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Ore Kadal
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'Ore Kadal' -An Engrossing Film

By P. Sreekumaran
Film critic, ApunKaChoice.Com

Shyama Prasad is a serious filmmaker. The talented director drew critical acclaim with serious films like ‘Agnisakshi’ and ‘Aakale’.

His latest film, ‘Ore Kadal’, featuring megastar Mammootty and Meera Jasmine in the lead roles is a brilliant cinematic foray into the innermost recesses of the human mind. Full credit to him for venturing into a genre no other film director in Malayalam has attempted so far with such intensity.

In

a manner of speaking, ‘Ore Kadal’ has a European feel to it, and a touch of the celebrated Swedish director Bergman, who was a master in lighting up dark corners of the human mind with a probing camera in tandem.

Prasad has succeeded in extracting riveting performances from the protagonists Mammootty and Meera. So much so, Mammootty is totally devoid of his usual superstar mannerisms! It is a role that demands single-minded attention and commitment. Mammookka has come out with flying colours from this histrionic test. This would certainly rank among Mammootty’s best roles. Matching step with the megastar in this histrionic race is Meera Jasmine who amazes you with a stunning delineation of her difficult role.

Shyama Prasad finds an able ally in cameraman Azhagappan in the difficult task of exploring human relationships and emotional conflicts. The locales confined mostly to interiors of flats make it difficult for the cinematographer to compose scenes. But, Azhagappan has come up with frames of such brooding brilliance that touch a responsive chord among the viewers.

As for the story, Nathan (Mammootty) is a self-styled economist who is an alcoholic and womanizer to boot. Not for him any emotional bonding and enduring relationships. For Nathan, woman is an object of sexual gratification to be discarded after use. The man maintains such a relationship with a call girl Bella (surprisingly well enacted by comely Ramya Krishnan).

But things change for the economist once he runs into Deepti (Meera Jasmine) who stays in the same flat as Nathan along with her unemployed husband Jayakumar (Narain). One day, Nathan comes across Deepti who has no money to treat her ailing child. Nathan helps her. The beauty of Deepti attracts him and the relationship ends in bed in no time.

It opens up a new world for Deepti. She feels drawn to Nathan and manages to persuade him to get her husband a decent job. True, she is wracked by a sense of guilt at times. But the relationship endures, although Nathan develops no emotional intimacy with her.

The climax may outrage the traditionalists. But it is best left unsaid for the serious students to savour it on the big screen.

Ouseppachan’s background score and songs also match the somber mood of the movie.

All in all, ‘Ore Kadal’ leaves you disturbed. It is certainly not a film for the ordinary movie buff looking for entertainment. It is unlikely to be a success at the box office either. But ‘Ore Kadal’ is a quality, must-watch film for all those who value good cinema.

Rating: ***

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