Neelathamara

Many a mallu boy has dreamed of a beautiful young woman showing up as the household help and falling to his wiles. Typically the situation ends badly with the woman getting screwed over and having to move on with a wad of cash and bad memories. One would think that such a story would be crass and without enough nuance to be made in to a film. That his where the genius of M. T. Vasudevan Nair rears its head as he weaves this simple tale in to a masterpiece. Well almost... he enters an avenue that could have been explored so much more but he decides it is a dead end without walking its entire length. And yet the film has a grace and poignancy to it that is not easily achievable.

Rating: * * +

Thazhvaram

A lone man, Balan (Mohanlal) makes his way to a isolated hillside town. It is evident that he is out for revenge but his intent is a little hesitant and reason quite obvious. There is very little else to mention about the film. A very simple story but its in the telling that makes you want to forget the world and lose yourself in this movie. Having a very hot Sumalatha gracing every frame also helps. A film made during the heyday of Bharathan, M.T. Vasudevan Nair and Mohanlal.

Rating: * * *

Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha

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: * * * *