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Kazhcha
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'Kazhcha'

By P. Sreekumaran
Film critic, ApunKaChoice.Com

Off-beat films have invariably done well in Kerala. No wonder "Kazhcha"(Spectacle) starring Mega star Mammootty is doing well both in terms of audience acceptance and box office ratings .

The film is an authentic assertion of the universality of love, compassion and empathy. It appeals both to the ordinary film-goer as well as the cognoscenti. It is an unconventional film that stands out for thematic novelty and directorial skill. The film seems to have gone down well with the audience, tired of being fed stale fares by the mainstream Malayalam cinema.

The

rich visual spectacle unfolds against the picturesque backwaters of Kuttanad in Kerala's Alleppey district.

Hero Madhavan, played by Mammootty is a happy-go-lucky person who has an enduring passion for photography. The camera-loving Madhavan moves around villages framing shots that catch his fancy. His 16 mm projector has an eye for the detail and concentrates on festivals at temples and churches.

Into this placid landscape arrives a boy, (Master Yash). The boy, a victim of the horrendous Gujarat earthquake, has strayed into Kerala. Madhavan feels pity for the boy and takes an instant liking to him. But there is a big handicap : the language problem. Madhavan cannot make head or tail of the language the boy speaks! Gradually the shy boy opens up and the language barrier disappears.

Undeterred, Madhavan takes the boy home. Then begins the search for the boy’s parents in far-away quake-devastated Gujarat. The film ends on a positive note.

Director Blessey has managed to get standout performances from the main characters. Mammootty essays the role of Madhavan with customary panache. Padmapriya, who plays his wife is a perfect foil for the hero, fully empathising with the plight of the boy who is initially ill at ease in an alien milieu..

But it is Master Yash, the vagabond boy who walks away with acting honours. It is a riveting performance that touches a responsive chord. The emotional turmoil and the sense of alienation the boy experiences have been essayed with utmost sincerity and poise.

Kazhcha also signals a successful directorial debut for Blessy, who worked as an assistant to ace director, Lohitadas once. The finesse with which he has handled a sensitive theme is the envy of even seasoned directors.

Special mention must be made of the camera work by cameraman, Azhagappan. The fabulous frames of Kuttanad's backwaters and villages in Kutch(Gujarat) add to the poignance of the film, lending it an authentic touch.

The film has been produced by famous wedding caterer Naushad and Manu Mathew.

The cast also includes Kalabhavan Mani, Innocent, Venu Nagavally and Agustine.

The music of Mohan Sitara is another plus point of the film. The song "Kunje ninakkuvendi" rendered passionately by the peerless Yesudas takes the cake. A peppy duet picturised on Mammootty and Manoj K Jain has also become popular. The lyrics are by Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri.

A must see for all those who love good cinema.

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