Ayaalum Njanum Thammil [Between him and me]

Ironic it is for sure that Prithwiraj has decided to move to Bollywood. We saw him in the moronic "Ayya" with over the top and also downhill Rani Mukherjee and then we see him in fantastic form with the equally magnificent Prathap Pothan in Lal Jose directed "Ayaalum Njanum Thammil" [Between him and me].

Lal Jose seems to be in a mood to explore the medical field. If he dealt with the extravagant young Oncologist learning his lessons in life in "Diamond Necklace", here we have an irresponsible spoilt brat of a young Doctor going through the travails of life to turn into a great Cardiac Surgeon.Well, I am not complaining because he has given us a beautiful movie that makes us sit up, take notice, enjoy, think and then return with the pleasant feeling of having seen an earnest movie. 

The story revolves around the coming of age of Dr. Ravi Tharakan [Prithwiraj] with the able guidance of an upright and dedicated senior Doctor Samuel [Prathap Pothan]. I wouldn't like to deal with the story and spoil the thrill because I want everyone to watch this movie.

The story is narrated in multiple flashbacks with flashbacks inside flashbacks causing a little bit of a problem early in the first half. But things move smoothly, once we realize the technique. The lighting sometimes gets ridiculously dim and from a Doctor's point of view, I wouldn't accept that. But otherwise, Lal Jose has done his homework thoroughly and deserves all the credit for handling the technical aspects and medical language very well.

The camera work, music and back ground score gel very well with the mood of the movie though the movie could have done very well without songs. Munnar becomes an independent character in the movie. It was only a background for song and dance sequences in most movies hitherto. The silent breeze, the noisy wind, the unpredictable rains and the fog are used with stunning effect to suit the different moods of the character of Dr. Tharakan. And in the climax, we see a pleasant and contented Dr. Tharakan ruminating over the place that made him what he is !

Narein as Ravi's close buddy Vivek, Rima Kallinkal as the lady who puts together the jigsaw puzzle of the story and Ramya Nambeesan as his conscientious colleague have given wonderful performances. Kalabhavan Mani too has given a very good account of himself. Samvritha Sunil as Dr. Tharakan's junior and girlfriend is a little subdued. Sukumari as head-nurse and Salim Kumar as the Cirrhosis patient making a living thanks to his disease are good too.

But the movie belongs to Prathap Pothan and Prithwiraj and both have given stupendous performances. It is as if each has brought out the best from the other and in that sense, the title works beautifully. It is truly between these two. I'd be disappointed if Prithwiraj doesn't win the State Award for best actor for 2012. Well, tough competition for Lal [Ozhimuri] there. He also deserves at least a nomination for the best actor at national awards. Same for Prathap Pothan.

My Opinion: A wonderful movie and a must watch for all Malayalees who love their language and their cinema !

Post Script: I end this piece from where I began. 

Dear Prithwiraj, it is understandable you are quite peeved with the enormous negative vibes, hate campaign and bad press you have received in your home state. But the truth is you will be a misfit in Bollywood and Malayalam cinema needs you as much as you need Malayalam cinema. Public memory is fickle and nobody or nothing can suppress your talent if you continue to work in movies like this. Stay back !

English Vinglish: Triumph of will over ill

I am not being "judgmental" when I say, there are two types of people in this world. Those who think they can't speak good English and those who think they speak good English. Shashi [Sridevi in a stupendous comeback] the protagonist in "English Vinglish" belongs to the first category. She suffers in silence, all the repeated humiliation heaped on her by her self-centered husband and arrogant little teenaged daughter who belong to the second category.

Gauri Shinde has not only brought Sridevi back with a bang but she has given us a movie we can relate to. In reality, all of us are either Shashi or her family members. There are no menacing villains, no scheming mothers in law and certainly no big time melodrama. This is one movie so charmingly real in content, execution and presentation that it is bound to stay with us for very long.

What a person, especially a lady has to face in everyday life if good spoken English is not his or her forte is the premise of the movie. All the insults, subtle humiliation and constant taunts Shashi faces through the movie are completely real life. Her muted reactions each time too are natural. She finds solace in making snacks [the best ladoos in the world] and her husband finds even that to be below his dignity.

Ironically, Shashi finds her biggest turning point in life with an event which she dreads at the first mention. Going to 'The' United States of America from 'The' India alone with a 100 passengers ! Going there to help her elder sister with preparations for the wedding of her elder daughter, Shashi ends up in a spoken English course in the big apple.

"Mind your language", the learn to speak English in 4 weeks course brings together a bunch of funny people like a French Chef, a Tamilian Techie, a Pakistani driver with sex on his mind, a Spanish nanny, an African who rarely opens his mouth in a spoken English class, a Chinese hair stylist and a gay teacher.

Beginning a journey that runs parallel to the preparations for the wedding of her elder niece, Shashi finds an able support in her younger niece Radha who helps her through the journey. What she manages to do is shown in a steady manner with the adulation and unabashed love of the French Chef Laurent becoming a stepping stone rather than a hurdle for her success.

There is a brilliantly conceived scene of  Shashi giving went to her hurt when her teenaged daughter shouts at and humiliates her over the phone. She keeps ranting in Hindi and the French Chef Laurent understands her hurt without understanding a single word. And then she gives a perfect order in English at the coffee shop without even realizing it. Laurent points it out to her in a subtle manner.

This scene actually tells us a simple truth. Faced with the task of making ladoos for the entire wedding party all over thanks to her little son's pranks, she doesn't flinch and sets out with complete confidence in her ability. But acts like flying abroad alone, boarding a train in New York or speaking in English intimidate her.

We create a barrier around us worrying about facing ridicule from others. We crave for appreciation or acceptance for what we do when it is not our strength. A lady who has magic in her hands worries about the reaction of people when she has to speak in English. But when she isn't bothered about any reaction or appreciation, she speaks the correct English.

The climax has to be a speech in English. And this is the highlight of the movie because it is not the fluent and heavily accented American English that we get. It is the honest, hard working and true to character Indian English in which Shashi delivers her speech. In that moment, there is the catharsis of all the pent up angst, humiliation and hurt. But instead of blaming her family, she lifts them up along with her self-esteem. She shows no ill-will towards anyone simply because she loves her 'family' about which she speaks to the newly wed couple. Truly a triumph of will over ill !

Entire cast has done a wonderful job but Adil Hussain as the obnoxious husband, Priya Anand as Radha and Mehdi Nebbou as Laurent are wonderful. And how can we forget the cantankerous old man who 'guides' Shashi through her first flight and beyond the New York airport ? R. Balki can't make a movie without the Bachchan.

Gauri Shinde's "English Vinglish"  is a cute, life like, honest and feel good movie. Sridevi excels in spite of what looks like an overdoes of botox around that once famous pout. Dialogues rock and Shivansh Kotia as Shahsi's precocious little son Sagar is a riot.

What we see is a very competent handling of a subject that could've been over dramatized and spoiled. They could have made horrendous people popping out from every corner insulting Shashi. Any other Director would have brought in the other parents in her daughter's school lampooning Shashi. And then finally they could have made her avenge all that with a smashing speech in Queen's English with an accent so heavy, that Sridevi could have actually danced on it to "Mere Haaton Me Nau Nau Choodiyaan Hai" !

But thankfully what we get is a down to earth movie that doesn't blame anyone or any culture and stays true to the subject. In short, it doesn't get "Judgmental" !

My opinion: Wholesome sweet "Ladoo" for the entire family. Go for it !
And "Thank You Gauri Shinde for a memorable movie experience !"