Love In Singapore is the first release of Mammootty in 2009. Scripted, produced and directed by Rafi-Mecartin, the movie also features Jayasurya, Navneet Kaur, Salim Kumar, Nedumudi Venu, Bijukuttan, Suraj Venjarumoodu in prominent roles.
Synopsis
Machu (Mammootty) is a person who began his life as a rag picker. He has grown and has become a rich and successful scrap dealer. He happens to meet Perera (Nedumudi Venu) who swindles Machu of some amount. Machu falls in love with Perera’s daughter Diana (Navneet Kaur). But Perera escapes with his daughter to Singapore. Machu follows and what happens in Singapore forms the rest of the story.
Analysis
One never walks into a Rafi-Mecartin movie expecting a good story. Like all Rafi-Mecartin movies, Love In Singapore is a comedy fare with a bunch of LOL moments. The entire plot is weak but it is the comedy elements which makes the movie work. The first half is average with some good comedy but in places you find that in places the intended comedy falls flat. There are some ridiculously funny but brilliant sequences like the one in which Kerala is introduced. Salim Kumar and Bijukuttan are not upto their usual form. But still, the first half is engaging enough.
The second half is the movie’s strength. The comedy generated by Suraj and Mammootty is really funny. It is the second half of the movie which really turns things around. Leaving no room for unwanted sentiments, the second half is packed with loads of comedy and action. Rafi-Mecartin are not known for brilliant climaxes, but in this movie, the climax is passable with some tiny suspense elements. The movie is a fast paced comedy which is enjoyable mostly.
Performance Of The Cast
Mammootty excels in the role of Akri Machu, the scrap dealer. He looks handsome even at this age which is really commendable. Mammootty’s ramp walk song is a must watch for style analysts. His performance in all departments be it stunts or comedy is excellent. Some noteworthy LOL moments are the scene at the end of the movie where Machu (who is illiterate) is introduced to English speaking board members of a company. Jayasurya is cool in the cameo role he plays.
Navneet Kaur has very little to do in this movie. But she does make a pretty sight. Once again we are seeing Suraj Venjarumoodu overshadowing all others in the comic department. Salim Kumar and Bijukuttan seem rusty. Nedumudi Venu is good as the Perera saayip who swindles Machu.
Technical Analysis
Direction by Rafi Mecartin is very good. The director duo seem to be in full control of the movie. Scripting is also good because the movie never wanders off path too much. Cinematography by Sanjeev Shankar is excellent. The beautiful locales of Singapore are captured very well. Special mention for the art director for creating good colorful sets especially the one where the ramp walk song was shot.
Action director needs special mention for creating some good sequence of action without too much unrealistic effects. Costumes and make up are spot on. Mammootty’s costumes are really good. Music by Suresh Peeters is average. The movie has been made with very good production values. The VFX works are very good.
Verdict
A typical Rafi Mecartin movie held together by Mammootty and Suraj. Watch out for Mammootty and Suraj Venjarumoodu’s performances. In the end, Rafi Mecartin and Mammootty’s Love in Singapore is an enjoyable laugh fest with good doses comedy and action. Go in there with a mind to laugh and you won’t be disappointed.
Rating: 7/10
Big B, is what I would like to call, a one of a kind film. The movie was co-written and directed by Amal Neerad (RGV’s cinematographer). Though the movie was only a moderate success, it was highly acclaimed for the technical values, intense and well choreographed stunts and the performance of the cast. The movie was an adaptation of the English movie Four Brothers.
Synopsis
The story is set in Kochi where a social activist Mary John Kurishinkal (Nafisa Ali) is found murdered. Arrive on the scene her four foster sons Bilal (Mammootty), Eddy (Manoj K Jayan), Murugan (Bala) and Bijo (Sumit Naval). How Bilal and co find out who is behind Mary teacher’s (as she is fondly called) murder and how they seek revenge forms the crux of the story.
Performance Of The Cast
Big B is one of the best examples for a movie with a wonderful performances from the lead cast. Mammootty’s performance can be rated as one of his career best. Manoj K Jayan as Eddy brings to life the charcter of a reformed ruffian. Bala does his part convincingly as the right hand of Bilal. Sumit Naval has a very short role but he wins your heart.
Script Analysis
No time is wasted in setting up the characters and directly plunges into the plot. Each character is introduced as the movie progresses. Each and every character is charted out beautifully. The important character of Bilal and Bilal’s dialogues are scripted exceptionally.
Never does the hard hearted Bilal cry or laugh. Never does he speak in a raised voice controlled by emotions. He is always seen with an intense expression. His overprotective nature over Bijo and Eddy’s family, his remarks when Bijo asks for a gun and the smooth bad mouthing style he uses are some of the traits of this well written character. The other characters revolve around Bilal.
The dialogues are very good with humour, sarcasm and emotions in the right mix along with some punches. Screenplay moves in a logical manner. But it suffers big time with slowness.
Technical Analysis
From the first frame, you know this is going to be a very different movie. It has stylish and well organised fight sequences with eye catching camera work to boost its splendour. Full marks to Samir Tahir for his marvellous cinematography. Stunts are revolutionary making this one of the best action films in Mollywood. Almost the entire crew comprised of debutantes.
Direction by Amal Neerad is very good. He is at ease and never does he make you feel bored or unengaged though the movie moves at snail pace. All characters are very well handled. Considering the script, this is an exceptional performance by the debutante director.
Summary
Big B is a visual cinema. The movie has lesser dialogues than a normal film does but its powerful scenes speak more than the characters do. The visual splendour of the stunts are the movies strength. But Big B suffers from its length. The movie drags on and on but if you are interested in fight sequences, the movie is sufficiently engaging.
Verdict
Big B is a movie which doesn’t come your way everyday. A movie with such technical precision and brilliant performances is a rarity now-a-days. If you want a change from the normal movies you get to watch, the Big B is the movie for you. It is a movie which will have its impact on you even after you have finished watching the movie.
Rating: 7/10
DVDs available on Moserbaer.
I was very confused whether to analyze the film in the view of a critic or as fan. But, the makers had already told that the movie has been made with fans in mind. So here is my fan’s eye view of Twenty 20.
Twenty 20 is a superb masala entertainer from the word go. The movie is an intended thriller but half the things you see can be predicted 15 minutes into the movie. A special mention about the script writers. The Udayakrishna-Sibi K. Thomas duo have done a fantastic job in sketching out the characters. The characters of the superstars have equal importance. The comedy is what makes the film work apart from the trademark punch dialogues of the stars.
Mohanlal, Mammootty, Suresh Gopi, Jayaram and Dileep share most of the screen time, but the other characters also make their presence felt. For a Malayalam movie fan twenty 20 is a roller coaster ride. Suraaj Venjarumoodu and Salim Kumar steal the show in the comedy department. The actors look good and all of them carry the movie on their shoulders very well. This is the stron point of Twenty 20.
The music is a big letdown apart from ‘He Deewana’ which is colourful and youthful. Costumes of the actors are very good. Camera work and editing are excellent. Action sequences are also very well choreographed. Direction by Joshiy is also good keeping in mind the star power he had to handle. Another special mention of the man behind this well made venture.
The only complaint I have is the movie’s length which is nearly 2 hours 50 minutes.
For a fan, Twenty 20 is an absolutely enjoyable fare. With twists and turns, comedy, action and a truck load of star power, Twenty 20 has the potential to rewrite almost all the existing records in the Malayalam movie industry.
Better music and a 15 minutes less, this movie would have been an almost perfect entertainer.
Rating: 9/10
Here is my take on the two big Ramzan releases of 2008.
Mayabazar was directed by Thomas Sebastian, scripted by T.A. Razzak and starred Mammootty, Kalabhavan Mani and Sheela. Let me get to the point. Mayabazar disappoints. The comedy trio of Salim Kumar, Suraj Venjarumoodu and Bijukuttan couldn’t raise much laughter apart from a few scenes. I find it really hard to believe the involvement of T.A. Razzak in scripting such a childish screenplay. All through the movie you keep searching for what the director is trying to convey and in the end you come out of the hall with no answer. Music by Rahul Raj is average. I find it hard to understand why an actor like Mammootty chose to dance even when everyone knows he can’t. Mayabazar is a huge letdown and I don’t know what the producers and the cast saw in the script to go ahead and make this movie.
Kurukshetra was directed and scripted by Major Ravi and starred Mohanlal, Biju Menon, Siddique. I went to see this movie with a lot of expectations. The side track of Cochin Haneefa and Suraj Venjarumoodu is unnecessary and adds nothing to the story. There are a lot of inconsistencies in the movie. Mohanlal asks for 10 minutes of firing during night and is seen running up the hill during daytime. Mohanlal looks terribly out of shape as an army officer. I have never heard of a 1-on-1 fight (with hands) in a war which is why I can’t digest the final fight. Major Ravi seems confused what he wants to show in the movie – the plight of a family when the army man dies or the real battle front. I won’t say the movie has been badly filmed. It is just the elements which are bad. The hills and surroundings of Kargil have been beautifully filmed. Screenplay fails to bind you to the movie. In Keerthichakra, you rooted by Major Mahadevan and his boys to win because they won your hearts but in Kurukshetra, that doesn’t happen. In a nutshell, Kurukshetra disappoints and how. Kurukshetra is a mix of army life at war front along with cinema heroism mixed with brutal scenes of violence.
Ratings
Mayabazar – 3/10
Kurukshetra – 4/10
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