The film’s storyline is pretty confusing. There are some old Brahmin families who have some scores that dates back to several generations to settle, almost everyone is an expert in the Vedas or even in black-magic and there is a huge mana with a ghost in it! But the problem is, beneath all these, you soon realize that the film is all about dimwitted writing and shoddy direction.

Kunjunni (Mammootty) is an atheist, hates traditions, is tech-savvy and is having an affair with an innocent village-belle Thulasimani (Kaniha). He comes to buy the ghost-house, but he gets killed after several thrilling action sequences, dialogues and drama. Now comes his elder brother, Pattazhi Madhavan (Mammootty), who is highly religious and learned, but don’t have a problem thrashing some well-built hunks to pulp. He starts living at the mana to find out the reason for several deaths there, including that of his father that happened several years back and of course, of Kunjunni.

It is not just a silly film, but a regressive one as well, due to its offensive remarks about caste difference. Are we living in a land where superstitions, black-magic and rituals get prominence over the rule of law? Generously inspired even from films like Ananthabhadram and Manichithrathazhu among others, Drona 2010 lacks clarity, logic or any artistic value.

What the film succeeds is to show Mammootty in various looks and styles. He looks cosmopolitan and hip in one role, while intense and majestic in the other. But then can’t he look good in any role and what we look forward to in his films, is his histrionic eminence. In all fairness, Mammootty performs both the roles with conviction and panache, which keeps the viewer in the seats till the end!

Most of the other characters have been half-baked, including Thilakan, Manoj K Jayan, Devan, KPAC Lalitha and Lakshmi Sharma. Kaniha looks evidently misfit in her traditional long skirts and worse still, the tone of her dubbed voice is often irritating. Navya Nair has a brief role with limited relevance in the story. Suraj Venjarammood tries hard to make the viewers laugh, but he has nothing more to offer other than his usual buffoonery.

The script by A K Sajan lack substance and Shaji Kailas’ efforts to make the shortcomings up with some stylish visuals often goes in vain. Ekambaran’s camera is fine and Deepak Dev’s music is just Okay.

As the end credits start rolling the viewer wonders what the makers of this film trying to tell amidst all the ruckus and mayhem on screen for more than two and a half painful hours. If you are a fan of Mammootty, watch some of his brilliant movies from the past or even the recent Paleri Manikyam to have a feel of his genius. Sadly, this one is nowhere in that league!

Movie:Drona 2010
Director:Shaji Kailas
Music:Deepak Dev
Cast:Mammootty, Kaniha, Navya Nair

The film is set on a humorous backdrop and there are some funny situations which are intended to tickle the funny bone but what is lacking is a credible storyline. Still, the film has its own fine moments and has been made into an engaging watch.

Jayakrishnan (Dileep) has been fascinated by goondas right from his younger days and was working for some ‘quotation’ gangs as well. Sometime later, he decides to become the bodyguard of a wealthy and powerful man named Ashokan (Thyagarajan). He saves Ashokan’s life at a crucial juncture and gets a new assignment – to escort the rich man’s daughter, Ammu (Nayanatara), to college as her bodyguard.

Jayakrishnan is some kind of a joke at the campus, with his peculiar mannerisms, safari-suit and dark glasses. Ammu and her friend Sethu (Mithra Kurian) finds his presence, often irritating. To poke fun at him, Ammu starts making prank calls to him pretending as a girl infatuated by the hero. After a while, things get serious.

No two ways about it, in his trademark style, Dileep unleashes one of his best performances in recent times. His comic timing is spot on and he tries his best to give some style to the character. Nayantara, back in Malayalam after a while, is the brightest spot in the film. She not only looks beautiful and fresh but has delivered an inspired performance.

Still, besides individual performances, their chemistry has failed to work on screen. Dileep and Nayantara looks pretty odd as a pair, which perhaps turns out to be film’s greatest hitch.

Siddique, who is back in Malayalam after a break, has put in some sincere efforts into the making of the film. There are twists that surprises the viewer at times, songs which have been cleverly used to narrate certain dramatic turnarounds and some hilarious situations as well.

But the whole film suffers as it has been based on a weak storyline. The amazing comedy situations that are synonymous with the director’s films are generally not to be seen here and what we see is a rehash of several funny numbers which we have come across on various occasions.

Yes, there are some nice aspects about the climax situations, though it reminds you of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and even Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. But the scenes have been done in a hurry and as such, do not make much of an impact.

The rest of the cast including Thyagarajan, Mithra Kurian, Janardhanan and Harisree Ashokan among others are adequate. S.Kumar’s camera and Ouseppachan’s music suits the general mood.

Go with not much expectation and chances are that you will find the film a joy ride. It may not certainly be in the league of some of Siddique’s earlier films; still it is worth a watch.

Cast: Dileep, Nayantara, Mithra
Direction: Siddique
Music: Ouseppachan

‘My Big Father’ is all about the differing bonding between a father and a son, of which the father is a dwarf. Kunjumon (Guinness Pakru), this dwarfish father of a motherless child Alby, rears him with much love and care. Kunjumon being a catering specialist in the shop owned by Thomaskutty (Innocent), his son Alby also develops as an expert catering service manager. As a grownup guy, Alby makes an important decision that he will marry only that girl who won’t laugh at or giggle at the size of his father. Alby’s marriage gets delayed due to this demand, until one day he comes across Ancy (Kanika). He falls in love with her in the first sight itself. And after some confusion, Ancy fulfills his demands and they get married. But some fierce truth about Kunjumon’s past pops up at this phase, which makes things change as none of the three have ever expected.

Mahesh Sreenivasan, as a director, has managed to better himself than his previous movie, though his experience as a leading associate with other frontline directors doesn’t show off in much of the scenes. Even with a promising backdrop, the film fails to translate the hilarious potential of the plot into screen. Mostly running around meaningless plot points, ill conceived scenes and attempts on eliciting laughter, the movie just manage to become tolerable time pass stuff, for those who comes up with the least expectations. With tons of dialogues squeezed into each scenario, the movie gives a feel of one which is conceived just to travel through dialogues than any real activity. The scriptwriters Suresh Menon and Satheesh K Sivan also fail to draw out any good humor from the talented support artists who are known to pack the movies with chuckles.

Coming to performances, the movie definitely belongs to Guinness Pakru, who has played his part quite exceptionally well. Jayaram is his usual self and makes a cake walk through the role of Alby with his most regular expressions. Kaniha plays up to the demands of the role. Jagathy Sreekumar and Suraaj are wasted in inconsequential roles.

The technical sides of the movie fits to the average quality of the movie, at times gives a feel of a television soap. A couple of songs by Alex Paul just manage to support the proceedings, but the background scores are much better.

All in all, ‘My Big father’ is better suited for children audience. And if you don’t have much to do of any importance, just have a look for some meaningless time pass, here.

Cast Mohanlal, Lalu Alex, Thilakan, Lakshmi Rai, Priyanka
Direction Roshan Andrews
Producer Antony Perumbavoor
Banner Ashirwad Cinemas
Camera Divakar
Music Mohan Sithara
Script James Albert

Starring veteran Thilakan as Mohanlal’s father after a long time, Ividam Swargamanu tells the story of a bachelor Mathew (Mohanlal), who chooses farming as his profession. This nice guy is very much attached to his family especially to his father Jeremiah (Thilakan). His peaceful life changes when a wealthy land mafia leader and businessman Aluva Chandy ( Lalu Alex) enters into the scenes. Chandy sets his eyes on Mathew’s big farm and dreams of bringing out it into a resort.

Chandy creates situations that create pressure on Mathew to sell his farm which is in the centre of the proposed project. Chandy convinces the villagers that a big township will be set up there and also creates obstacles in the smooth functioning of the farm in many ways that depress Mathew. in the meantime, Mathew seeks the help of an advocate Prabalan (Sreenivasan). How Mathew fights against the land mafia to save his farm is the crux of the story.

The major highlight of the film is that it is based on a true story. Mohanlal, as usual, is amazing in his performance and simply rocks with his realistic portrayal of Mathew especially in the second half. After a gap, Lalu Alex is seen in a meaty role as Aluva Chandy which he has done with easy. The movie has three heroines Lakshmi Rai, Priyanka and Lakshmi Gopalaswamy. Lakshmi Rai comes as advocate Sumathy, Priyanka as television journalist Betsy and for the first time Lakshmi Gopalaswamy is seen in a negative role of SFC manager. All have done their respective roles convincingly.

James Albert’s story is fresh and Roshan Andrews’ presentation is engaging. Divakar’s cinematography is impressive. Notably, Ividam Swargamanu has no songs, but the makers could have included one or two songs to emphasis on Mathew’s bonding towards his farm and father. All in all, Ividam Swargamanu is worth watching and one of the best movies by Mohanlal in the recent time.

The village in the centre of activity is Chembattunadu, which gradually was rechristened as Chattambinaadu following the arrival and settlement of chattambis (goons) to the village to sort out the fight between the two strong wealthy families of the village, that is continuing for more than two decades. The movie opens in a high with the story being narrated in the viewpoint of a shooting crew of popular programme ‘Veritta Kazhchakal’. The goons of the wealthy families Mallanchira and Kattapalli have controlled the village for decades. Veerendra Mallaya, a Kannadiga wealthy man and a daredevil with 31 criminal cases after him, speaking a Malayalam with a thick Kananda slang arrives to the village to buy a mansion owned by Mallachira Chandramohan (Manoj K Jayan). From the day one he starts his war against Kattapilli Nagendran (Siddhique) and the viewers are told that Mallaya has a mysterious past associated with the same village folk, that has forced him to come to the village. Amidst confusions, the mysteries unveil with enjoyable sidetracks by local chattambies, Makri Goplan and Dasamoolam Damu played by Salimkumar and Suraj respectively.

In a potpourri of recent hits from Rajamanickayam, to Madambi and Mayavi, the racy narratives and fast cuts has managed to hold the movie without any big harm atleast till interval. But the final hour becomes increasingly predictable, with not much fresh surprises in store. But it is the one-man show of Mammootty, the megastar who really shows how he can hold a movie with a regular lame storyline with his charismatic performances. Even with a regular singular white pajama- kurtha dress code, he is eminently handsome throughout, with his acting credentials once again coming to the fore. Watch out for the two sentimental scenes where he manages to impress everyone, even with heavy Kannada dialogues. Vinu Mohan as his trusted aide Murugan, is in another role that the youngster can treasure. Lakshmi Rai and Mythili manages through the characters they are in while others from Vijayaraghavan, Manoj K Jayan, Siddhique, Janardhanan and Co are all in their regular roles.

The technical side of the movie is good, with every department doing their best to maintain the quality of a potential hit. Manoj Pillai’s camera, and V Sajan’s editing are brilliant and the makers has managed to keep the interest going for the entire length of two hours and five minutes. Alex Paul’ songs have good beats but won’t stay in our minds for long. The title song written by Murugan Kattakkada and sung by C J Kuttappan is the best among the three featured in the movie.

If you are a fan of Mammootty, you are sure to lap up Chattambinaadu, as it offers everything for the fans to cherish. And for others, if you had been with the likes of cross- border movies; this is another chance for reminiscence. If you can keep your brains at home, don’t think for much logic and enjoy a free run for two hours.