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Cast: Archana, Kailash, Samvritha Sunil, Reema Kallingal, Suresh

Story, Screenplay, Dialogues: MT Vasudevan Nair

Direction: Lal Jose

Synopsis
The movie is based in the 1970’s where Kunjimalu (Archana) is a maid at the house of a rich family. Haridas (Kailash) is the heir of the family who has returned from the city after completing his studies. Haridas tries to woo Kunjimalu but Kunjimalu feels that their respective backgrounds are an obstacle to have a relationship. So to sort out her confusion, she takes the help of a common belief of the Neelathaamara flower to see if she should proceed with the relationship. Will the Neelathaamara bloom in her favour? If so, what will happen forms the rest of the movie.

Performance Of The Cast
The movie has a lot of fresh faces. Archana is really good as the cute, timid, silent Kunjimalu. Archana portrays Kunjimaalu with such sincerity and dedication that you feel every emotion that Kunjimalu goes through. Her expressions, antics and body language are very good and she succeeds in bringing out the helplessness and innocence of Kunjimalu

Samvritha Sunil has put up an powerful performance in the role of Rathnam. Rathnam is very different from the usual characters that Samvritha plays. Though she has very less screen time, she puts up a very impressive performance as a thinking, forward, bold housewife of the 1970’s.

Reema Kallingal is good in the small role she plays. She is confident, positive and delivers a steady performance. Suresh Nair is also good as Kunjimalu’s the arrogant village ruffian-like would-be. The actors who portray the older versions of Rathnam and Kunjimalu and the other supporting cast also put up a good show.

But to me, the star of the movie was Kailash. It has been a long time since a male debutant has come up with such a convincing, strong and confident performance. Kailash gets into the skin of Haridas. He comes up with all the right expressions and antics of a well educated and little arogant rich youth of the village who is seen as the next ‘pramani’. How one wishes he had more screen time in the second half.

Analysis
Direction by Lal Jose is nothing short of excellent. The performance he has generated out of the new comers is a exemplary. He has delivered a visual marvel which drags the viewers into the life of Kunjimalu and Haridas. The narration is excellent with the director having good control over the story and characters.

MT has modified the old script to suit the present generation of audience and this seems to made the difference. MT has come up with a good story which has a simple storyline but a lot of things to tell. Screenplay is very precise and only drags a little in the first half. Characterisation and casting of all characters is excellent. Dialogues as usual are excellent.

Music by Vidyasagar is topping the charts and picturisation by Lal Jose is excellent. The story of Neelathaamara wouldn’t have such an impact was it not for Vijay Ullaganath’s excellent cinematography. Art directior Gokuldas is to be given full credits for recreating all the articles seen on screen. From the cigarettes to the newspapers,  from utensils to radio, everything in each frame has the required 1970 look.

Verdict
Neelathaamara is a very good movie with fresh faces which steals the viewer’s heart and leaves an impact even after one has left the cinema hall. With endearing performances, excellent storyline and marvellous direction, Neelathaamara is the movie to watch this season.

Rating:- 3.5/5

Starring: Prithviraj, Bhavana, Narain, Jayasurya
Writers: Sachi-Sethu
Direction: Joshiy

A few weeks ago, I happened to watch a tamil movie Valmiki starring Akhil and Meera Nandan. The movie is aptly titled Valmiki and is about a conman who reforms after seeing the error of his ways.

The movie is about a conman Pandi (Akhil) who is a small time crook. He pickpockets people in busses, snatches necklaces from ladies and swindles people of their money. On one of his adventures he meets Vandana (Meera) who is a kind hearted girl who wants to reform the evil elements of the society. Vandana remains unaware of his activities. As they happen to meet regularly love blossoms between the two. It is later that Vandana realises the truth about Pandi. Though he gets many chancer to turn over a new leaf, Pandi finds it hard to let go of his old habits. Finally Vandana confronts him and asks him to look behind at the state of the people he has robbed. Pandi then comes across a girl who is forced into prostitution after she looses her mone to him. When he sees her suffering from AIDS, he repents.

Valmiki is one of those movies that has got its heart in the right place. The movie doesn’t deviate from the central plot and the charecterisations are very good. The leads Akhil and Meera are very good in their roles. But at times, the movie becomes predictable and repetitive. But all in all, Valmiki is a good movie.

Valmiki would appeal to those who like a slow paced emotional drama. Everything said, it is one of those movies which make a good watch on DVD.

This is the scene outside one of Kollam’s biggest theaters. For those who don’t follow Malayalam, the board reads – “Due to faulty compressor, the AC doesn’t work today”. I am not talking about the air conditoner alone. The broken seats, the bug ridden seat handles, the dingy smell and in some theaters, I have seen cats waling between rows of seats.

With more than 75% films releasing a year turning out to be duds, we are in a time when family audience are staying out of theaters, waiting for the movie verdict and then opting to wait till the movie comes out in DVD. When Malayalam cinema is in such a mess, shouldn’t the exhibitors do better than this? After all, they raise the ticket charge every year.