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Sufiyum Sujatayum (2020)
Thattathin Marayathu with the Roles Reversed
Sufiyum Sujatayum is yet another addition to the number of Malayalam film we've already seen about unrequited love from evergreen classics like Thoovanathumbikal to newer movies from recent times such as Thattathin Marayathu and Neelakasham Pachakadal Chuvanna Bhoomi. (Honorary mention to show how this concept will never die down: 96 from Tamil too)
And for this reason ever since hearing about the premise and throughout watching the film, the only thing I could focus on was the fact that this was a concept we had already seen so so many times before.
Now it isn't that cliches and attempting tried and tested concepts for the 15th time are a bad thing. Different filmmakers can give newer experiences to the audience regardless.
That's why I decided to give this movie a chance because although I am very much over the whole interreligious unrequited relationship type of movie, I thought this one could spin it's own tune with it and therefore be something worth watching.
Alas! Sufiyum Sujatayum felt like a mix between Vaisali and Thattathin Marayathu. The film was unfortunately (or fortunately) the same formula as all the above mentioned movies with very little deviance, if any.
The stunted character development, along with the overriding need to be minimalistic thus compromising ideal character development and growth really diminished this movie's full experience for me.
While when Thattathin Marayathu released, this concept hadn't been handled the way it had been until that film and therefore was received more open mindedly, with Sufiyum Sujatayum, it's been close to 8 years and the audience demands and deserves more in-depth and well-written characters to fill their screens.
Because to me, Sufiyum Sujatayum seemed like a story about Sujata who fell in love with Sufism as a religion more than Sufi as a person. If that were the metaphor they were trying to put across then GREAT! But since I'm sure that wasn't the case, it can't be seen as anything more than poor writing.
The poor guy's name even was Sufi, for god's sake!
In trying to put across the originality in the idea of Sufism, they forgot to add the same authenticity to their characters and storyline which is what makes a film truly original and not something repetitive. Because at the end of the day, Sufism is just a PART of the characters and the movie. It isn't what the movie is about, so quit trying to make it the star of the film!
So to me, this movie was Thattathin Marayathu with the roles simply reversed. While Aisha was the unsuspecting receiver of poor character development, meagre dialogues and only placed in the movie for her beauty, in Sufiyum Sujathayum, it was Sufi.
I mean, when a relatively minor character like Rajeev has more character depth than the title character Sufi, you can't help hut shake your head at the film writer at least a little bit.
Also for the same reason, all three of the title characters appeared to be very similar to me.
They were all mellow, subdued and good hearted and portrayed as such, stuck in their own worlds. The disregard to their negatives especially Sufi's takes away from truly getting a three dimensional, realistic picture of the character and breaks the connect the audience can build with the character.
Also on a side note, I didn't like the fact that on most of the movie's posters, Jayasurya's character was placed front and center along with Aditi's and Dev's character was nothing more than a shadow in the background. I understand that production details would have lead to this choice but it still seems disrespectful to not only the actor but also the character of Sufi when in reality this is just as much Sufi's film as it is Sujata's or Rajeev's film. Perhaps even more! (The posters had me confused about their roles too. I thought Jayasurya was Sufi until I watched the movie)
Besides all that though, the strengths of this movie were the three main actors themselves.
Although Aditi's dancing seemed quite amateurish for someone who was addressed as a professional throughout the film, her subtlety when it came to portraying Sujata was brilliant. Especially the scene that showed her inability to call out to her parents during an emergency being a mute was heart-touching.
Jayasurya was wonderful as always. The audience were able to empathize with his character when there was every opportunity for him to be portrayed as the villain.
And last but definitely not the least, the best part of the movie in my opinion. Dev Mohan.
What a wonderful actor! I can see him go miles already.
Though there were the small inaccuracies of a first time actor, theybwere so few I didnt even realize it was his first film in many scenes.
His genuine portrayal of the character of Sufi was beautiful. He, like Fahadh Faasil is blessed with such emotive eyes and the scenes where Sufi is as vulnerable as a stray kitten were truly the best parts of the film for me.
Overall, it's a good, watchable family film. But I wish that in at least 2020 we can get films that aren't as predictable as movies handling this concept have already been established to be.
Forensic (2020)
Came for the thriller, stayed for Tovino
Tovino thomas is a handsome man. That's it. That's the review.
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Side note/actual review for the filmmakers:
- a twist is no longer a twist if there's more than 2 of it
- the protagonist doesn't have to be suresh gopi in FIR level hot headed but having some self respect to defend yourself against your senior officers is essential, especially when you are the only brains in the case
- which brings us to the next point: the protagonist is the ONLY brains in the case and is never wrong. Even sherlock Holmes made mistakes come on now
Irupathiyonnaam Noottaandu (2019)
I really want to see Pranav succeed...
That's all I want. For real.
When I watched Aadhi, I was convinced Pranav could absolutely NOT act. The whole movie seemed like a clumsy, last minute effort to get him into the industry. Then I watched the beginning of this movie and realized I was wrong. That Pranav Mohanlal could actually act. That it isn't his fault that the only two films (in recent times) that he's been a part of didn't know how to use him as an actor other than for stunts. That this is also why Mohanlal and so many other veterans' acting seem a bit superficial these days.
It's the films and the way they are handled these days, from script to direction to everything else that are the culprits!
So let's take an example of someone younger and slightly closer to Pranav career-wise. What's the difference between Pranav Mohanlal and Dulquer Salmaan?
Dulquer chooses good, modest-budget films he knows he is a good fit for. Yes, his decisions have ended up in disasters from time to time, but at least they have all been films you can sit through start to finish more or less.
Irupathiyonnaam Noottaandu was so large-scale that it lost its subtlety right form the start and simply boiled down to something it's not, a blown up version of what it was actually trying to say. In handling this film like a commercial movie, it lost its beauty, something I think an actor like Pranav could afford to stay away from, at least for the beginning of his career.
And finally, finally, finally I wish directors would stop making films FOR Pranav Mohanlal and start making films simply for the films. Or st least dont change the canvas of the film once you know a superstar's son is going to your protagonist!
Ratsasan (2018)
It's a film, that's for sure
I'm a little disappointed after all the hype about this film. Granted, yes, I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entirety of it, there was that one CONSTANT repeating factor in a lot of these kind of films that broke Ratsasan too in my opinion.
The protagonist and how they were handled in the film...
Why is it that EVERY crime thriller HAS to have the investigator be the ONLY one with any ideas about how the crime took place??! Why is it that nobody, not even a single other officer/family member/i dont know the grocery vendor can come up with even the smallest clue that could lead to the conclusion? Why does the protagonist never fail in these films? Where is the vulnerability? Where is the character development? Why do all these protagonists know more than killer and are all 150+ IQ holders with the greatest attention to detail?? Someone please explain this to me. This was the same formula in two other films that I recently watched. Forensic and Anjaam Pathira from Malayalam.
And then there's the added aspect of the protagonist being this flawless, good guy, a complete family man who only does good for the society...oh COME ON! He doesn't raise his voice against his senior officers even when his child is in the hands of the killer. This could've also just been the actor's fault because he had one expression throughout the film, seriously. Still, if at all this is the reality we live in, WHERE are all these flawless men?? And to think that this is also a film that presents pedophiles and psychopaths...talk about polarizing personalities. Now, don't get me wrong, there's no fault in someone being a good enough person but when the stage is set to constantly show out the character's heroism, it simply blows down to the typical Indian filmy treatment. The realism that makes these films so exciting gets lost somewhere along the way.
ALSO, what was up with the killer's avatar???! I find it extremely hard to believe that the creators of this film couldn't afford an actual Anglo-Indian dude that they had to settle on that almost non-human-like make-up...?? Or at least give him some realistic make up? That was pretty much the last straw for me with this film...damn.
All in all it's really just a good thriller film. Good. That's about it. There's nothing new about this serial killer story, possibly not even the killing pattern.
Aadhi (2018)
Good for Action Fanatics
This movie will be enjoyed by those that enjoy action and more realistic fight scenes where bad guys don't go flying in every direction known to man with just a flick of the hero's fingers. The character has to put in a little more effort and actually gets gut-punched right back more than a couple of times. The parkour and running were brilliant and i remember leaving the theater feeling really badass wanting to kick a few people. That's how i realized despite the few glaring errors, i enjoyed the movie.
In terms of acting, Pranav Mohanlal seemed to take an ascending slope. It is a blessing the film didn't call for any real dramatic interpretation and acting. There weren't many dialogues to deliver nor too many emotional scenes to depict. Despite starting a little rocky (felt the first couple of scenes were slightly awkward but maybe that was because of the slight lag i felt between the dubbing and acting), Pranav seemed to adjust to the film better in the second half. He seemed the most comfortable doing the parkour bits. When he didn't have to face another person, bite out a couple of pre-planned dialogues, only run around and do his own thing. There were however many overused scenes, a cliche to films like these.
Another thing worth mentioning are the rest of the cast. Siddique was as natural as ever (he gets better in every film!) Anusree was hilarious and gave something to laugh about in an otherwise dull scene. Aditi Ravi could've slightly turned down her enthusiasm for a certain song and Lena could've done the same during one of her hysterical cries. I know she can do better. I've seen Traffic.
I did find the ending a little abrupt however symbolic it seemed. But overall, it was a decent film with the inevitable mistakes of a first time.
Njandukalude Naattil Oridavela (2017)
A Little Too Lighter Than Air
I saw some high ratings for the film and decided it must be great. After all it has Nivin Pauly and much of the Premam cast in it. However after watching the movie i realized maybe i shouldn't have judged it too quick.
From the beginning to the end, there were moments when i felt i was searching for the plot since maybe the creators forgot to include it in somehow (dont know how but they did it!)
It really seemed to drag on for an entirety until the end arrived and i realized i'm still searching for the story. (where, where was it?) Felt quite a bit like an empty pizza box.
There are gentle bits of traditional Nivin-Pauly-and-friends humour and i did enjoy most of the acting but in the end, there is a certain point when you realize a completely realistic film might not be a completely enjoyable and appropriate one for the topic it deals with. In giving a glimpse of a normal family faced by a grave issue, this seemed to handle it too lightly with unexpected jolts of misery and gloom which then followed with more humor and light-heartedness when it seemed frankly inappropriate. It was pretty ridiculous if i'm being honest and really affected the quality of the film.
So in conclusion, yes, for me, this was a little too lighter than air.