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Reviews
Esthappan (1980)
A benchmark in visual storytelling
SPOILER ALERT!!! - A movie that strongly depends on visual storytelling more than any other means of communication with the audience. Entirely set in a coastal village in Kerala, this G. Aravindan movie, uses the narration-style character description for defining the core character Esthappan as a surrealistic being. Shaji N Karun has done a great job with the cinematography, where long shots are extensively used for portraying the vastness of the sea and the sky, which in turn portrays the vastness of Esthappan's intellect. Very appreciable night shots also give a mystic feeling to the movie. All these shots along with the sound design provide a feel that Esthappan is not just a human being, but an omnipresent entity that knows everything and can live in different realms. I found the editing to be soggy and the dialogue delivery by the locals to be didn't come across as organic. Overall, the movie is an aesthetically pleasing work of art that could be hailed as a predecessor of modern-day fantasy movies in Malayalam. Ended on loose ends, the movie is open for multiple interpretations based on bible stories or miracle workers who get endorsed by narrations by the witnesses of their miracle works.
Kala (2021)
This is something which is 'brutally' good !
A violent lash on the feudal hegemony which is still keeping up with its unhindered pace in the current socio-political scenario. The movie, overall seems to be an action packed well-choreographed gory experience, proves once again, how the art can be brutally good. The film can be well-enjoyed by an action-seeker as well as someone who needs something fresh out of the box. Starting off with a slow pace, brilliantly editing out the sequences to emphasize the thrilling and suspense mood of the movie, the first-half convincingly establishes the characters and their environment. Initially, we tend to join the side of the protagonist-who-turns-out-to-be-the-antagonist, Shaji. But, as the story unfolds, we are left with the only option to leave the side of Shaji to clearly understand the toxicity and oppressiveness imparted by his character. The film explicitly tells the story of the oppressed, casteism and misogyny with minimal dialogues and extravagant action scenes which is not so familiar for not just the malayali viewers, but for the entire Indian context. By the end, the so-called feudal hegemony is being ripped apart and thus, the political stance of the movie is firmly established. A must watch at any cost.
Biriyaani (2019)
A bold take on religious and patriarchal fanaticism !!!
Just like the name signifies, this mind-blowing at the same time, disturbing film has kept a bunch of visual explosions of flavors keeping the viewers at awe. Choosing an unconventional and raw narrative style to unfold the banal story of religiously oppressed humanity, the film has made an exceptionally bold attempt to expose the sexual perceptions prevalent even in the current era. The film realistically showcases how society has become metaphorically blind and made each and every woman incapable of leading an independent life. The story is narrated putting Khadeeja, the protagonist in perspective, representing her as a victim of a patriarchal social situation and her grave situation is enhanced by the fanatic religious customs. The film has done a wonderful job in detailing how religious acts have evolved in favour of men and helped to build a patriarchal society. Even the sexual practices have to be done adhering to some dump customs which are no way connected to the pleasure gained from it. And, here too, women have to face terrible consequences if they do otherwise. Just like in 'The great Indian kitchen', here the protagonist is reaching a breaking point and breaking all the invisible chains to gain her sexual freedom. But, whether she has gained that freedom that she wanted for so long is still questionable. By showcasing this, the film is telling how extensive and deep the patriarchy is rooted in our society. The final scenes draw out Khadeeja's wish and dream , unattained and far-fetched and reminds us how adamant the conservative chains are. This movie is surely something we have not experienced even in Indian cinema and of course, it's disturbing to see some of the movie scenes which are not generally recommended to normal cinema viewers. But, the fact is that reality is even more haunting than this fictional piece of art.
Druk (2020)
A feel-good contender for the Oscars !!
This is the first time I'm watching a Danish film. I was surprised to see a familiar face playing the central character of the movie. It was Mads Mikkelson whom I've seen playing the role of Kaecilius in Doctor Strange. Yes, he indeed showcased an introverted yet natural portrayal of a middle-class school teacher who is struggling to get out of his banality and to get back to his youthly cheerfulness. He is not alone in this endeavor; he is accompanied by three of his close friends. The scenes reminded me of the picturesque cityscape portrayed in Manchester by the Sea which is also set in a coastal fishing area. The film was presenting the slices of lives picturized as if the cinematographer has been literally spying on their lives. The warm tone of the film helps us to immerse ourselves into the deeper shelves of human emotions and dwell on them for a few moments. This also corroborated by tight close-up shots detailing every frown and even an eye wink adding up to the emotional vocabulary. The banal theme is given a fresh touchup with impeccable detailing of the personal and professional lives of four friends. Even though the entire storyline is revolving around these alcohol consumption experiments and their fatal outcomes, it holds on to another set of midlife crises like loneliness and the burden of responsibilities. A great watch !!
Joji (2021)
The impeccable art of subtleness
A great cinematic example that has shown that even subtleness can impart an intense thrilling experience. The way each and every character is developed is something that can be taken as a benchmark example. Like with any other, Pothan movie, this one is also firmly establishing the geographical features and even the mood of the place where the story is taking place. The place and its elements are also interwoven into the screenplay and they also have a firm role in the story narration. Each and everything which is captured by the camera has its own importance and something unavoidable. Magnificent BGM and apt cinematography elevated the intensity and even gave a western touch to the entire ambiance. This was established right in the opening shot itself. The performances given by the artists are subtle but at the same time, intense. This minimalistic way of exhibiting performances is undoubtedly corroborating the visual storytelling technique. The film firmly establishes that Joji's character is something that shouldn't be glorified and the director has shown impeccable care to not overshadow his shady character under the tag of a psychopath.