Bavuttiyude Namathil Review

For someone who’d expect a film like ‘Pranchiyettan and the Saint’ and ‘Indian Rupee’, ‘Bavuttiyude Naamathil’, scripted and produced by Ranjith and directed by G S Vijayan, may be a bit disappointing. But for those who go watch the movie with an open mind, ready to accept anything without preconceptions, this could be an interesting film.

Quite contrary to the film’s title, it’s not Bavuttiyude who occupies the centre stage. It’s a story of a bunch of characters, all worked out in a good manner by both the director and the writer.

Bavutty (Mammootty) is a driver who works for Sethu (Shankar Ramakrishnan), a very rich guy who dabbles in real estate business and other such deals. In fact Bavutty is more than a driver; he is a trusted lieutenant, a constant companion when Sethu is in Kerala and like a family member. Sethu’s wife Vanaja (Kavya Madhavan) sees Bavutty as her own brother and her two kids too are friendly with him. Mariyambi (Kaniha), the housemaid too shares a good rapport with Bavutty. It’s the kids’ tuition teacher Noorjahan (Rima Kallingal) for whom Bavutty has a fascination and whom he wants to marry; this love story anyhow takes a totally unexpected turn later!!

Bavutty, who is an orphan and who had left the orphanage with Alvi (Harisri Ashokan), his close pal, was picked by Sethu and given a place of prominence in his household and life. While Sethu goes about thinking big and making big money, Bavutty remains a down-to-earth guy who is a do-gooder and loved by people around him. He also finds time to act in the lead role in a home cinema, shot with financial help from Vanaja.
Vanaja, a simple housewife who is not interested in the big things that her husband is doing, loves Sethu immensely and her world is limited to Sethu and their two kids. She is a lovable woman who talks and behaves candidly and exudes warmth. But then, just before half-time something new happens and the story takes off from here…

Mammootty has put in a great performance as Bavutty, but it would be wrong to say that the film belongs to him. It belongs as much to the other artists as to the Mega star, who of course has delivered a real brilliant performance. Kavya Madhavan steals the show with an impressive performance as Vanaja. She just bowls you over with her performance and her Neeleswaram accent. Shankar Ramakrishnan and Harisri Ashokan too impress a lot while Vineeth does a totally different kind of role and leaves a good impression. Kaniha doesn’t have much to do while Rima does her part convincingly. Others are OK with their parts.

Karmayodha Review

After the  'Kandahaar' , director Major Ravi famous for his patriotic and war movies is back with his new flick 'Karmayodha'. A take on the flesh trade and human trafficking that has been in full wing in the dirty lanes of the country, 'KarmaYoddha' except from a noble cause ends up as a movie that fails to live up to the expectations of the lovers of Lal films or action thrillers either. The only highlight of the movie seems to be the pace in which it is narrated which largely hurdles over the other big blemishes in the making.

The movie has Mohanlal as Mad Maddy, ala Madhavamenon, a DCP with the Maharashtra police. A fearless officer he is, Maddy is notorious for ruthless acts against criminals, killing them most of the times brutally. A efficient shooter he is, Maddy is now after the anti social elements who are controlling the flesh trade network in Mumbai. Maddy gets embroiled in such a case as the daughter of Arathy (Asha Sharath) also gets kidnapped while waiting for her mother on the road side at Mumbai. When similar events happen across the country with a number of young girls getting abducted, things gets a little personal for Madddy, who jumps on a Mercedez and follow the sophisticated containers that transfer the abducted girls to the foreign ships waiting in the international sea lines near Thuthukuddy. And down south he has got plenty of supporters in S I Balachandran (Mukesh), Manu (Bineesh) and his friends who are also finding clues for their missing sister.
                       
The biggest pitfall of 'Karmayoddha' is that Lal is again cast in another superhero role with plenty of scenes to boost his heroism. He takes on the worst of the criminal's single handedly with just a revolver for his own guard. With a lot of scenes that defy logic, most of the action that takes place in the plot is captured without finesse that has been the hallmark of action scenes of Major Ravi's earlier flicks. An investigative thriller devoid of thrills and 'clues' that seldom follow anything apart the regular 'mobile waves and towers', the poor dialogues written for the lead hero also is a big handicap.
              
 In the final count, this Karmayodha may satisfy the die-hard Mohanlal fans. And the collections may pour in for the first few days and for the rest, no guarantees can be made.....

Da Thadiya Review

After the delicious Salt N' Pepper and the 'inspired' but well made 22 Female Kottayam, director Aashiq Abu has raised the bar with unconventional film making. In his latest offering Da Thadiya, he shows the courage to cast an obese youth in the title role and this could be an example of  boldness'.
Luke John Prakash (Sekhar Menon) is the grandson of the first Mayor of  Kochi and his father John Prakash (Maniyanpillai Raju) is the leader of a fledgling political outfit. Luke's cousin and his closest friend Sunny (Sreenath Bhasi) narrate the story and we learn that the 'big boy' was besotted by a chubby girl named Ann Mary Thadikkaran (Ann Augustine) right from the school days.
Ann's family had shifted their base for a while and by the time she came back, she had become thin and beautiful. A glimpse of her and Luke is love struck. She wants him to be more healthy and fit. She takes him to the clinic done by an Ayurvedic expert named Rahul Vaidyar (Nivin Pauly).

It is Sunny's narration that keeps the viewers engaged and of course, there are moments, which shows Aashiq Abu's eminence. There are certain build-ups and some promising starts, which are interesting, but it really never takes off beyond a point. The script by Shyam Pushkaran, Dileesh Nair and Abhilash Kumar is good only in parts but the director manages to package it all into a decent watch. Shyju Khaled's visuals are top notch and Biji Bal's music is good.

Sekhar Menon looks fine in his role, at best. Sreenath Bhasi steals the show at times, with his smart narration. Nivin Pauly looks handsome and convincing. The rest of the cast has done what the script demanded.
It is a superb film done by  Aashiq Abu .
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