have you ever had a addiction, it doesn’t need to be anything bad, it could be as simple as a addiction to games, books, movies (ya i have this). then this movie could resonate with you. A Malayalam movie about a satirical representation of politics and addtiction to cigarettes.

Theevandi in Malayalam refers to Train engine of old that used to run on coal, and thus produces smoke and fire, therefore Thee = fire and Vandi = vehicle. this is the nickname of our protagonist Bineesh (Tovino Thomas) who is a smoker, a name he got because he got caught by police by mistake as a robber only because he snuck out of his house to smoke a cigg. when he and his girlfriend since childhood Devi (Samyuktha Menon) finally decided to marry she puts a condition to him that he should stop smoking. which he accepts early on but he could control his vice. So much so at on incident he forgot the engagement necklace so the brought it later but this time so that he doesn’t forget he kept it inside his cigarette packet, this was the last straw for and her family who ask for the engagement to be broken and that he shouldn’t even think of coming back until he stops smoking. this leads to him taking on the challenge only after he himself realises his own inability to stop, his friends and colleagues help him as a bet is place on the next seat of the constituency in the next election to brother in law if he stops smoking till then, and the one to stand in his way is his girlfriends father Madhu (Suraaj Venjarammoodu)

the movie is a good representation of addiction, the fact that we see our characters demise and indulgence because of that on vice is nicely portrayed, we see him in his highs and lows of addiction and can relate to the emotions whether or not you are a fellow smoker that feeling of inability to let go of your weakness is a natural trait we humans bare, and it takes a huge awaking for us to allows that to happen.

there is this one scene i really admired is that after the ultimatum is given to Bineesh by Devi about his smoking that he is sitting in his room on a desk trying to light a cigarette and being unable to do so because of is love for her and throwing the cigarette out of the window only to feel the vice kick in and he frantically searches for used buds in ash tray to get any one that is even bit left and lights it and takes a deep puff, the audience and he himself realises his own condition has passed no return and with every puff he takes the look of guilt falls on him.

a movie i would recommend just of its simple concept and laughs rating of 6/10

41 movies down………….459 to go

see you soon

Pinne kaanam (malayali goodbye)