Tag Archives: Malayalam films

Urumi – Movie Review

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Director Santhosh Sivan’s much-awaited movie Urumi has hit the screens across the state. Although there are some dragging moments in the movie, its rich production values hold the attention of audience till the climax. It is an excellent effort by Sivan and Prithviraj. Hats of to them.

Urumi is a historical epic film written by Shankar Ramakrishnan and Prithvi and Genelia’s performances are the main attraction of the film. Deepak Dev’s music, Anal Arasu’s action, Sivan’s camera work, Shankar’s dialogues, costume designing, make up, choreography are other highlights of the film. But a few forcibly inserted songs and slow paced narration are the two minus points of the film.

The film is set in the backdrop of the fierce warrior clans of Northern Kerala in the 16th century and focuses on the cult of Chirakkal Kelu Nayanar. It is all about boy, who wants to avenge the death of his father, who has been killed by Vasco da Gama. Santhosh Sivan’s dragging narration in both first and second half tests the patience of the viewers. The climax scenes seem to have taken from another epic film Pazhassi Raja.

The story starts with present generation and soon goes back to history. Chirakkal Kelu Nayanar (Prithviraj) sets on mission to kill Dom Vasco da Gama, the Viceroy of Portuguese Empire in India. But he faces lots of odds on his way to reach his target. He has to encounter many conflicts within the kinsmen, kings, ministers, peasants and Muslim warrior princess Ayesha (Genelia D’Souza) of the famed Arackal Sultanat. He has a forte, a legendary golden Urumi, which is made from the ornaments of women and children, who were burnt alive by Vasco da Gama. Kelu is supported by his childhood friend Vavvali (Prabhu Deva). How he creates his own army and starts movement against the first Colonial advance in India will form the crux of the film.

Santhosh Sivan should be applauded for his perfect casting and tapping out mind-blowing performance from each actor. Prithvi has delivered excellent acting and audience can not stop loving him. He just looks awesome in emotional and action sequences. As Vavvali, Prabhu Deva has done justice to his role. As Ayesha, Genelia’s sword fight (kalaripayattu) scene are superb. Vidya Balan steals the heart of viewers with her item dance. Nithya Menon, Jagathy, Amol Gupte, Alex, Robin, Arya, and Tabu have also done justice to their roles.

The technical team of Urumi has done a wonderful job. Firstly, it is Deepak Dev, who has composed six excellent songs along with stunning background score. Song ‘Arya Kidukki Aaranu Aaaranu…’ is melodious. Locations, choreography and picturisation in all songs are wonderful. Action sequences composed by Anal Arasu are also one among the major highlights of the film. Shankar’s dialogues, Ekta Lakhan’s costume, Renjith’s make up and Sreekar Prasad’s editing are also commendable.

Finally, it can be said that Urumi is a great movie, which has excellent acting, awesome technical values. It is a must watch movie.

Producer: Shaji Natesan, Santhosh Sivan and Prithviraj

Director: Santhosh Sivan

Cast: Prithviraj, Genelia D’Souza Prabhu Deva, Vidya Balan, Nithya Menon, Jagathy, Amol Gupte, Alex, Robin, Arya and Tabu

Music: Deepak Dev

August 15 review

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Director Shaji Kailas has taken the character of the likeable cop Perumal from the 1988 film August 1 (directed by Siby Malayil) and has made the thriller, August 15.

While the earlier film (inspired from the 1973 movie The Day of the Jackal) was full of lively and powerful characters, including a tough looking professional killer played by Captain Raju, the new version is a letdown, without a credible storyline or a worthy script.

A feel of the earlier movie is intentionally maintained all along, but it turns out to be a meek looking misadventure.

Chief Minister Vasudevan (Nedumudi Venu) is in a critical condition in the hospital following a stroke and the top brass of the police is shocked to learn that actually he had been poisoned by someone.

The search for the culprit begins soon and the investigation is entrusted with Perumal (Mammootty). The killer and the main persons who plot against the chief minister are revealed pretty early and then, it is the investigation process that should be a gripping one. Sadly, it doesn’t happen so and the unraveling of the mystery is a boring affair here.

With an old narrative style, the film appears to be a never ending affair for the viewers, though the length is about two and a half hours. S N Swami’s script is too old fashioned and is based on a rather flimsy plot. The visuals by Pradeep Nair are okay.

In a role where his heroism is celebrated in virtually every frame, Mammootty looks handsome and has done the role in a devoted way. But all the efforts are not enough to salvage a poorly written film. Of course, there is enough for the gallery, as he takes on even the fiery criminals all alone, in style with his sunglasses intact and often without a gun!

Meghna Raj and Swetha Menon, the female leads as per the posters, have nothing much to do. Lalu Alex, as a silly ADGP, does manage to tickle the funny bone at times. Now, it is certainly not fair to compare a character in a film with one in the earlier version, but the professional killer played by Siddique is nowhere near the one made famous by Captain Raju.

You’ve to admit it,August 15 which is meant to be a thriller, fails to do so. Even if you are a hardcore fan of Mammootty, it won’t entertain you much. Watch it at your own risk!

Jyothirmayi files for divorce!

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One time top Malayalam and Tamil actress Jyothirmayi has filed her divorce petition today (March 23) at the Ernakulam Family court. She had married in 2003 her childhood lover Nishanth, a software engineer working in the gulf.

Last two years the marriage was on the rocks, as Jyothirmayi wanted to more films.

Jyothirmayi’s claim to fame was singing the super hit song Chingamaasam Vannuchernnal  with Dileep in Meesa Madhavan. The song and her dancing became a sensation. Later she did films like Kalyanaraman Ishtam, Pattalam, Hariharan Pillai Happyanu, Ente Veedum Appuvinteum, Janakan etc.

Jyothirmayi also had a decent innings in Kollywood with hit films like Thalai Nagaram, where she played Sundar C’s heroine, Idhaya Thirudan, Periyar where she played the role of Nagamma,  Sabari, Naan Avanillai, Arrai Enn 305 il Kadavul and her last release was Vedigundu Murugesan with Pasupathy as her hero.

Her performance in Satish Menon’s Bhavum proved that she is an actress of substance and  won her a Kerala State Award and the special mention of the jury in the National Film Awards. She was known in Malayalam cinema as a “thinking man’s heroine” while in Tamil cinema, it was her “oomph factor” that worked at the box-office.

The buzz in film circles in Kochi is that Jyothirmayi had given interviews in which she had stated that her husband had no problem in seeing her in glamour roles on screen. In Naan Avanillai she did very glamorous song with Tamil actor Jeevan, which ultimately led to problems in her marriage. Now the big question being asked is whether Jyothirmayi would return to the big screen?

Raima Sen moves to Mollywood

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Though very few Hindi actress has made a big name in Mollywood, every year we witness at least a dozen of actors from Bollywood making an entry into Malayalam. The year already had actors like Poonam Bawja and Deepalisha coming up in heroine roles. The latest news is that yester year model and heroine Moon Moon Sen’s younger daughter Raima Sen will debut in Malayalam with the new movie ‘Veeraputhran’. The movie will have Prithviraj playing her hero in the role of a revolutionary historic character, Abdul Rehman Sahib. A language expert will help Raima with her diction. ‘Veeraputhran’ to be directed by P T Kunjumuhammed will be on sets in a matter of a couple of months.

Raima had already done significant roles in Hindi and Bengali films like ‘Manorama Six Feet Under’, ‘The Japanese Wife’ and ‘Antar Mahal’. She also have plenty of films to get released in recent months including Tanuja Chandra’s Raakh opposite Rajeev Khandelwal and Rituparno Ghosh’s Nauka Doobi with sister Riya

Few of the viewers will also remember that Raima’s mother Moon Moon Sen had earlier appeared as heroine to Mammootty in the movie ‘Aval Kaathiruannu, Avanum’ which was released in 1985. Raima’s sister Riya had also made a try in Mollywood doing a pivotal role in Santhosh Sivan’s ‘Anandhabhadram’.

Mankatha audio on May 1

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We have reported earlier that Thala Ajith’s Mankatha is not going to hit the screens on the scheduled date i.e. May 1st, 2011, which also happens to be Thala’s birthday. His fans were seriously upset by hearing this news.

It’s not the fans but also the team of Mankatha got disturbed by this. So keeping this in mind director Venkat Prabhu decided not to disappoint Thala’s fans. If not the film it can be audio right, yes! The audio of Mankatha is going to be released on May 1st, 2011 at Chennai. The team is now busy working on the audio and it’s also heard that Yuvan has given all nine tunes to director Venkat Prabhu recently. The release of Mankatha will be just a few weeks after the audio release.

The reason for postponement is, the film is still left with the shooting of few important scenes and two songs. Venkat Prabhu is working more than 20 hours a day for bringing in Mankatha by June first week. The audio of Mankatha has nine songs which are for sure going to top the charts.

Producer Dhayanidhi Alagiri is very happy about the way the film is shaping up.

IT officials bats at Tollywood actors

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In a tragic incident that took place in last months where Income Tax official raided Bollywood stars like Katrina and Priyanka Chopra.

Now IT department has turned its investigation and targeted Tollywood stars.

As per the official sources, Income tax department is conducting raids on the houses of eminent stars like Nagarjuna, Ravi Teja and Anushka.

As per the sources it is know that, these stars are involved in illegitimate bank account transaction and huge amount of money has been coughed up to buy a land in Vishakapatnam.

The IT officials are under work to check whether any transactions carried out from the accounts belonging to these stars.

Recently it has been into lime light that, beguiling actress Anushka has invested plenty of her money into reality business.

Stick on to this space for more updates on ongoing IT raids.

Mahesh hits the gym for Mani Ratnam’s film!

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It is well aware that Mahesh Babu has signed up a new film with ace director Mani Ratnam and the movie is being made bilingually in Telugu and Tamil versions. Mahesh is donning the role of a King in the film. The Tollywood’s Prince is turning out as King Uththama Cholan for the film.

The latest reports say Mahesh will go topless for the film and will appear in Dhotis. In order to gain such look in the film, Mahesh is said to be hitting the gym and heavily working out for the toned body. The shirtless act is something unique to this Tollywood’s prince as the actor has never taken his shirt off for a movie earlier.

So, all the female fans get ready to watch Mahesh in a unique style.