Paleri Manikyam

Based on the first recorded murder case in Kerala, comes a film starring Mammooty that tries to evoke his days as super sleuth in the CBI Diary Kurippu series. Here though he is just a private eye who returns to his native village of Paleri and tries to recreate the mysterious circumstances of the death of the sultry Manikyam (Mythili) fifty two years after the event. Using some nifty film making techniques, director Renjith splices the present day Mamooty in to the past to act as a guide to the events. Research and a heavy dose of intuition are the weapons used to unravel this mystery. The production quality is high and the cinematography is breath taking making this a slick well thought out film though the dose of intuition could have been curtailed.

Rating: * * +

Passenger

What happens when a common man is presented with a complex situation. One fraught with peril, danger and of no personal gain. Most men would walk away without feeling a tiny prick to their conscience. Then there are those who like to sleep undisturbed at night. The situation here is a tad improbable but then again in today's world it is definitely a possibility.

Sathyanathan (Srinivasan) is one of those regular train travelers you would have seen if you have ever taken a train to Ernakulam. Riding the train every working day between the "suburbs" of Cochin to the city for work. His trips are usually filled with card games, gossip and gentle abuse. However, one fateful night he finds himself embroiled in a situation that involves the media, politics and the plight of the common people. A refreshing throwback to the days when mainstream Malayalam cinema ruled the roost.

Ranjith Sankar has definitely burst on to the scene with this venture. No doubt having Srinivasan and Dilip at the helm and Nedumudi Venu as support helped but the script and direction is what carried the film through.

Rating: * * *

Varavelppu

A walk down the Mallu film lane of the 80s with a classic from Sathyan Anthikad and Sreenivasan. Like many films from that era it is a comedy drama infused with a streak of realism. Murali (Mohanlal) returns to his hometown after seven years in the gulf. His relatives clamor for his attention and money to invest in their nefarious schemes. But he takes matters in his own hands and buys a rural bus route along with a vehicle. What follows highlights the plight of most small business owners in the communist state of Kerala. Issues with government officials, workers and union leaders bring Murali to his knees in frustration. A situation that has not changed even today!

Rating: * * *

Arabikatha

Mukundan's (Sreenivasan) communist fervor and admiration for Fidel Castro is so strong that he is known as Cuba Mukundan in Chemmanur, Kerala. But his unyielding socialist philosophy does not sit well with some of the higher ups in the party. So they frame his father (Nedumudi Venu) for embezzling party funds and Mukundan is forced to work in Dubai to recoup the losses. A film that shows you the real face of the Kerala communist party and the plight of Keralites working in the Middle East.

Rating: * *

Katha Parayumbol

Balan (Srinivasan) runs a small barber shop in a small town in Kerala. If you have ever had an hair cut in Kerala during the 80s you will identify with Balan's shop. A small rugged place with a few jobless hangers-on always in place. He struggles to make ends meet with this old style saloon. His hopes of scoring a loan to upgrade his shop are slowly sinking. It is in this scenario that his childhood friend Prakash Raj (Mammootty) arrives on the scene. Balan soon finds himself being the center of attraction. Everyone including his family trip over themselves in trying to get into his good books in hope of some face time with Prakash Raj. The consequences of these unwanted overtures puts Balan in hilarious scenarios.

What attracted me to the film was the fact that story, screenplay and dialogue were all by Srinivasan. He did not disappoint and nor did he satisfy my expectations as I could faintly hear the echo of an unacknowledged short story from yesteryear. The movie is a far cry from Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala and Vadakkunokkiyantram but yet worth a viewing.

Rating: * *