Run Baby Run: Slightly Premature Delivery !

This Baby Doesn't even walk !

Let me first state this, Joshiy's "Run Baby Run" with Mohan Lal and Amala Paul is a big hit already and my opinion isn't going to make any difference on the out come of the movie. Not even an ant bite. Yet I have to say, this one promises a lot in the beginning and delivers a slightly premature Baby in the end.

The plot is a give away from the beginning. It is "Grand Master" meets "Spirit" meets "Passenger" meets "Patram" plot where Mohan Lal alters between his characters in "Grand Master" and "Spirit" and the plot is "Passenger" and "Patram" combined together.

There is suspense, there are thrills, there is comedy, there is extremely competent acting by the entire cast and then there is one-upmanship between the villains played by Sai Kumar and Siddique and hero played by Mohan Lal. But there are gaping holes in the plot and that is where we come out with a lot of questions.

So what are my points ? Amala Paul on a comeback trail in Malayalam cinema plays Renuka, a brash, overbearing and almost arrogant senior reporter cum decision maker in a TV channel. She also tells the Hero she knows Kalari, which she never told him during their courtship earlier.

And then through most of second half she just stands and watches the hero bash up villains. Forget running, she doesn't even attempt to walk properly. Joshiy probably forgot his heroine was a firebrand and ends up glorifying the cameraman's role played by Mohan Lal. Amala Paul's character promises a lot and ends up being a side kick in the end. That proves one thing. Amala Paul may be a big star in Tamil but she isn't Manju Warrier.

The title too is misleading because forget the Baby, nobody ever runs in the movie. There are neither chases nor thrills but a lot of scheming and sting operations. To give credit where it is due, these scenes have been picturized pretty well and that is why the movie works in the final analysis.

There are some surprisingly glaring omissions in the movie. Most of the characters remain absolutely unchanged during the 5 years intermission; except Vijaya Raghavan who seems to suffer accelerated ageing. That was perhaps due to the stress of a petty case hoisted by an arrogant cameraman.

Biju Menon as Rishi comes across as confused because he doesn't know if he has to appear serious because of a failing channel or if he has to appear funny because he has a funny friend. But he pulls it off because he is such damn good actor.

Technically the movie is good and the song sung by Mohan Lal manages to please his fans. I doubt if we needed it in the movie. It would have been better if we were to have it shorter by about 10 minutes.

My Opinion: Overall, this Baby is definitely a bit premature but still manages to entertain and is a definite welcome for Malayalam cinema starved of a big hit. So be it !

That's The "Spirit" !

A Ranjith movie is something to wait for. I have loved every one of his recent movies from "Paleri Manikyam" to "Pranchiettan" to "Indian Rupee". Hence the coming together of Ranjith and his favorite actor Mohan Lal was worth waiting. But is the wait worth ? Read on...

We have been hearing for sometime about every release of his being Mohan Lal's come back vehicle as if he had gone on a long distance journey to moon. I used to find it funny because the actor was churning out one insipid movie after the other. But here he makes his presence felt in a strong manner in what I rate as his best performance since Kamal's "Ayaal Katha Ezhuthukayaanu". Mohan Lal the master of histrionics is definitely at his best.


Mohan Lal as the arrogant, almost megalomaniac, super-intelligent but on the verge of becoming a hopeless alcoholic Raghunandan is just fantastic. He strolls through the movie with one brilliant scene after another. Raghu plays the anchor or the master of a TV show called "Show the Spirit". He instills fear in the minds of the people who are supposed to grace the show. Many of those often leave in disgrace like the Minister Muralikrishnan played by Suraj Venjaramoodu. Thanks Ranjith, for showing us that Suraj is not as bad an actor as most of his directors have shown him so far.


Raghu is totally unrepentant about his failed marriage and his alcohol dependence and his brawls with people under the influence of alcohol. His divorced wife [Kaniha is brilliant as as Meera] is married to his best friend Alexy [Shankar Ramakrishnan in a superb portrayal of a good friend, better husband, great father and a magnificent human being] and Raghu still retains good friendship with both of them even though he ends up spoiling their party very often.


Madhu as the fun-loving retired army-man and Thilakan as one of those unknown alcoholics are good. Nandalal has perhaps essayed the role of his lifetime as the hopelessly alcoholic Plumber Manian. Tiny Tom is very efficient as the bartender. Sidharth Bharathan as the brilliant but eccentric poet Sameer has done well. Lena as the honest police officer has done well too.. 


Technically the movie is as good as any of Ranjith's movies. Revolving around the intellectual and literary world of Kerala and the influence of the 'Spirit' over the intelligentsia as well as the masses, the movie tries to spread a message.


Lyricist Rafeeq Ahmed has come out with nice songs tuned well by Shahbaz Aman. Back ground music too is easy on the ears. Editing and camera work are up to date. 


Overall it is a very good and "Spirited" effort by Ranjith and Team and is laudable though the end comes across as a little too simplistic. But this effort should be appreciated for taking a look at that side of Kerala which we gloss over with jokes. There is truth in Raghunandan's words, "You all know a Manian between you. If not, perhaps YOU are Manian" !


My word: Must watch !

Sneha Veedu

Satyan Anthikad for me, is the finest commercial movie Director who has survived into a fourth decade of meaningful movie making. He began by directing a delectable comedy in 1982. Almost 30 years later, he perhaps is the only Director of the older generation who has retained currency in this era of decline of Malayalam cinema.

After suffering series of horrible Mohan Lal movies, I had stayed off his 'Pranayam' fearing a boring old-age drama. So if I decided to watch "Sneha Veedu" on first day, it is because of my admiration for Satyan Anthikad. Let me confess he hasn't made any great movie here and this is not 'Vara Velpu' or 'Sandesam'. It is a mix and match of Satyan's old formula. But it works beautifully simply because of the theme of love.

Ajayan Menon [Mohan Lal] as a Chronic Bachelor shying from commitment to a marriage only to see his mother happy in her old age is the protagonist. Veteran Sheila playing his mother complements the picture of 'Love' in a home full of love.

Then there is Sunanda [Padmapriya] a neighborhood girl with charming manners and great conviction in whatever she does. Balan [Biju Menon] plays the role of Ajayan's friend, philosopher and side kick. He is a Sub Inspector of Police and is fabulous. Innocent as Karinkannan Mathai is his usual best. An Anthikkad movie is incomplete without these kind of characters.

There is drama, suspense, earthy comedy, love, puppy love, mother - son sentiments [so thankfully not overdone] and a little bit of tragedy. Then there is a humane climax that comes like a wave of the ocean, all of a sudden; touches us and leaves us wet in the eyes yet happy for the effect.

I wouldn't like to spoil the thrill of watching the movie by discussing the story. But let me add this, the new boy Rahul Pillai is a huge surprise package. He walks away with honors appearing on screen for the first time along with the likes of the stars mentioned above. Some real talent !

The music is beautiful and songs are fabulous. Hariharan and Shreya Ghoshal add variety to the songs. Palakkad and surrounding villages have been shot beautifully to make the visual experience pleasant. A little bit of sagging in pace during second hour apart, "Sneha Veedu" is a wholesome entertainer.

Malayalam cinema suffered all these years because people like Shaji Kailas had turned a magnificent actor into a monstrous Frankenstein of a Superstar. We can't thank you enough Mr. Anthikad for giving us back the 'Common man' Mohan Lal !

Recommended: For every Malayalee who has missed the beautiful family entertainers of the 80s and early 90, go watch this one. And for the new generation growing up on Hindi, English, Tamil and dubbed Telugu masala movies, watch this one to understand Malayalam Cinema !

Chotta Mumbai

The hero Vasco da Gama (Mohan Lal) lives in Fort Kochi with his family consisting of his wrestler father and 2 sisters.  He has 3 friends and all of them are involved in hooligan activities.  Vasco and his gang decide to mend their ways and try their luck outside India. In order to get Malaysian visa (for himself and his friends), vasco pledges his house without the knowledge of his father and the agent (Kochin Haniffa) dupes him.  Here our villain enters..Kalabhavan  Mani, a corrupt but suspended police officer, who kills an honest officer, which is witnessed by Vasco and his father.  How Vasco  deals with these 2 issues (i.e. pledged house and witness of murder) and how he comes out of it forms the rest of the story.  And there is a heroine too, Bhavana who plays an autorickshaw driver.


The movie is able to provide occasional relief with good comic performance especially by Bijjukuttan who plays Susheelan (one of the gang members of Vasco) and Paambu Chacko played by Rajan P Dev.


The movie began well with the narrator describing about himself, his friends, his family, his locality and how he created a mess of his life.   I guess the first 30 minutes were like that, but after that, it was a waste of time.  Why the story went haywire?


I usually watch movies because of directors and Anwar Rashid whose last movie that I saw (RajaManikyam) was a good masala movie, which had all the elements in the right mix and provided good entertainment value.  That was the only thing i expected from this movie (entertainment), but apart from the first 30 minutes, the movie fell flat on its nose......what a crap.....what was the point of this movie....had Anwar Rashid lost his mind..these were the thoughts coming to my mind....While watching this movie, 2 movies were pounding hard on my subconscious, Thirakatha and Udayananu Tharam.  In Thirakatha, Ajay Chandran the superstar gives his already committed dates to Akbar (the debutant hit director), who did not even cast him in the first place.  Similarly in Udayan Anu Tharam, Saroj Kumar the super star tells the director, he wont do this and do that as it would affect his persona...............my point is, "Was Chotta Mumbai a casualty of Super star syndrome"?? That Ajay Chandran of Thirakatha does resemble Mohan Lal somewhat in manners and looks also adds credence to this theory....Was Ranjith (director of Thirakatha) providing subtle hints to the viewers what our super stars are up to through his movie or is it just a fig of my imagination, can somebody throw some light here....or lets ask Anwar Rashid!!