Marykkundoru Kunjaadu

Medium : Malayalam
Starring : Dileep, Biju Menon, Vijayaraghavan, Salim Kumar, Innocent, Bhavana, Vinaya Prasad
Director : Shafi
Music : Berny Ignateous, Bijibal (bg score)

These days, the publicity and promotional news for any project under production in malayalam, will be normally big. If the lead role in the movie is done by a notable actor like Dileep, then it can be the talk of the town. But, in the case of his new project directed by hit maker Shafi ('Pulivaal Kalyaanam', 'Kalyana Raman', Thommanum Makkalum', 'Mayavi', 'Choclates', 'Chattambinaadu' fame) and scripted by Benny P.Nayarambalam ('Chaandhupottu',

'Thommanum Makkalum', 'Chota Mumbai', 'Annan Thambi', 'Chattambinaadu' fame), the things were different. It does not created an expected hype before its release. But, once heard the title of the movie, 'Marykkundoru Kunjaadu', nobody can forget it due to the simplicity. Dileep's previous project 'Kaaryasthan' was not the best, even then the fact to be noted is that the family audiences for his movies have helped the project to lift up a lot. Bhavana is acting with the hero after a short gap (previous one being 'Twenty 20'). Shamdatt ('Ritu', 'Vargam', 'Tiger', 'Pramaani' fame) is the cinematographer. The movie is produced by Vysakh Rajan.

Solomon (Dileep) is a jobless guy living in a high range village with his father (Vijayaraghavan), mother (Vinaya Prasad) and two sisters. Being a coward person, he has got the nick name Kunjaadu. He is in love with Mary (Bhavana), daughter of a rich man (Innocent), right from the childhood days. Her father and brothers (Anand, Appa Haja etc) has strongly resisted their relationship. The arrival of a strong bold guy (Biju Menon) in the village, has brought some changes to Solomon's life, which is shown in the later portions.

Last few releases has not been the best for Dileep. He has now realized, what the malayalee viewers are expecting from him. Thus 'Marykkundoru Kunjaadu' is a come back movie for the actor, who is in his 101st project. He has done the role in an attractive way, in his old style, without looking for the heroism and stardom. Biju Menon has got a bold character to do, which he did well. Vijayaraghavan's father character is good. Benny P.Nayarambalam's good script has been neatly handled by Shafi. The hang over of 'Meesa Madhavan' and 'Chaandhupottu' are there in few portions. The humor elements used in the movie are good. Shamdatt's cinematography covers the colorful visuals of the hilly areas of Thodupuzha at its best. Manoj is the editor. Action sequences by Mafia Sasi are good. Songs by Berny Ignateous goes with the mood. The visuals for them are done without much complaints. Bg score by Biji Bal is good, but felt loud at some areas. The dts mixing done by Ajith George, felt noisy at certain portions (don't know whether it is the problem with the theater).

'Marykkundoru Kunjaadu' is an ideal family entertainer for this X'mas and New Year season.

Rating : 8 / 10

Chattambi Naadu

Medium : Malayalam
Starring : Mammootty, Sidhiq, Vinu Mohan, Salim Kumar, Suraj Venjarammood, Lakshmi Rai, Mydhili
Director : Shafi
Music : Alex Paul

After the hit film 'Thommanum Makkalum', Mammootty, Shafi (director) and Benny P Nayarambalam (script writer) once again teamed up for the new venture 'Chattambi Naadu'. This is yet another film in which the leading actor has done an anti hero character and the enemity between two groups in a village holds the main thread. Since the hero has enjoyed success from his previous films like 'Thommanum Makkalum', 'Thuruppugulan', 'Mayavi', 'Raja Manikyam', 'Annan Thambi' etc which were made in a humor oriented way, here also rendering style is same. As the majority of such films, here also Pollachi and its surrounding regions of Tamilnadu (which has now been over exposed through many projects) is the main location. As usual Salim Kumar and Suraj Venjarammood have been given the role to handle comedy situations. As a specilaity, the central character is casted as a person who doesn't speak malayalam fluently, rather he is using a mixed version of kannada and malayalam languages.

The story happens in a place called Chembattu Nadu, where a group of local rowdies lives. The hero (Mammootty) reaches there to buy a property. The villain (Sidhiq) opposed it and asked him to withdraw from the move. Later that became the reason for a straight fight between them. The villain played some fowl plays against the villagers and put the blame on the hero. Anyway hero was aware of such facts and how he manages to get out of the troubles and how the villagers supported him is shown in the later areas of 'Chattambi Naadu'. In the middle a love tracks of the hero's orderly (Vinu Mohan), the village girl (Lakshmi Rai) who is fond of the hero are also shown. The hero is having a past in which he was escaped from the village in his childhood days, after finding guilty in a murder case and now, after so many years the real truth is revealed, which is the climax of this film.

We have seen almost similar plot in many films. Like 'Raja Manikyam', the usage of a different slang by the hero is incorporated here expecting it to repeat the magic. Though it resembles the film 'Vidheyan', the fact is that it doesn't holds any specialty in this movie. The combination of the hero and the villain and the dialogues used there is a repetitive thing which has happened in many movies; some times it felt un natural also as it is clear that villain is not going to dominate the hero at any cause. Sidhiq's character resembles his role in films like 'Madambi', 'Naran', 'Prajapathi' etc. The flash back portions also had got a flavour of the sequences from 'Raja Manikyam'. Salim Kumar and Suraj Venjarammood created some laughs.

Alex Paul's background score is not appealing. The heroine's introduction song is also not the best. Sreeja's dubbed voice felt stylish for Lakshmi Rai. Fight master Anal Arasu had given some fast action scenes.

In the Yesudas style-costumes (white pants, white shirts, white shoes), Mammootty tried his best to fit in the role. But, we can't complain that the actor is doing hero oriented subjects, since he is coming after doing a wide variety of roles this year like 'Loud Speaker', 'Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja', 'Kerala Cafe' and 'Paleri Manikyam Oru Paathira Kolapathakathinte Kadha'.

'Chattambinadu' is not a fresh subject. It is made in a masala entertainer format which can be watched, if you have got lot of free time to spend...


Rating : 6.5 / 10 (revised)