Vishnu' s Space

Rajeev Menon who wears the director's hat after a long hiatus, presents a Rocky story with music as its backdrop. Michael is a lighthearted college going youngster whose life revolves around his idol, Thalapathy Vijay. His parents strive hard each day to make ends meet and are concerned about whether he would turn up well in the future. Michael's aimless and easy going attitude gets him dejected when he tries to woo a girl he likes. Vembu Iyer, an elderly man of legendary status comes into the life of Michael, which makes him want to be like him. The rest of the film shows how a person becomes unstoppable once he identifies his passion. Click here to watch the trailer   G V Prakash fits in perfectly as Michael. His expertise in the field of music adds authenticity to the scenes where he has to perform. His looks and mannerisms are spot on as a  Chennai localite youngster even when the character grows mature. Nedumudi Venu as Vembu Iyer is the soul of the film. His

In one of the earlier blogs, I have mentioned about my first theatre experience and the impact it has made on my life. Me and my parents used to regularly go for outings. When I was ten years or so, Appa landed on a new job which put him on a busy schedule and hence there were rarely any family outings from then on. It also halted my visits to the theatre. While all my friends watched newly released films, I had to wait until they get telecasted on the television after one or two years. Usually by the time I get the chance to sit through the much hyped movies, they would have lost their steam. Many magnum opuses and landmark films also disappointed me because they required the big screen spectacle.  So, since 10th grade I started going to the cinemas on my own without asking my parents, assuming they wouldn't let me if they knew. Crowded places are generally uncomfortable for me, but I just loved the crowd that gathers at the theatre. Especially the crazy lot who appears on the

The 24th International Film Festival of Kerala kick-started on 6th December 2019. The grand opening ceremony was held at Nishagandhi auditorium, Vazhuthakkadu in the evening .The minister for Culture and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri A K Balan presided over the event while the honourable Chief Minister of Kerala, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan lighted the lamp and performed the inauguration. Films were screened from the first day of the festival itself.  Shri Pinarayi Vijayan handed over the copy of the first volume of the book on Malayalam film history to Shri Shaji N Karun, national award winning film director . In his inaugural speech,the chief minister elaborated on how International Film Festival of Kerala has increased the international acceptance of Kerala through demonstrating finesse when it comes to making films that contain themes that are culturalyy and politically elegant. Numerous eminent personalities from the film industry and politics and a good chunk of commoners g

 The French feature film explores the mob mentality, from its formation to the danger it poses once triggered.   Click here to watch the trailer   Laurent aka Pento joins the Anti-crime squad in Montermail, headed by two fellow officers Chris and Gwada who have already adopted some brash methods for serving law in the unstable region. Pento gets irritated by their arrogance, but puts up with them until they take an overzealous teenager too seriously. Soon after an unfortunate event that follows, deep trouble ensues. To make things worse, all their regrettable actions were being recorded by a drone without them knowing. The tight writing plays a key role in making the film succeed as a palpable thriller till the end. Damien Bonnard as Pento effectively portrays the overlooked humane side of cops. He is disturbed by the consequences that others have to face because of his actions. Interestingly, he never does anything that could potentially hurt anyone, revealing the innoce

Noah Land presents the stark conflict within individuals, where some choose to stubbornly delve in the past while the rest desperately try to escape from it. Click here to watch the trailer of Noah Land Turkish actors Ali Atay and Haluk Bilginer play the role of Omer and his father Ibrahim. They embark on a journey together, though both of them know very less about each other. Omer, who is already depressed takes the pain to attempt materialising the last wish of his dad. It is confusing about why Omer is driven to the idea, particularly because of his existing personal dilemmas.  Being a very reasonable person, the request of his father seems futile to Omer after a point. Constantly haunted by the mistakes he has made in the past, the fact that nothing can be done to make things right again, eats him alive each day. So he never refrains from the mission which has a strong conviction in the father's perspective. In the course, tragedies keep coasting through thei

In Moothon, director Geethu Mohandas dares to speak of a volatile subject and deftly delivers the message to value love over gender. The nuances also extend to its raw treatment that is rarely seen in the whole of mainstream Indian cinema.  Click here to watch the trailer of Moothon   The narrative takes shape in Lakshadweep and later switches its focus to the streets of Bombay. Nivin Pauly' s much anticipated portrayal of Bhai aka Akbar is captivating. The actor has successfully come out of a shell. The mind-blowing physical transformation itself suffices to prove the dedication of Nivin towards the film. He is convincing in each scene and effectively pulls off the variations that occur in the character. The nerve to accept such a taxing role is praiseworthy, especially when it may pose a threat to his boy-next-door image.   Roshan Mathew as Amir is a revelation. With angelic looks and a flair for subtle expressions, a certain finesse is also present in his perfor

An intelligent emotional thriller that manages to stand out, although being woven around a much seen premise. The plot goes in familiar lines but develops quite interestingly, generating curiosity in each scene. Roman Luknar plays the central character of L'udovit who loses his son on a night that could have ended without anything unwanted happening in their life. The theme of injustice handled in the film is universal and hence easily relatable.  Click here to watch the trailer of the film The fight L'udovit takes up to bring the culprits to the law, sadly reveals the apathy that exists in the legal system. Later, the old man realises that he is up against an enemy beyond his powers. Dominance of Neo-Nazism on the society, particularly the influence it has on bureaucracy is effectively depicted. Meanwhile, Slovakian youth is shown to be falling prey to this dangerous culture. The crime syndicate recruits youngsters to carry forward their agendas and any form of

  This rousing saga about the iconic leader Marighella follows the template of gangster-flicks. Seu Jorge starring Marighella traces the life of late Brazilian communist leader, politician and guerilla fighter Carlos Marighella. The film begins with an exhilarating train heist scene. Marighella, the title character makes his entry then, for which the whole theatre roars with applause. This happens very rarely in my state of Kerala where the majority of the audience do not cheer when they are not familiar with the actor who played the character or have any idea about the storyline. This hints at how well-made the scene is. Similarly throughout the film, it succeeds in playing to the gallery with the aid of great acting and captivating dialogues.  Click here to watch the trailer of Marighella   Based on the book Marighella The Guerrilla fighter that Lighted the World, the movie has a runtime that exceeds two and a half hours. This usually become tedious for viewers, but it is

A breathtaking depiction of an unfortunate real tale in the glorious history of cinema. This animation spectacle explores the making of the 1933 documentary ‘Las Hurdes’ by Luis Buñuel, the legendary Mexican filmmaker who is often cited as the father of cinematic surrealism. After falling out with fellow creator Dali, Buñuel faces a crisis when no one shows their willingness to fund for his next solo project. A newfound interest for ethnography causes him to take up the idea of making a documentary about Las Hurdes region, one of Spain’s poorest states. What follows forms the rest of the story.    Click here to watch the trailer   Outstanding finesse in the animation generously contributes to the efficient storytelling. Though the makers could have opted for advanced technology like CGI, here the pattern of art  reminds of the 90's animated classics. It perfectly suits the timeline and the essence of the story. The internal conflicts of Bunuel right from his childh

A powerhouse performance from Marcelia Cartaxo makes ‘Pacarette’ an instant classic. The Allen Deberton-directed Pacarette explores the conflict of understanding one’s relevance in a world that changes its taste and perceptions with time. Pacarette is a ballet dancer. Now old and past her prime, but sadly unaware of it. She desperately wants to enjoy the importance like in her heyday. The tale of Pacarette unfolds as she plans to perform on her town’s 200th anniversary party and redeem her glory. Still fit like a 20-year-old, the unending love towards dancing makes her vain and act crazy all the time.    Click here to watch the trailer of Paccarette The film’s biggest attraction is Marcelia Cartaxo as Pacarette. Her act never goes overboard even when the character is eccentric for the most part. As the film progresses, the character faces a slump which demands the actor to underplay varying emotions as well. With a trim figure and perfect makeup, Cartaxo plays it to