[replicajoy]

i am big fan of malayalam movies esp comedy...jagathy,srinivasan,innocent nu what a comedy pataalam..esp jagathy

padam paathu paathe malayalam oralavuku puriyum

havent seen a single masala movie of lal or mamootty till now...except spadigam.

as jeyamohan said the technical aspects of malayalam movies have always been mediocre considering the production values.the music and photography of even some classics resemble a "shakeela" movie.they stood tall by script and acting.

[MicoSiru]

As a language ,MalayaLam is beautiful and very expressive ..There is a layer of humour inbuilt in the language itself.

[annouhMus]

Joe,

It is Nerariyan CBI - Meaning Unmaiyai thedi CBI (loose translation). It was the 4th of the CBI series which was released in Sep 2005. The series was like this

1.Oru CBI Diary Kurippu - Feb 1988

2. Jagratha - Sep 1989

3. Sethuramaiyer CBI - Jan 2004

4. Nerariyan CBI - Sep 2005.

Prabhu,

I know that you are not following. But my intention was to give info about the quality of films being made even at the worst of times. These are ongoing projects.

Selva,

Yes. I am a great fan of Mammootty. After NT, if one person had impressed me with his acting, then it is Mammootty. Many people used to tell me that Lal is better than Mammootty but somehow I like Mammootty. May be due to the fact he is more in the mould of NT.

But if you commented based on the list provided, then it was for the range of characters and stories they are making there. Plus, in spite of doing 4,5 films at a time, they don't compromise on quality. I also wanted to give list of Lal's forthcoming films, which I would.

One film that I want to mention is Kurushetra. Major Ravi who did Keerthi Chakra (Aran in Tamil dealing with the Mosque seize) and later Mission 90 days (dealing with Rajiv Gandhi assasscination) is now taking up Kargil war. The beauty of this film is it is entirely being shot in Kargil. Right now the crew is in Kargil and the shooting (with special permission from Indian Army) is in progress. Mohanlal comes in Major Mahadevan.

If they with a small territory and low BO potential can make such films, why our Tamil films still (not all but majority) confine themselves to the Box?

Regards

[JasminBerkova]

Interesting article (accurate analysis) by Jeyamohan! Thanks Joe for the link

It's interesting to see both M's have acted as loan sharks in their respective recent movies. It seems there is even "punch dialog" in madAmbi that targets 'parinthu'. What happened to the M's? When have they become juveniles (like some rivals in TF)?

[ådrrraj]

Prabhu Ram, one Malayalam movie that you should not miss is 'thoovAnaththumbikaL' (Padmarajan / Mohanlal). Last summer I rented the DVD and was stunned by the film. Since family was also away, would have watched portions of this movie countless times. Try to get and watch (if not done already)!

Another rare find, during the same period, was the Mammootty-Suhasini movie 'ente upAsana'. Excellent film that should not be missed. (By some coincidence I watched sindhu bhairavi, bommukkutty ammAvukku and this movie during the same period and totally changed my college-days' critical opinion about Suhasini. Very talented!)

[ddxbovMQ]

Thanks App_engine.
I have been hearing of ThUvAnathumbigaL. Only vcds seem to be available, no dvds with subs. My major problem. It is on my list nevertheless. In fact I have not watched a single Padmarajan film - though I heard about him over a year back, here in the Hub actually through the hubber sandeep.

Second film noted. I have major issues with Suhasini (and Sindhu Bhairavi is one of the reasons), but I am willing to be pleasantly surprised

[KojlinMakolvin]

Wn I was in Cochin(Ernakulam) , I saw a movie CHANDHUPOTTU... overrated movie by mallu audience..... overacting by Dileep

One more movie of Dileep is PANDIPADA... similar to Tamizh masala movie.....

then came Lion .... tamizh'la Namnaadu paaththeenganaa theriyum

Before that CID moosa...meesaimaadhavan.... Kunjukoonan.... all are masala movies....

The above said all movies were Super hit movies... During this period Mammoo's and Lal's movie were flopped...

Mammuty also did a movie Rajamanickan which ran for 150 days in ernakulam.... Its a Vijay kinda movie...

[ApporpSothe]

Wn I was in Cochin(Ernakulam) , I saw a movie CHANDHUPOTTU... overrated movie by mallu audience..... overacting by Dileep

One more movie of Dileep is PANDIPADA... similar to Tamizh masala movie.....

then came Lion .... tamizh'la Namnaadu paaththeenganaa theriyum

Before that CID moosa...meesaimaadhavan.... Kunjukoonan.... all are masala movies....

The above said all movies were Super hit movies... During this period Mammoo's and Lal's movie were flopped...

Mammuty also did a movie Rajamanickan which ran for 150 days in ernakulam.... Its a Vijay kinda movie...

that movie's biggest plus is the slang without which its a normal masala movie! if am not wrong, Rajamanickam is the highest grosser till date in Malayalam

Kunjukoonan is not regular masala - its perazhagan
CID Moosa recently came in tamil with prasanna - chenna thaana

and chandupottu - overrated aah - i guess it was a wonderful role done by Dilip which even made Vikram think abt taking up the movie and perhaps put it on hold/dropped with Ajith acting in Varalaaru as a transvestite in one of the roles

[AbraroLib]

that movie's biggest plus is the slang without which its a normal masala movie! if am not wrong, Rajamanickam is the highest grosser till date in Malayalam

Kunjukoonan is not regular masala - its perazhagan
CID Moosa recently came in tamil with prasanna - chenna thaana

and chandupottu - overrated aah -i guess it was a wonderful role done by Dilip which even made Vikram think abt taking up the movie and perhaps put it on hold/dropped with Ajith acting in Varalaaru as a transvestite in one of the roles

Rajamanickam movie was a good entertainer.... except the different slang... its a Vijay kinda movie.... the similar heroism... the similar punch dialogues.... and one kuththu song is also there but danced by Rahman....

Abt Chandhupottu.. no comments...

[Âåðåùàãèí]

Prabhu Ram,
Just a word of caution (about both my recommendations above). Don't read any review / blog that gives the movie storyline / plot prior to viewing for the first time. I watched both of them with zero idea and was impressed.

About Suhasini - when SB got released, I saw it in theater, during college days. I was such a vocal critic of her among friends for many years. Was upset when she even got a NA for that, lamenting someone else should have got etc.

However, watching the same SB last year, after 20 years with changed circumstances in life, I found her to be quite impressive. May be after seeing 100's of hopeless actresses for many years made me appreciate her 'OK' talents Or, may be it's a realization that she did perfect justice to the role KB conceived.

[Rounteetepehryn]

app,

Don't consider this as nit picking. Thoovana Thumbikal was in 1987-88, whereas Ente Upasana was released in 1984 (if my memory serves me right). Neverthless EU was a Padmarajan film right?

Mammootty as the MD and Suhasini as the person working under him. Later leaves him without informing him and the climax gives you the resason behind that- Right ? I don't know whether you have seen another movie "Katha ithu vare" starring the same pair directed by Joshi, where Mam would be a pilot and Suha would be an airhostess. Both these films used to look similar to me, though only to a small extent.

TT was a class movie and the surprise packet was Sumalatha.

There are umpteen movies of Padmarajan which had class writen all over it. In fact there was this "Kariyile Kaatru pola" which had the two Ms together but without even a single combination shot. Almost similar to our Andha Naal (shall I say Roshoman), Padmarajan had nicely Malayamised it.

If we start speaking , it will simply go on.

Regards

[BamSaitinypap]

Murali,
ente upAsanA is not a Padmarajan movie (forgot the name of the director) and I don't know the year of release also, as I saw in DVD only last year.

In your post, "Mammootty as the MD and Suhasini as the person working under him." is correct but the rest is not. May be there are many similar movies This was a case of seeing a movie with zero expectation and knowing nothing about it and getting terribly impressed (due to the bold twists as well as helplessness here and there) and Suhasini's performance was very apt, IMO.

thoovAnaththumbikaL is the only Padmarajan movie I've seen so far, though I've heard a lot about him. This movie was quite an "experience" for me as I could replay portions many times (as no one else was home) and lazily relish) Recently I saw the 'onnAm rAgam pAdi' song at veoh.com - very good quality video - and can't help admire the picturisation. The subtle expressions that Parvathi (Mrs Jayaram now) can bring about is another thing to relish!

[Vodonaeva]

and chandupottu - overrated aah - i guess it was a wonderful role done by Dilip which even made Vikram think abt taking up the movie and perhaps put it on hold/dropped with Ajith acting in Varalaaru as a transvestite in one of the roles

Anoops,
I saw parts of the movie and I felt it was a below average movie. Did Dilip appear in the movie with the mush always ? If that is true then the director must have missed something. Appadi irukkiravanga mudhal kaariyama meesaiya thaanae edupaanga. Sadai ellam vaichavanga meesaiya vittutaangaloae. ?

P.S: I didn't understand anything in the movie. So, thappa iruntha vitrungoe

[mymnduccete]

If we start speaking , it will simply go on.

Oh don't stop Murali Srinivas!! As I have said before, you are a treasure trove. Just had the chance to read this thread fully and my opinion is only reinforced. A couple of questions:

Did Sumalatha also star in 'Oru May Masa Pulariyil'?

To what extent was Bharat Gopi involved in films after his paralysis?


As for the CBI series, thrillers were much more popular around the time the first CBI was released, if I am right. New Delhi (Vishwanathan is one of my favourite Mammooty characters)and Iyer the Great were other note worthy movies of the genre.

[Tainlyferfara]

app,

You may be right. As I said I saw it at the time of release and it is almost 24 long years. Let me check.

Selva,

I don't think, I praised Roudram. If I remember correctly, I wrote about the theatre response for the Hero's introduction which was as if I was watching an opening show of a Tamil movie. What surprised me was such a response was happening in Chennai. The movie was average but Mammootty as a cop would always be aggressive and the writer cum Director Renji Panniker is known for his firebrand dialogues and so both put together, it was ok.

Thappa edthukarathukku enna irukku Selva? Are you a fan-nu kettenga, naanum Yes-nu sonnen. Nalla oru actorkku adhuvum 3 times National Award vaanginavarukku thaane fan-a nu kettenga. Don't worry. You know me. I will never take it otherwise.

Regards

[intmarkworkk]

Murali sir

Selva,

I don't think, I praised Roudram. If I remember correctly, I wrote about the theatre response for the Hero's introduction which was as if I was watching an opening show of a Tamil movie. What surprised me was such a response was happening in Chennai. The movie was average but Mammootty as a cop would always be aggressive and the writer cum Director Renji Panniker is known for his firebrand dialogues and so both put together, it was ok. oh.
Generally, people won't see movies that have -ve word of mouth. Atha meeriyum paarthalum fan ah thaan irupaanga. Atha vachu thaan kettaen

Thappa edthukarathukku enna irukku Selva? Are you a fan-nu kettenga, naanum Yes-nu sonnen. Nalla oru actorkku adhuvum 3 times National Award vaanginavarukku thaane fan-a nu kettenga. Don't worry. You know me. I will never take it otherwise.

[Haibundadam]

Thanks Kannan. What I meant was, it was a sort of passion for me. Still it is. Would definitely will try to talk about those movies.

I think Sumalatha was there in Oru May Masa Pulariyil, though I am not sure of it.

Bharat Gopi became active after certain period of lay off. In his first innings, Kodiyettam was the one which fetched him Bharath award. He was awesome in Ormaikaayee (with Madhavi where he would come as a dumb- a 1981-82 release) and Yavanika (a suspense thriller where he would be a Tabla player Iyappan. Mammootty did a investigating cop role which took him to Super Star levels. This was directed by K.G.George, another off beat director and produced by Henry of Pankaj Productions. Remember Bharathi Kannamma and Marumalarchi? He produced it.). Kaatathe Kilikoodu was another famous movie that had Lal and Revathi in stellar roles. I think that came in Tamil also.

Later Gopi came back with a directorial venture Utsava Pittenu (meaning the day after Utsavam) starring Mohanlal but it didn't do well. He didn't direct thereafter but acted. He did one movie with Mammootty " Paadheyam" (actually produced by him and directed by Bharathan) which was good. But his later day movies did not have any powerful roles for him. He came as Lal's father in a movie Rasathanthiram (directed by Sathyan Anthicaud). That was in 2006 and last year (2207) he did a small role in Mammootty's "Nasrani" and within a matter of months, he passed away. Will try to remember more films of him.

Yes, you are right about thrillers. New Delhi preceded CBI. Though it (New Delhi) was inspired from "The Almighty" novel, it was neatly Indianised. Iyer the Great was a very good movie. The diredtor Bhadran (not to be confused with Bharathan) later could not sustain such standards. I will try to write about such movies, whenever time permits.

Regards

PS: Kannan, are you following Paadalgal Palavitham thread in current topics?

[Paybeskf]

Gopi was in the award-winning 'chidambaram', a Smitha Patel starrer. (Smitha is a Thamizh woman with a dark husband in that film)

It was probably my first year in Kerala and I felt sooo bored with that movie as I haven't developed a taste for such movies yet (may like it if I see now). Same with panchAgni (MT / Hariharan / Mohanlal/ Geetha / nalleNNei Chitra) which I felt was boring at the time of release, but loved the songs! (Bombay Ravi's 'Ah rAthri mAjnu pOyi' by KSC & 'sAgarangalE' by KJY can only be compared to honey).

[Anykeylo]

Originally Posted by directhit and chandupottu - overrated aah - i guess it was a wonderful role done by Dilip which even made Vikram think abt taking up the movie and perhaps put it on hold/dropped with Ajith acting in Varalaaru as a transvestite in one of the roles

Anoops,
I saw parts of the movie and I felt it was a below average movie. Did Dilip appear in the movie with the mush always ? If that is true then the director must have missed something. Appadi irukkiravanga mudhal kaariyama meesaiya thaanae edupaanga. Sadai ellam vaichavanga meesaiya vittutaangaloae. ?

P.S: I didn't understand anything in the movie. So, thappa iruntha vitrungoe hi selva, nope it aint a classic :P - its jus Dilip's acting which is good in the movie. and as for mush - he aint a transvestite in the movie, his grandma treats him as a girl and he talks/walks with a girl like style - avalo dhaan. and Dilip right from his mimicry days has done this voice/dialogue style of that sort - that was developed more into this movie neenga thappa solluveengalaa - vijay movie ya pathi thavira :P

[Inettypofonee]

Murali sir - i take it for granted u wud have watched Moonam Pakkam (Thilagan/Jayaram) - padmarajan story. how did you like it? - wud u recommend it for film lovers here