'Ayyappanum Koshiyum'
A nice movie is engaging; a well directed movie makes you feel the same emotion along with the characters...but a great movie, along with those, just lingers on...even after days, months, you remember the scene, the idea, the characters vividly...(and at least your own impression of the movie is etched in your memory for years.) Ayyappanum Koshiyum was one such after a while. The last one was 'Kaakka muttai'!!
Yes, the recent movie, starring the same hero Prithvi Raj, driving license and this one, both deal with an ego clash that start from a small mistake/misunderstanding but take up the whole movie.
I was wondering, then, what makes AK stand out. Didn't 'driving license' have a neat story line in fact, just sticking to what's needed to the story, no digressions, yet engaging, actually more nail biting than AK,funny dialogues, the same smart hero? Starting from that very comparison, below are
What stood out and made it just adorable to me:
1. The depth and detail - 'Attappadi' setting
When I was just about to think why attappadi, why mix of so many characters, why the different ideals of liberation, maoism etc. for the theme? etc. (why so much paraphernalia to present the same theme as driving license) I realized how amazingly it builds the character of the protagonists rather, every role in the movie is characterized with such depth, so clearly and precisely that each one seems so important and essential to the story!!
2. So real that makes it surreal.
The village and the characters are so real that it makes you feel as if you are there, know all of them, reading through their minds...
you know Kannamma, Kurien John, CI Satheesh, Sujith, Faizal, Jessy, Kuttamani, the stoen thief, Kumarettan, Joby, Ummen , Ruby , advocate all...
It seems the one who plays Biju Menon's wife's mom is Nanjamma, an actual tribal woman from Attappadi and is the one who has also sung the song 'Kalakattha'.
3. Music: And this song should be the highlight of the movie
It is the real raw voice of the native Attapaadi singer . Kudos to the music director for packaging it so beautifully - the bgm has no jarring instruments; probably all country instruments were used - the rhythm touches your heart and gives an instant energy. p.s. Dont miss the warm dialogue between Prithvi Raj (his awesome voice) and Nanjamma's innocent laughter in response, at the end of this video- you feel like giving her a hug.
Love all the songs , esp. the one that Prithvi Raj and Biju Menon have sung and also the pallavi of ariyaathariyaatha....
4. Of course Biju Menon and Prithvi Raj - Used to be a die hard fan of Biju Menon and to see him back in this awesome role ..aww that 'nice guy ' smile, the composure, the fights, the jump on to the jeep ....and Prithvi Raj, super talented, as always awesome voice, flawless dialogue delivery. Every scene displays his amazing talent...eg. when he puts up this brave mask but asks for lift or his reaction when his driver Kumarettan says Biju Menon is all set to kill etc ...wow!! Wonder how many days he took to grown his loong, thick beard!!
5. What a strong character ! Kannamma. Apt casting too. See the contrast , Kannamma is a poor villager but such a strong character with deep ideals, independence, just whose words scare this macho hero away and make him stagger but there is Ruby the affluent but is so helpless in her own home !! And how nicely it was portrayed...this was the first thing that struck me in the movie.
6. The police camaraderie - its so cute to watch all the characters ..CI Satheesh, Faizal, Jessy how they stand up for each other. It was a change from the usual conspiracies, manipulation, power fight and the female shown as subject to sexual victimization.
7. The central theme of how the safety of 'affluence and influence' net instigates all the crime in the world!! Isn't that so true? The good and their sincere work is taken for granted!!!
8. Feeding the ego - the role of Kurien John by Ranjith makes you feel so irritated but that again is so real and convincing...it is often these ego boosters that instigate most of the crime also....daring somebody to be stupid and reckless....
9. The good Samaritan act - the tip by CI Satheesh about the 'hand trap' in the end that finally makes them step back and think..while they both know neither of them is really 'bad' its just the rage and ego to not give up...
10. Crushing down the house, burning down the jeep seemed a little too much but that is how far rage can get you and the director had kind of justified giving the ' kummatti ' background etc....and that he needs to be tamed and the best part is Koshy just understands that so well!!
#Reposted from my Facebook post
#Reposted from my Facebook post
