Most Mallus are familiar with the tale of the cousins Chandu (Mammootty) and Aaromal Chekavar (Suresh Gopi) who are famous warriors from North Kerala. Legend says that Chandu jealous of Aaromal skill and wealth, betrayed him as a second, in a fight where he had metal rivets in a sword replaced with wooden ones. M.T. Vasudevan Nair, the genius he is, took this premise and turned it on its head. He potrays Chandu as a misunderstood soul who had life itself conspiring against him.
Mamootty dominates the movie with his brilliant portrayal of Chandu which won him a National Award. Madhavi is stunning as Unniyarcha. But it is Captain Raju as "Aana mayaki" Aringodar who in my opinion that steals the show. So if you can ignore the poorly choreographed Kalarippayattu sequences, you are in for a epic masterpiece.
Rating: * * * *
