Adaminte Makan Abu (Celebration of Malayalam Cinema Today)

Adaminte Makan Abu (Celebration of   Malayalam Cinema Today)
Abu, Son of Adam

Adaminte Makan Abu

India/2011/Colour/101’/Malayalam

Direction, Screenplay: Salim Ahmed

Synopsis:

Abu and Aisumma are aging Muslim couple. Their aspiration is to go for Hajj and they make many sacrifices to achieve this aim. Abu approaches a Travel agent who tries to help them. Their struggle to make enough money for the trip is filled with obstacles. They sell everything they have, even the jackfruit tree in front of their house. But the tree is hollow inside. The timber merchant who bought the tree is prepared to give him the money, though it is a loss for him. Abu, being a true Muslim, wants to go for Hajj only according to all diktats of Islam. So, he turns down the offer. Good-natured people try to help him, but since this is against the accepted practices of the religion, he refuses to take them. Can they be able to go for Hajj? If yes, where will they get the money? Or will they avoid the journey?

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Adaminte Makan Abu (Malayalam: ആദാമിന്റെ മകൻ അബു, English: Abu, Son of Adam) is a 2011 Indian drama film written, directed and co-produced by Salim Ahamed in his debut film. It stars Salim Kumar and Zarina Wahab in the lead roles along with Mukesh, Nedumudi Venu, Kalabhavan Mani, andSuraj Venjarammoodu in other supporting roles. The cinematography was handled by Madhu Ambat, and the film was edited by Vijay Shankar. The film features songs composed by Ramesh Narayan, and the score is by Isaac Thomas Kottukapally.

The film tells the story of a poor attar (a kind of perfume) seller Abu (Salim Kumar) whose only remaining wish in life is the Hajj pilgrimage, which he strives hard to fulfill, and at the verge of the fulfillment, he opts out when he fears that the means is not fully legitimate. Development on the film began roughly a decade before the film was released. The film was shot digitally over one month beginning on 7 November 2010. Thrissur and Kozhikode inKerala, India were the major filming locales.

Distributed by Laughing Villa, a distribution company owned by Salim Kumar, and Allens Media, Adaminte Makan Abu released in theatres on 24 June 2011. It received wide critical acclaim, with numerous praises for its story, direction, cast, cinematography, and score. It received honours for its music, cinematography and writing, as well as for Salim Kumar's performance. At the 58th National Film Awards, the 2010 awards for the best in Indian cinema, it earned four major national awards: for Best Film, Best Actor (Kumar), Best Cinematography and Best Background Score. It performed similarly at the Kerala State Film Awards, where it won the awards for Best Film, Best Actor, Best Screenplay and Best Background Music. The film has been chosen as India's official entry to be considered for nomination in the Best Foreign Film category for the 84th Academy Awards

Adaminte Makan Abu Trailer 

Traffic(Celebration of Malayalam Cinema Today)

Traffic India/2011/Colour/35mm//116’/Malayalam Direction: Rajesh Pillai Synopsis Sidharth Shankar is a famous film actor whose daughter is seriously ill. On September 16, he is getting ready for the release of his new film. On the same day, Traffic Constable Sudevan joins back on duty, after being suspended from service for taking bribes. The day is special for Dr. Abel who is celebrating his first wedding anniversary. Raihan, an aspiring television journalist, is starting his first job with an interview with Sidharth Shankar the very same day. But at a crowded traffic junction in Kochi, Raihan and Rajeev, travelling in a bike is fatally hit by a speeding car. Raihan goes into a comma and is declared brain dead although he is kept alive using ventilator. Meanwhile, Siddharth’s ailing daughter’s condition becomes worse and she urgently needs a heart transplant. Raihan’s parents agree to donate his heart. There begins the breath taking journey of Sudevan, Dr. Abel and Rajeev to hand over Raihan’s heart to Sidharth’s daughter in Palakkadu, about 150 KM away from Kochi. Rivew from http://www.nowrunning.com Rajesh Pillai's Traffic is a brutally brilliant film in which he lends color to coincidence and unveils before us a cogitation on the dynamics of chance. A strikingly crafted film that is raw and genuine, it crawls right under your skin and stays there. It all takes place on the 16th of September, when a few men and women, going on with their distinct lives in diverse worlds, find their paths crossing each other at a traffic island. Rehan (Vineeth Sreenivasan) is all excited about joining Indiavision as a journalist and sets out with his best friend Rajeev (Asif Ali). Aditi (Sandhya), getting over a divorce, sees him off and looks forward to something more. Dr. Abel (Kunchacko Boban) has plans to surprise his wife Shwetha (Remya Nambeesan) with a brand new car on their wedding anniversary. Sudevan (Sreenivasan) is back at work as a police constable, after a brief stint of suspension for having accepted bribes. Superstar Siddharth (Rahman) has a new release on the day, while his wife (Lena) is worried about their young daughter's failing health. Miriam (Roma), Manager at an FM Radio station gets an alarming text message on her mobile. And all this in a matter of twelve hours on the same day. Bobby and Sanjay's script is one in which there has been a close scrutiny of all possible leak cracks, and in which almost all of them have been filled shut. Hence the several events that take place in the film simultaneously hold together amazingly well, and there is hardly a moment in the film where your focus drops. This is quite a feat, since it involves an adept juggling between emotions aplenty, some outstanding twists, a few mind boggling thrills and some well-kept suspense. The bottom-line is that Traffic could easily boast to have one of the best scripts written in Malayalam in recent times. The least claustrophobic of men would lean out of the car window for a gulp of fresh air at the traffic junction when the traffic grinds to a halt, where a seemingly endless line of automobiles have streamed in from all around. The horns honking behind, over and around, and an air of impatience that hangs like a smog above whipping up a whirlpool of edginess that disperses as the lights change color, and the drive back to a hazy life where sometimes it gets as cluttered as beneath a traffic signal - Rajesh Pillai's film digs deeps down into those coarse and at times savage feelings that bond together humans in complex webs of love, passion, grief and deceit. A couple of aerial shots of the hectic traffic on a sweltering day make it assume serpentine proportions, as it slithers around forebodingly threatening to gulp down the tiny vehicles that make it up. The visual panache that is maintained throughout is courtesy some terrific cinematography by Shyju Khalid and some real tight editing by Mahesh Narayanan. It's a mammoth star cast in Traffic, and rarely does a film offer almost all its actors what they are truly capable of. The 'moments' are there for everyone, and they impress us for a while, and gracefully make way for another to occupy center stage. No star charisma at work here; just plain acting at its very natural best. Among the men, I was enamored by Kunchacko Boban's performance and Asif Ali is quite impressive as well. Lena proves beyond doubt what an amazing actor she is, while Sandhya accentuates our belief in her. All those apprehensions as to whether Traffic has been inspired by the Paul Haggis directed Oscar Winner 'Crash' or the renowned Mexican neo-noir film Amores Perros can now be brushed aside. The only semblance between Traffic and the other two films is that it involves an accident. Nothing more, nothing less. After a false start a few years back, the signal has turned a smashing green for the director of Traffic. Zoom ahead, Rajesh! We're already eager to see what you have in store for us next. t

Sankaranum Mohananum (Celebration of Malayalam Cinema Today)

Sankaranum Mohananum- The Shadow and Light

India/2011/Colour/110’/Malayalam

Direction, Screenplay: T.V. Chandran

Synopsis

This is a film about the parallel journeys of two brothers – Sankaran and Mohanakrishnan. While one journey is posthumous, the other is through the all-too-real world of human relationships and dreams. Sankaran, a middle-aged school teacher, after long years of celibacy, decides to marry a young girl. Mohanakrishnan, his younger brother who lives in the city and is estranged from his wife, comes for the wedding. The morning after the wedding, Sankaran is bitten by a snake and dies. The narrative takes a sudden turn from this tragic moment when Sankaran appears before Mohanan, pleading with him to listen to him and his woes.

Sankaranum Mohananum Trailer

Pranchiyettan and the Saint (Celebration of Malayalam Cinema Today)

Pranchiyettan and the Saint

India/2010/35mm/Colour/80’/Malayalam

Direction, Production, Screenplay: Ranjith

Chirammal Enashu Francis, a.k.a. Pranchiyettan, is a successful businessman based in Thrissur. He is a devotee of Saint Francis of Assisi and often has imaginary conversations with the saint. His ancestors were rice traders, but he has grown beyond the small rice shop to expand his business into jewellery, real estate, finance, shopping complexes and lot more. Even with his successful and wealthy life, he is unhappy with his name and wants to become a celebrity. He is called Ari (“rice”) Pranchi by everybody, citing his ancestors’ business. He wants to change his image from Ari Pranchi to something great and is ready to spend any amount of money for it. The film deals with how Pranchi tries to get a good name and what changes that brings to his life.

Paresh C Palicha reviews Pranchiyettan and the Saint

Once in a while along comes a movie that makes your spirits soar and helps you forget the mediocrity that this medium often serves. That is does it without seeking recourse to any manipulative tools, that we are all too familiar with, makes is even more remarkable. It solely depends on unalloyed storytelling skills.

Director Ranjith's latest offering Pranchiyettan and the Saint, starring Mammootty, is one such effort where the viewer is drawn into the story to experience the sheer joy of it. This film just tells the story of a rich but uncouth simpleton, C. Francis -- popularly known as Pranchiyettan. As his family has been into rice business, he is also known by a nickname Aripranchi, and this pains him.

So, he makes serious efforts to get rid of the nickname -- and his efforts include diversifying into other businesses and supporting worthy charitable causes. But, as fate would have it, the nickname that has troubled him since school days, never leaves him.

Even the efforts that he makes are hilarious: one of them is starting a jewellery shop, contesting the elections for the president-ship of an aristocratic cultural club of the city, and even buying a Padmasri award for himself.

The brain behind all these efforts is his friend Vasu Menon (Innocent).

The story takes a turn when he meets  a female artist by the name of Padmasri (Priyamani) who wants Pranchi to inaugurate her painting exhibition, the proceeds of which are to go to charity. His name has been suggested to her by his childhood flame Omana (Kushboo). He had lost Omana to his arch rival Jose (Siddique), who is a reputed doctor now.

What works for the narrative of this film is the simple humour, which is continued till the fag end of the film. Initially Mammootty is ably supported by Innocent and Tini Tom in the comedic portions of the film. In the latter half the responsibility falls on Priyamani to support him.

Another twist that gives some depth to the story is when Pranchi takes the responsibility of a wayward teenager Pauli (Master Ganapathi) to help him clear his tenth class board exams at the behest of his school principal, played by Sivaji Guruvayur.

The film depends heavily on Mammootty's  histrionic skills to be convincing and it works.  It is this effortless and natural performance that gives Pranchiyettan the lifeblood.

Mammootty as an actor has resorted to slapstick comedy to prove his credentials too, but in this film it is quite different -- the middle aged character that he plays here possesses a natural sense of humour and does not require any help in the form of slapstick situations.

Among the  supporting cast, Innocent gives ample support to Mammootty in keeping our attention rivetted to the screen. It has been a long time since he has portrayed such a character, but here he gets a chance to bring back the memories of vintage Innocent that we fondly remember.

Priyamani may not have much screen time for a leading lady but her performance will remain etched in viewers' memory. 

On the whole, the success of Pranchiyettan and the Saint rests on the shoulders of writer director Ranjith who gives a meaty story to actors to dig their teeth into. It is the near flawless script and direction that give  this simple and straight forward narrative multiple dimensions.

PRANCHIYETTAN and the Saint Mammootty | PROMO TRAILER

Pakarnattam (Celebration of Malayalam Cinema Today)

Celebration of   Malayalam Cinema Today


Pakarnnattam

Language: Malayalam

Release Year: 2011

Cast: Jayaram, Sabitha Jayaraj 


This film would have Jayaram and Jayaraj's wife Sabitha Jayaraj in the lead roles.Jayaram as  Thomas, an environmentalist who leads a war against Endosulfan. Jayaraj to discuss the Endosulfan menace in 'Pakarnnattam'

PAKARNNATTAM Movie Trailer

Khaaddama/Expatriate House Maid(Celebration of Malayalam Cinema Today)

(Celebration of   Malayalam Cinema Today)

Directed by	Kamal
Produced by	P. V. Pradeep
Screenplay by	K. Girishkumar Kamal
Story by	K. U. Iqbal
Starring	Kavya Madhavan Sreenivasan Biju Menon K. P. A. C. Lalitha Sukumari Suraj Venjaramood Lena Jaffer Idukki Murali Gopy Manu Jose
Music by	Background score: M. Jayachandran Songs: Bennet Veetraag Lyrics: Rafeeque Ahammed
Cinematography	Manoj Pillai
Editing by	K. Rajagopal
Studio	Anitha Productions
Distributed by	Murali Films
Release date(s)	February 4, 2011 [1]
Country	India
Language	Malayalam

Khaddama (Malayalam: ഗദ്ദാമ, Arabic: خدامة‎, English translation: Housemaid[2]) is a 2011Malayalam drama film co–written and directed by Kamal. It stars Kavya Madhavan in the title role and was produced by P. V. Pradeep under thebanner of Anitha Productions. Cinematography is by Manoj Pillai and the filmwas edited by K. Rajagopal. The film features songs composed byBennet Veetraag and the background music isby M. Jayachandran.The title of the film is a colloquial version of the Arabic word Khadima (Arabic: خادمة‎ "servant"). The film narrates thestory of some immigrants in the Gulf through the life of a housemaid in Saudi Arabia. It is scripted by K. Girishkumarand Kamal and the story is based on a feature by K. U. Iqbal, publishedin Bhashaposhini, depicting the real–life incidents of a Kerala–born housemaid in Arabia.Principal photography for the film began in October 2010 and took place mainlyin the Middle East. After a special screening in the last week of January, the film madeits theatrical debut in Kerala on 4 February 2011. The film's release wasbanned across the Middle East.[3]

REVIEW FROM 

http://www.indiaglitz.com

2011 has started with a decent note with 'Traffic' in Mollywood. Now for the month of February, it's 'Gaddama'. Senior director Kamal's latest offering is a sensitive saga about the suffering inflicted on Indian women who are working in the Middle East as domestic servants. A disturbing premise, which makes you remove those blinkers and experience the truth, 'Ghaddama' remains as a purposeful and powerful take on the lives of expatriates in the Arabian Gulf. Kamal has utilised all his experience to tell a real story of suffering with the intensity that is demanded by the script.

The movie has Kavya as Ashwathy, who takes a chance of working in Saudi Arabia due to the untimely death of her husband Radhakrishnan, who was a J C B driver. She has to help her own and her husband's family to tide over their deep financial difficulties. With the help of Usman (Suraj Venjaramoodu, this time in a well knitted role), her husband's friend, she fetches a job in a household where Usman is working as a driver. The movie then follows the physical and mental abuses that Ashwathy faces in the house of her sponsor. She also finds that she is not a lone case as the Ghaddama's (domestic servants) are all subjected to similar kind of treatment in the entire middle east. And her attempt to run off from the house results in her being charged for robbing jewellery from her sponsor's house.                       

Though the story seems like a one dimensional look into the problem, the treatment of interspersing Ashwathy's fate in Gulf  with the character of Good Samaritan social worker Razaaq Thottekad (played by Sreenivasan), who is in search of this missing Gaddhama, manages to keep us interested along much of the narratives. You do relate to the characters since you've either heard or watched tales of domestic abuse and most of the time the corporeal abuse that Aswathy is subjected to, shatter your heart.

Kavya Madhavan, who plays a meaty role of one who continues to take the beatings silently on a foreign land, takes much of the chances and emerges with winning performances. She displays the helplessness and pain that this character demands with gusto. But as she is asked to maintain a distraught, puzzled face much of the time; she has to limit herself from displaying variety of emotions. Sreenivasan once again is in his elements with sharp thoughtful dialogues. Mohanakrishnan, Biju menon, Lena and plenty of freshers match pretty well with their characters. The actress who plays the Indonesian servant also makes a commendable act.

The movie takes some time to make a safe landing and leisurely conventional pacing may not interest the new generation audience, but regular Kamal fans may not find this without interest.  Manoj Pillai's camera work, now in a different terrain excels in capturing the murkiness and vulnerability of the isolated victims of the desert. Benett Weetrag's couple of songs are pretty good while M Jayachandran's theme music is also impressive.

All in all, 'Gaddama' is a quality offering from the master director, with a genuine upsetting story. The movie has plenty of faces that continue to haunt you even after the film has ended. This is a film for the discerning viewer who likes to go a little beyond the regular masala stereotype.

Gaddama MalayalamMovie Trailer

Karmayogi(Celebration of Malayalam Cinema Today)

Celebration of   Malayalam Cinema Today




Karmayogi

Language: Malayalam

Release Year: 2011

Cast: Indrajith, Padmini Kolhapure

Karmayogi is a g malayalam movie ,noteble directer V K Prakash direct the movie. 

Indrajith do the lead role in this movie.The movie is based on shakespeare's renowned play 'Hamlet'

Karmayogi Trailer