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'Vadakkumnathan' Refreshing

By P. Sreekumaran
Film critic, ApunKaChoice.Com

Malayalam megastar Mohanlal has regained his winning touch. It started this year with the success of Blessy-directed ‘Tanmatra’. Lal reinforced the trend with Rasathantram .

Now, ‘Vadakkumnathan’, his third film of the year, has also struck a responsive chord among the Malayalai audience.

The

best thing about ‘Vadakkumnathan’ is that it represents a refreshing change from the run-of-the-mill films that have proliferated of late in Mollywood.

For bringing in this whiff of fresh air, director Shajoon Kariyal and lyricist Girish Putthencheri -- Girish incidentally makes his debut as a scriptwriter with ‘Vadakkumnathan’ -- must also share the praise along with Mohanlal.

A major ingredient of the success of ‘Vadakkumnathan’ is also the melodious music composed by late Raveendran. It was his swan song. The songs have already become extremely popular among the Keralites. Special mention must be made of "Kalabham Tharaam, Gange and Oru Kili Pattu". Rarely has a film had so many haunting numbers. It is sad that the great composer is no more.

Bharath Pisharody (brilliantly essayed by Mohanlal) is a Sanskrit professor who is held in high esteem by one and all. Pisharody is in love with his cousin Meera (Padmapriya). Then tragedy strikes with Pisharody disappearing on his wedding day. Meera and her father (Murali) are beside themselves with grief.

What happens to Pisharody? The remainder of the film deals with how he is traced and brought back.

While his friends and family members think that Pisharody is a drug-addict, actually the man is depressed and mentally disturbed. It was his brother (Biju Menon) who stumbles on the fact that Pisharody is mentally ill. The papers relating to his treatment, found in his suitcase, were the give-away.

Mohanlal once again proves that when it comes to enacting family-oriented roles, few can excel him. Pisharody's depression, mental imbalance and utter helplessness have all been brought out with great understanding and empathy by the mega star. You could be excused if you see shades of the ‘Tanmatra’ character, played by Mohanlal. Even the romantic scenes have been lifted by Mohanlal's acting prowess. Padmapriya rises to the occasion as Pisharody's lover. It is one of her best and nuanced performances since Kazhcha .

Kavya Madhavan is competent as Pisharody’s sister. Others in the cast like Murali, Kaviyoor Ponnamma (Pisharody's mother), Biju Menon (brother) and Babu Namboothiri give a good account of themselves, contributing to the qualitative excellence of the film.

Mention must also be made of cameraman S. Kumar, who has picturised the songs with eye-catching excellence.

‘Vadakkumnathan’ is no unmixed blessing, however. It could have been a better film with a spot of intelligent editing.

On the whole, ‘Vadakkumnathan’ is an out and out family movie. That cannot be said about many of the Malayalam films coming out these days.

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