Penn Pattanam - worth watching

Cast: Revathi, Swetha Menon, KPAC LaLitha, Vishnupriya, Lal

Director: VM Vinu

Music: MG Sreekumar

The story revolves around four women Girija (Revath), Suhara (Shwetha Menon), Raji (Vishnupriya) and Santha (KPAC Lalitha), working for a city corporation as waste collectors. They toil day and night to make both their ends meet. Each woman has a sob story to tell. Girija has been left alone after he husband's death and has two school going girls to look after. Suhara's husband Chandran is bedridden and is bravest among the four as hers is an inter-religious marriage. Shantha's son is an alcoholic and irresponsible, so she has to look after his wife and kids. Raji, who is the youngest, is in love with a youngster with a dubious past and her affair is opposed by her police constable brother-in-law.

Things start looking up when they accidentally come across a bag stuffed with money in one of the garbage cans. Along with the money comes a torrent of troubles. The film narrates how the four women battle several odds, including their own feelings of greed, to attain happiness and peace of mind.

Nedumudi Venu as the Blade Financier fills the space of a funny villain with a stammer and the absence of a typical male lead is filled by Lal as an honest police officer taking on the local MLA and Home Minister. Kailash plays the romantic interest of Raji.

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Penn Pattanam - worth watching

All the actors, led by the fabulous four, have come up with decent performances. However, the screenplay by veteran TA Razak could have been a little crisper especially in the second half as it feels like a never ending mega serial. Vinu deserves appreciation for his bold attempt to make film without any of the so called saleable stars in Mollywood and also for taking up a non-conventional theme. All in all, Penn Pattanam is worth watching.

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K K Road - Struggles real hard

Cast: Babu Antony, Karthika, Saikumar, Jagathy, Vijayakumar

Director: Simon KK

Music Director: Venkatesh SP

The IPS officer has a nickname called Adiyodadi that he has earned from being a no-nonsense cop who would stop at nothing till he sees justice is meted out to the deprived. It remains more of a meager imitation of several other police roles that have been etched in our minds, and very rarely rises above the ordinary.

The police aide in this case (Mala Aravindan) cites practical reasons before he excuses himself from the case. Along comes a substitute Noushad (Shammi Thilakan) who looks more of an ally to Devdas, and together they start cracking the whip.

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K K Road - Struggles real hard

With the very mediocre script that it has at its disposal its struggles real hard to be an arresting murder mystery, KK Road is never able to reach anywhere near its aspirations.

Vande Matharam - no fresh makeover in the film

Cast: Mammotty,Sneha, Arjun, Kalabhavan, VMC Haneefa, Sumitra, Riaz Khan

Producer: Henry

Director: T. Aravind

Music Director: Vidyasagar

Gopi Krishnan played by Mammootty, Southern zone command director of the Intelligence bureau, is assigned the task of tracing the plans of a terrorist group led by Malik who has already found his way into the country. Anwar Hussain played by Arjun, who joins Gopi on deputation from the State police. Together, they launch Operation Malik to track down the deadly terrorists and thereby save their motherland.

Sneha plays the female lead as a pilot and wife of Gopi Krishnan and there is also Sharadha Arya who plays an ornithologist who falls in love with Arjun. The film introduces a new villain - Deepak J.D. Jagadish, Jai Akash, Riyaz Khan, Vijay Kumar, Rajan P. Dev, Raj Kapoor and Mumtaj would be seen i supporting roles.

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Vande Matharam - no fresh makeover in the film

The done to death patriotic theme receives no fresh makeover in the film. If only it had paid more attention to that feeble script instead of raking up all that clatter and clamor on screen, would it have made more sense.

Kutty Shrank - The real best gets the best

Banner: Reliance Entertainment In Malayalam

Cast: Mammootty, Padmapriya

Direction: Shaji N Karun

Music: Isaac Thomas Kottukapally

The story of ‘Kutty Shrank’ starts off with an end, with the real end of the title character; as the finding of an unidentified body of a middle aged man washed ashore. As the police keep the body in a temporary building for identification, three women who claim to have been associated with the man at some point, comes up to answer the questions of the inspectors about the deceased. Interestingly ‘Kutty Shrank’ (Mammootty), as the sailor is called by everyone, appears as one man who behaves in a strikingly different manner in each of the cases.

Revamma (Padmapriya), a sanyasi is the first lady who identify Kutty Shrank. The Shrank was the closest aid of her father, the most powerful and cruel ruler of her region, who had even killed her mother. When Revamma went to Sri Lanka to study medicine, she was lead into Buddhist faith by a sanyasi named Prasanna and Revamma is now back to her homeland after 16 years with him, and is all set to join Buddhism. But the Moopan couldn't adjust to the developments in her only daughter and orders his accomplice Shrank to chop him into pieces and throw him into the sea.

In the second episode Penmena (Kamalini Mukherjee) arrives at the police station to identify Shrank’s body kept there. Penmena was earlier attracted to Shrank when he was actively involved with a Chavittunatakam troupe, led by Loniasan (Suresh Krishna), her brother. Later when she was selected to play the female lead in the dance drama, Shrank as the lead actor of the drama ignored her romantic advances, most of the times.

In the final episode is Kali (Meena Kumari), a mute woman, who actually steals Shrank’s heart with her selfless love and dedication. Once when Shrank was bitten by a snake, it was Kali (who was regarded with contempt and feared by all as an ill Omen), who sat by his side with her magic medicines bringing him back to life. Kali was pregnant with Shrank’s child by the time when she came to identify him. It is Nalini (Wahida), the heir of the nearby landlord who sketches the thinking of this voiceless soul.

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Kutty Shrank - The real best gets the best

A multi layered, complex film in all counts, the movie just over two hours and fifteen minutes has plenty of genuine moments. The three stories are linked pretty well without any pretentious techniques, but with an authentic feel all over. The director is under control most of the times, with the mystery that pervading the life of Kutty Shrank as he moves on with his quest for truth and identity.

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Inganeyum Oral - a predictable tear-show

Cast: Saikumar, Praveena, Vinu Mohan, Sarayu, KPAC Lalitha, Maukoya, Indrans, Sreekumar, Raghavan, Kulappulli Leela

Producer: Sainudeen

Director: Kabeer Raothar

Music Director: Mohan Sitara

In 'Inganeyum Oral', Saikumar plays Balachandra Menon, a professor who has remained a chronic bachelor out of choice. He has painted the picture of the bride in his dream and religiously worships her.

He has nothing against women though, and nurtures the picture of an ideal partner in his mind. But always averse to the idea of getting married, his friends and well wishers want him to settle down before his retirement in the near future. His buddy Appu Pillai wants to see him settled before his retirement from the college and tries all possible tricks to convince the professor. In search of his dream girl, the professor gets disappointed and accepts his fate of solitude. Menon is about to get retired, and has almost resigned himself to his lonely life when life changes all on a sudden.

Along comes Priyamvada (Praveena) and he gets married to her. Fate unfortunately has other plans for him. Rahul (Vinu Mohan) who is Menon's nephew, stays with him and the wonderful relationship that develops between him and Priyamvada makes Menon suspicious.

Strain in family relations develop among the couple as they undergo traumatic experiences. Menon throws his wife out of his life.... A series of interesting twists and turns in the life of stubborn Menon make the movie an interesting family entertainer.

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Inganeyum Oral - a predictable tear-show

'Inganeyum Oral' further emphasizes the lack of fresh and solid story ideas in Malayalam cinema. All it can do is to deliver in the limited way that its plot allows it to, and ultimately end up being a predictable tear-show.

24 Hours - Gripping

Banner: Aqua Movies

Cast: Kuldeep, Komal, Manoj K Jayan, Shammi Thilakan, Anil, Devan, Vinaya Prasad, Jameel Khan

Direction: Aditya Sam Abraham

Music: Rahul Raj

The story is basically that of a spoilt youngster named Jagannath Varma (Kuldeep) who engages in street racing. His family consists of elder brother Vikramaditya Varma played by Devan and a doting sister-in-law played by Vinaya Prasad. Jagan gets involved in a major racing crash on the streets of Kochi in the early minutes of the movie.

The aftermath makes headline news causing major embarrassment to his elder brother who’s a reputed industrialist. Fed up with Jagan’s spoilt ways Vikramaditya Varma disinherits Jagan from the family and throws him out of the house much against Vinaya Prasad’s protests. Down and out of his luck, Jagan takes refuge in a seedy bar. There, in a thrilling twist, and in a very interesting turn of events, Jagan gets mistakenly have murdered the brother of a mafia don played Manoj K. Jayan. And so begins a chain of events where Jagan constantly has to get out of one tight spot after another.

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24 Hours - Gripping

While the story that 24 Hours tells is nothing new the way the film unfolds on screen is a pleasant surprise to watch. This definitely is a very different movie for the Malayalam audience.

Pranchiyettan and the Saint - Renjith with a new experience

Cast: Mammootty, Priyamani, Innocent

Direction: Renjith

Production: Renjith

Music: Ouseppachan

Basically the movie is the story of Chirammal Eanashu Francis, a self made affluent rice merchant, who is always insecure about his societal status due to his low education and nickname ‘Aripraanchy’ that followed him throughout his life.

He makes a number of blunders in his life to see whether his large earned money can get him the status that he yearns for, thus erasing his branded nickname. Following his trusted aides including Vasu Menon, Bahuleyan, Subrahmani, Uthuppu and Co, he makes attempts on this by buying a 'Padmashree' for himself, starting a jewellery shop, contesting the elections for the president-ship of an aristocratic club, and even sponsoring every local events where he can show off his splendour.

It is after a lot of failed attempts on making it big that he meets Padmashree, an interior designer and Poly, a 15 year old, who makes a valuable turns in his life.

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Pranchiyettan and the Saint - Renjith with a new experience

'Pranchiyettan and the Saint' is definitely prescribed for everyone who likes fresher themes and initiatives in Mollywood.

Elsamma Enna Aankutty - Lal Jose in his elements for ‘Elsamma’

Cast: Kunchakko Boban, Indrajith, Janardhanan, Jagathy, K P A C Lalitha

Direction: Lal Jose

Music: Rajamani

The movie tells the story of Elsamma, the most popular young girl of the ninth ward of a sleepy, high range village, centered around Balanpillai city. Forced to take up the job of newspaper boy of the village following the death of his father Pookkula Varkey, she also works as a local reporter of the most popular daily. She is like a foster daughter to Kunnel Pappan (Nedumudi Venu), who is deserted by his only son residing in the city. Elsamma has three younger sisters studying for various courses, but she is more like a strict father to them always leading them away from troubles. Soon dubbed more as a ‘boy’', in the way she approach things, all the other characters of the village like ward member Remanan, hooch dealer Karipalli Soman, the hotel owner Balanpillai, and many others are wound around the episodes of Elsamma's spirit and hard work.

Elsamma's best friend in the village is Palunni, (Kunchakko Boban) the local milkman. Though he loves Elsamma, he doesn't have the courage to tell her about his emotions. The movie takes a turn as the grandson of Pappen, Eby (Indrajith) and his sister arrives into the village to stay with Pappan, after the untimely death of their mother. The arrival of three mischievous friends of Aby from the city with some dangerous intentions, also pose new threats to Elsamma and her family.

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Elsamma Enna Aankutty - Lal Jose in his elements for ‘Elsamma’

The movie puts forward the fundamental message of love and family, in a brilliantly elevating good natured settings. All in all, ‘Elsamma Enna Aankutty’ will be surely applauded by all Lal Jose regulars of Mollywood. A kind of film that should work instantly with the ladies. Recommended.

Shikaar - Lal hits right in 'Shikaar'

Banner: Sreeraj Productions

Cast: Mohanlal, Padmapriya, Ananya

Direction: Padmakumar

Production: K K Rajagopal

Music: M Jayachandran, Gireesh Puthenchery

Playing a lorry driver named Balaraman who is in the run from a forgettable past events, the movie is entirely shouldered by the versatile actor. And whenever it goes on to other petty off-stories out from the lead track, the feel of uneasiness is there. Anyhow, 'Shikaar’ with a plot about a man destined to escape from the revenge of his past deeds is a different thought and a better product for Padmakumar , the talented young director to end up his long wait for a hit.

Balaraman (Mohanlal) a lorry driver, operating in the forest area called Chittazha, transporting bamboos is the leader of all good men of the high ranges, fighting with every outsiders who come up to create havoc in the region. Constantly supported and followed buy Maniappan, his trusted aide, all his hopes are on his foster-daughter Ganga, who is all set to join a medical course securing a second rank in the entrance exams. But his haunting past follows him to this forest den, clearly making him over protective about his daughter and himself, to the extent of psychosis. With a group ready to make a miserable life for the protagonist for deeds that he had never committed, Balaraman now has to take the biggest risks of his life to save everything.

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Shikaar - Lal hits right in 'Shikaar'

M Padmakumar will manage to make a name of his own as a hit director through 'Shikaar', though in a slippery terrain of a non-conventional theme. The movie may end up well for him and Lal, if marketed well.

Ammanilavu - a dreary movie that is never able to hit its marks

Cast: Sasi Ayyanchira, Aparna, Mallika, Abhinay, Vijith, Jagathy Sreekumar, Mala Aravindan, Balachandran Chullikkadu, Sreejith Ravi, Anoop, Manu Mohith, Harishanth, Kochupreman, Sathi, Thara Kalyan

Producer: Sasi Ayyanchira

Director: M.D.Rajendran

Music Director: M.D.Rajendran

Sasi plays an honest cop Adiram in the film. Mallika plays his wife Neeraja. Adiram's life goes for a toss when he has to murder his own wife.

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Ammanilavu - a dreary movie that is never able to hit its marks

The film suffers from a dramatic overdose that eventually kills it. It also has a deficiency of real thrills that leaves us with very little to be excited about. It totally collapses under its own overweight, and takes itself unbelievably seriously.

Fiddle - cold as a wet towel

Cast: Varun J.Thilak, Ayilya, Jagathy Sreekumar, Salim Kumar, Jagadeesh, Premkumar, Vettoor Purushan, Vishnu Prakash, Sabu Thiruvalla, Mily, Subin, Prajusha, Sonia, Lakshmi Priya, Ranjusha, Bindu Panicker, Urmila Unni, Kulappulli Leela, Vinayan, Kaloor Ummer, Biju, Sudha Nair

Producer: Nissam Vettoor , Noushad Anchal

Director: Prabhakaran Muthana

Music Director: S. Jayan , Ramesh Balakrishna

Fiddle tells the story of a music troupe that comprises of ten amazing singers. The singers are actuallly tudents belonging to a local music college.

This music troupe is very different from the usual troupes that you get to see. The youngsters have a high sense of social responsibility. They hence conduct programmes and from the money amassed, they help the poor, the disabled and the needy.

On one such tour, they happen to stay at an old bungalow, where a series of incidents occur that would turn their lives upside down.

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Fiddle - cold as a wet towel

Fiddle' is one of those films that mainly falters because of the failing of its central premise. This is why even though it comes along with minimum fanfare, it still leaves you as cold as a wet towel.

Nirakazhcha - A lame attempt in film making

Cast: Vincenzo Bocciaralli, Mamtha Mohandas, Manoj K Jayan, Jagathy, Nedumudi Venu, Thilakan, Bijukuttan

Direction: Anish J Karinad

The movie is about an Italian painter Lorenzo Fabri,(Vincenzo Bocciarelli) who is on a task to recreate Ravi Varma paintings. He falls in love with his model Shilpa, who is already in love with the Chenda artist Sreekuttan (Manoj K Jayan). Gradually Shilpa also starts loving and possessing the Italian, which leads into other twist in tales. To fill the gaps there are C I Marthandan (Jagathy Sreekumar), a local cop who is into a tuition centre run by Mamukoya to learn Italian, a Poovar Pookutty (Suraj Venjarammoodu) the music teacher, an Aksharavalli (Kalpana) the Malayalam tutor and a character by Bijukuttan, who pledges all his property and gold to stay in an Ayurvedic resort to find a German tourist to marry and ultimately fly to Germany. Add to these pathetic caricatures is the director Aneesh J Karrinad who himself appears as photographer Moonnar Mathai with a song pictured on him.

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Nirakazhcha - A lame attempt in film making

Nirakazhcha could have ended up as engrossing characters but the writing and execution fails to the extremes, to give you one of the most avoidable movies of the year.