Tag: Tovino Thomas

Maari 2 (2018)

around a year or two back i had watched a film the prequel to the one i m reviewing here called Maari a Tamil Action comedy masala film, which was more entertaining than i thought. packed with one-liners action sequences and cliques beats yet the whole film gets carried by the charisma of the lead Dhanush. the small local don who’s antics and fight against the cops was the basic premise.

all in all it was a good one-time watch movie that had no reason for sequel, and then i found this Maari 2, it has a sequel so might as well jump into it. it was a pleasant watch a similar one time watch like its predecessor yet, i will cut to the chase i didn’t like it.

even though the film wasn’t my taste, the Don look was really good imo.

the film had its moments but lacks the charm and charisma the 1st had though Dhanush does bring it up a watchable amount. this film also takes a much or heart-felt and emotional approach compared to the 1st one. and that is my main issue with the film this shift felt brought drastic changes to the character that was there initially and changed the tone of the film. whereas the 1st one was more light-hearted and funny, the second feels like imitating the comedy tone while being mediocre.

the film overall feels like a script that could work by itself but got pasted with the name Maari to increase the sale of tickets, which to me is the worst manner of sequel making as it disrespects the initial movie. my advice to the future viewers is not to watch this one especially you liked the !st part.

84 movies down……….416 to go

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Piriyavitai (Tamil goodbye)

Lucifer (2019)

the highest grossing Malayalam movie, it was such a big deal there where ads for its premiere on t.v. on bill boards, such a big thing that its getting a sequel, such a big thing that the most asked question to me when i returned to my hometown was not how was i but whether i had seen it and i hadn’t oh the uproar my cousins made hearing that. so finally i was made to sit down and watch it along with my cousins all younger than me, all eyeing my reactions to scenes all long as if seeing me undergo a rite of passage. i saw the movie and passed the rite, and am here to speak my mind about it.

so how was it you ask, it was good or better term is entertaining just what the doctor orders when the patient lacks Masala in life. Containing action, drama, suspense, twists, backstory, big reveals and lots more. this itself is the films boon and curse, covering all the basis to appease all parties while effectively just reducing the depth of a lot of the story line. By adding all these elements and subplots the movie gives off a feel of trying to hard, i might be bit hard on the movie but its only because it was such a big thing, i got hyped up a bit to much.

lets talk about casting as in a star studded film, of course there is the main man Mohanlal playing the enigmatic Stephen Nedumbally whose true reveal is just a hype up for the sequel a trend a lot of movies doing nowadays just hyping people for the sequel. for those who have watched bollywood movies might spot that there is an bollywood actor in this malayalam movie, Vivek Oberoi playing Bobby the antagonist of the movie, and i might say he played it well. this is also the first directorial debut of one of my early favourite malayam actors Prithviraj Sukumaran, and i have to say in the movie he does do a good job it is that i like his action scenes more than his overall product.

Mohanlal and Vivek Oberoi

now let me talk about my favourite scene from the movie now this might not be a highly classy or a great scene in fact its just my favourite for the fact that this scene gave a look into how this movie had a super interesting political drama undertone to it that wasn’t explored by the director because of the of exposed action genre. the scene happens under a bridge were two opposing party members are conversing, one of them a member of Stephan’s party has been a double agent as they converse and the element of him being exposed comes to light, the one he was talking with offers him a cigarette and takes out a gun, telling him how stupid he was to believe only he could be a only spy in this underbelly of politics, ending the scene with a gunshot.

there were many such scenes that enticed me but they came in far and apart, as the movie has a lot of the subplot that does help the story in their own way but at same time never truly give resolution to themselves. clouding the story up, yet just like i began this monologue, this is a masala film with all the elements in it just enough that you would enjoy and can hardly complain.

62 movies down……………….438 to go

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Pinne kaanam (malayali goodbye)

Ente Ummante Peru (2018)

a 2018 Mollywood movie about a boy looking for his biological mother to have a family after his father’s death. Ente Ummante Peru means ‘My Mother’s Name’ in Malayalam.

the story starts with a death, that of Hameed’s father, who was the only family Hameed (
Tovino Thomas) had ever known to alleviate his sadness his fathers close friends suggested to have him get married. this didn’t go as planned as the women’s family rejected his proposal on the basis that he was an orphan and had on one as a family on his side. this propellers Hameed and his best bud Beeran (Hareesh Kanaran) to go on a quest to find his biological mother, finding a clue that his father had two wives in his life, to whom he wanted his fortune to be shared. on his quest he meets the 1st wife who turns out not to be the one, but Hameed carries on only to finally find the 2nd wife Aisha (Urvashi) who says she is his mother, but things dont seem to be all that alright with it. As another possible lead pops up this on will take Hameed to Lucknow to find the truth.

Tovino Thomas‘s and Urvashi‘s relationship and dynamics is the main crux of the story, it has it moments so relate-able that made me nostalgic, but certain points went on for long to fell dragged too. Hareesh Kanaran who acts the best friend in the story and is also the comic relief performs his duty nicely.

the movies biggest draw back for me was the dragged pace the film has, it felt to me some scenes were done with pure intentions but poor execution. overall the movie is a sweet movie trying to showcases not all the time family needs to be what we relate by definitions.

53 movie down………447 to go.

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Pinne kaanam (malayali goodbye)

Theevandi (2018)

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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

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Pinne kaanam (malayali goodbye)