivaasam', 'Mullavalliyum Thenmaavum', 'Moonnaamathoraal' and 'Positive'. His new film has got young stars like Jayasurya and Kunjakko coming in the main roles. The previous films by the same director were mostly based on family sentiments, romance, horror and investigation subjects. Now different from his usual pattern, 'Gulumaal' is told in the comedy background; the title of the film where the theme is based on the robbery and small fraud works done by the heroes and the placement of comedy artists like Suraaj Venjarammood and Salim Kumar substantiates the above fact.

The film opens with the scene showing one of the heroes visiting his father (Kunjakko Boban & Nedumudi Venu did the respective roles) who is jailed for the cheating case. With the intention of making money to save his father from the custody, he reaches the city. He meets a guy (Jayasurya), who finds his income by engaging in fraud activities. Both of them soon became companions and they have planned for a big cheating drama, after that they can settle of their own. What happens to these guys due to this is shown in the climax. The family atmosphere of Jayasurya's character is also shown parallely.

The theme of 'Gulumaal' is good. It has got the shades of the bollywood hit ' Bluff Master' by Abhishek Bachan, Rithesh Deshmukh & Priyanka Chopra. But the director and the new script writer (Y.V.Rajesh), should have been done little more seriousness on the treatment of the film. The middle portions of the film, along with the song showing memories of the heroes were dragging here and there. Also the flashback portions of Kunjakko is also not registered well. Suraaj Venjarammood might have been casted expecting to take advantage of his popularity, but his foolish SI role sometimes went out of control. The last 15minutes of the film is excellent, but the motive leading to such a suspense and its presentation needs more stability. Jayasurya did the role with ease, it is good to see him accepting a variety of characters in his younger age.

The songs given by the young music director Manu Ramesh (s/o lyiricist Ramesan Nair) are not up to the mark, but the orchestration in the song 'kilukilukkum...' had got the flavour of the 70's period. The women cinematographer Fowsia Fathima had done a good job using the natural lighting (i don't know whether that is the only reason for the problem regarding dullness in the output in almost all theaters).


Bearing a good theme, a little more professionalism on the scripting and the casting sides might have made 'Gulumaal' a super hit.

Rating : 6.5 / 10

Uthara Swayamvaram

Medium : Malayalam

Starring : Jayasurya, Roma, Balachandra Menon, Lalu Alex, Suraj Venjarammood

Direction : Ramakanth Sarju

Music : M.Jayachandran

The after effect of Seetha's marriage ('Seetha Kalyanam') provoked me to take a back foot from watching the marriage ceremony of Uthara ('Uthara Swayamvaram'). Anyway I break the pledge after hearing the repeated questioning from the companions.The problem usually happened in the delayed watching of a film will be the negative result of the film which can make you upset.

'Uthara Swayamvaram' is directed by debutant Ramakant Sarju (assisted Hariharan in 'Kerala Varma Pazhassiraja', story writer of the film 'Currency') and more over the script writer here is J.Pallasseri, who didn't have big hits for a long time; his latest films being 'Kancheepurathe Kalyanam' and 'Don'. After 'Shakespeare MA Malayalam', Jayasurya and Roma once again comes in the lead roles.

The film opens in Bangalooru where the hero (Jayasurya) works. The heroine (Roma) is saved from an accident. The flashback story is revealed. She belongs to a rich family. Though she doesn't likes the hero in the beginning, the situations and circumstances are created in such a way that the heroine likes the attitude of the hero. His friends (Suraj, Harisree Asokan, Indrans etc) helps him in winning the heart. His marriage is being fixed with as per his wish. Some of her relatives doesn't like this. Anyway the marriage doesn't happens. He lefts the place.His father went in search of him, finds him at last. Hero tries to solve the misunderstanding happened to the heroine, then leaves the place again. Now he finds her and once again they unites.

The opening song 'bangalooru...' and the visuals featuring Jayasurya and Sudheesh is not attractive. (Though Sudheesh came to the field in the late 80's, still he comes in the role of a bachelor). The accident scene being arranged in the compound of an apartment (as if it happens in a busy traffic) shows the non professionalism from the creators (the experienced cameraman Saloo George shouldn't have done such a thing). We don't know why the hero and his friends uses the harmonium for singing. (may be the intention was to generate a comedy atmosphere; but it is a foolishness). The scenes involving 'piles episode' is a horrible one. Also the different stills in which Suraj is shown wounded is another area where the director had made fool of himself. The problem happened in the party and the tough climax is adapted from films like 'Yathrakkarude Sradhakku' and 'Friends'. Also hero's father's role reminds us of the recent film by the same hero, 'Oru Black and White Kudumbam'. This is yet another story where misunderstanding between the hero and the heroine is a turning point. The happenings inside heroine's house is shown a 1000 times before.

Uthara doesn't gives you a good feast as you expects. So it is better to stay away from 'Uthara Swayamvaram'.

Rating : 5 / 10

Robinhood

Medium : Malayalam
Starring : Prithviraj, Narein, Jayasurya, Bhavana, Samvritha Sunil
Direction : Joshy
Music : M Jayachandran, Rajamani

In the very late 70's, some new directors came to the malayalam cine field, who later gave many good films in their career. But, now at this point we can't spot out many seniors that belong to those group, who are still giving super hits. Joshy is exceptional case here. Right from his first film ('Tiger Salim', 1978), he had traveled through the action path on the majority of occasions ('Aarathri', 'New Delhi', 'Nairsaab', 'Naduvazhikal', 'Lelam', 'Pathram', 'Runway', 'Naran' etc). In his first film, he didn't get a chance to cast the superstars; now this 65+ films old director's new film has got the current sensation Prithviraj, supported by promising young stars like Jayasurya and Narein.

The script is written by Sachi-Sethu team ('Choclate' fame). It is produced by Muralidharan. He has given superhits like 'Classmates' and 'Choclate' before. Shaji ('Naran', 'Red chillies' fame) handles the camera.


The name of the film, 'Robinhood' with the biline comment, "prince of thieves" cleaarly indicates the nature of the story. ATM Robbery is the main thing discussed here which is shown in the beginning itself. Hero (Prithviraj) is shown as the culprit here. The bank appoints a private detective (Narein) for finding out the way in which it is done. In the meanwhile, the police officer (Jayasurya) investigates the case. The hero is working as a tutor in a private institution. His student (Samvritha), is in love with him. Heroine (Bhavana) is a bank employee. Anyway in the end, the reson for the revenge is revealed (as there is no suspense).


'Robinhood', acted by a group of youthful stars, has been presented by one of the senior director in the industry; this itself is the attraction here. Here you have got songs, action, humor, sentiments, revenge etc which are necessary for a commercial entertainer. Prithviraj is stylish as always. Narein's role is different from his ususal style; here he has got some humor also to do, which he has managed to a certain extend. "Jayasurya in the IPS role", won't be too good to hear, but seeing it I felt that he has not done bad. (He has tried the same kind of role in the film 'Positive' before).


I am not entering into the logic of the robbery discussed in the story. But the script writers should have created a suspense till the end for the story. Since the robbery is shown straight away, only thing to reveal here is the motive; the thrill would have been more on the other way. (this is what top directors like Shankar might have been done in such a postion). But the film is not boring.

M Jayachandran has given some peppy numbers. "Priyanu Maathram..." featuring Prithviraj and Samvritha has been excellently choreographed by Shobi ("karuppana kaiyyale...", "valameenukkum..." fame). Though the tall heroine's body language has every chance to become awkward, it has not been projected due to the different frames used here. While choosing some of the female extra artists for such a good dancing sequence, there should have been extra care given.


Rajamani, "the fastest man in the re-recording field" has given the background score. He has used some English sounds in the bg for the hero's introduction and his proceedings. (I dont think that. it is necessary to create the mood; more over it is noisy also).


Still the malayalam films has not reached an above average level position on the action sequences. The carpets and floor mats for the fighters to jump and dive are clearly visible. Action directors, Aanal Arasu and Palaniraja should have been more vigilant on this by using fast frames. The title credits done in animation is good, but it had got black texts in black bg, which is not readable...(the most experienced man, who is the captain of the ship should be responsible for all such negatives happened also).


'Robinhood' is a watchable movie. It has got a revenge subject done by some youthful stars.


Rating : 7 / 10