Friday, October 30, 2009

Pazhassi Raja - Movie Review



Movies like this are not taken just for making money. So much efforts and pains. Such works should be applauded and they should become block buster. I am happy that Pazhassi Raja has become a hit. I am looking forward for its reception in other languages too.



Cast

Mammotty (Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja)

Majestic and Matured King role. Whatever language this movie would have been taken, only Mammotty will fit in this role. Though he is the protagonist, no unnecessary importance is given for him. Mammotty don't show his face every time. Even his intro scene is simple unlike the intros which chota heroes have in other south Indian films. This is something special about Malayalam movies. No aarpaattam.


Sarathkumar (Edachena Kunkan)



This man had a more heroic entry than Mammotty (The Tamilnadu wave? :P). This is Sarathkumar's first Malayalam movie. I don't know why there was a big applause for Sarath than Mammotty in theatre in his first scene though the audience were 90% malayalis. But Sarath deserves it. A brilliant performance. Lot of importance given to Sarath.





Manoj K Jayan (Thalakkal Chandu)

He has done a tribal warrior role. He is a very important person in Pazhassi Raja's army and in the movie too.His Guerrilla war tricks were interesting to watch. 

Padmapriya (Neeli)


I actually pitied on her for acting in Pokkisham and was doubtful about her future. But she has come back strongly. The action scenes in which she comes were really mind blowing. So is the interaction scene with Manoj when they go for the tribal festival. What a performance!!! You deserve a National award.

Suman, Kanika, Thilakan and all other actors have done their role perfectly.

Technicians

Cinematography (Ramanath Shetty)

He has beautifully shown the the already beautiful Wayanad forests.  It was a real treat to see those places. I feel like going there and be in the forests itself. So beautiful was it.

Sound Design (Resul Pookotty)

The Oscar fame Resul expects that there will be audience who will come just to hear the sounds he has given It can be even true to some extent. We have not heard such sounds of swords, rain, spitting, table moving etc in any other Indian movie before. But I feel there was a little over dosage. I remember Thotta dharani one time told that best set is something which people don't appreciate as a set. This is true to Sound effects too. It not be explicit.

Music (Ilayaraaja)

He is the hero of the movie according to me. Who else in India can give such a wold-standard music? Brilliant!!! Awesome!!!!! Great!!!! I can watch this movie 100 times just for the BGMs and of course songs are wonderful as I have written in my music review.The OST of the movie should be released. Hear one of the BGMs which was used quite a few times during fight scenes in the official website and it can be downloaded here. Ilayaraja has actually produced a part of the score at the Hungarian National Philharmonic (Hungarian State Symphony Orchestra), Budapest.





Screenplay (MT Vasudevan Nair)

I have not seen any other movie written by him. But I have heard a lot about him. Historic movie is always a tough job. A lot of research should be done. I want to clarify one thing. There was some complaints from some Tamilians that the movie projects Pazhassi Raja as the first freedom fighter. It is not true. No where in the movie was anything like that told. Pazhassi Raja in one scene tells about the Sivagangai freedom fighters too.

Direction (Hariharan)

Hats Off. Thanks for giving such a wonderful movie. Looking forward to see many good movies from you.

I would like to make a special mention about the action scenes. Lot of efforts have been taken to shoot those scenes. All the action scenes were interesting to watch.


Pazhassi Raja is a must watch movie!

I will watch it again in Tamil :)

3 comments:

Narayanan said...

I ll surely try to watch. thanks 4 the review.

n i want to share a link with u

http://www.musicquencher.com/blog/2009/08/25/multiple-versions-of-a-single-tune/
illayaraja's masterpiece in different languages and in concert with instrumental version

Karthik.R said...

@Narayan

I have heard all these versions but it was nice to see everything together written comprehensively.

I think, the tune is going to be re-used in a future Hindi movie by Ilayaraja like he did for Cheenikum.

Narayanan said...

oh..cool. but it is already in hindi ..i saw in that post