Natturajavu: Mohanlal plays a Good Samaritan 25th Oct 2004
15.15 IST
By P. Sreekumaran
It may not be raking it in like superstar Mohanlal's earlier films like Chitram, Narasimham and Rajavinte Magan. But Natturajavu is no unmitigating disaster at the box office either.
It is a typical Mohanlal movie replete with action, drama and melodrama. Old wine in new bottle, you might say. But what redeems the film is an outstanding performance by the superstar. The otherwise worn-out formula gets a new lease of life as it were with Mohanlal playing the protagonist with a verve and vitality matching his earlier movies.
In the movie Mohanlal plays a Good Samaritan named Pulikkattil Charlie who is tries to live down the bitter legacy handed down by his villainous father.
The screenplay by T.A. Shaheed is adequate. But the piece de resistance of the family entertainer is the fag end of the film in which the director packs a powerful punch. Mohanlal rises to great heights of histrionics, helped by long and punchy dialogues.
The other performances worth mentioning are of Ramraj as Charlie’s father and Ranjith as Karnan. Tamil actress Meena provides the emotional support to Charlie. Nayantara makes a delightful cameo as the sister.