Ore Kadal

Every person is an island in some ways. The amount of water surrounding the land mass is what makes an individual. Swimming in a sea of poverty and despair, housewife Deepthi (Meera Jasmine) finds herself drawn to an isolated man, Nathan (Mammootty), who knows not how to love. The question she is faced with is if one can swim to all islands or are there some that always appear on the horizon.

The film based on Sunil Gangopadhyay’s novel, "Heerak Deepthi" has Shyamaprasad behind the lens. The man in my opinion is one of the few remaining shining lights in the Kerala film industry. Though it does help to have a brilliant cast and outstanding script but it takes a genius to make it all come together seamlessly.

Rating: * * * *

Achuvinte Amma

Achu's (Meera Jasmine) world is dominated in a good way by her enterprising single mother (Urvashi). The film offers a small portal into the rare world of a single mother in Kerala. The camera lens tends to focus more on the mother and daughter relationship rather the social pressures a single mother faces in India. But in spite of the restricted arc, the manner in which the director explores their relationship calls for very good viewing.

Rating: * * +

Rasathantharam

Mohanlal dons a realistic throwback role for a change in this film. He plays a simple down to Earth carpenter, Prem, who does not throw villians to moon after spouting idiotic dialogues. He leads an idyllic life with his father (Kodiyetam Gopi) which is rudely shaken by a wave of sympathy and pity for a servant girl, Kanmani (Meera Jasmine). Kanmani is practically a slave in a household and her sorry plight moves Prem to help her out. But we all know that most people are punished for their kindness though it is with a dose of cunning humor in this case. The only gripe I have with the film which was moving down a lighthearted path is the rude infusion of melodrama and sentiment.

It is heartening to see that an albeit overweight Mohanlal can still act. Meera Jasmine is very impressive and I hope to see more of her. Kodiyetam Gopi too has done a stunning job in spite of the stroke that has affected his left side. Malayalam cinema needs more films of this nature to take it back to its glory days.

Rating: * * +