Perumazhakaalam - a balance of sensible emotions
Movies portray emotions, some realistic some exaggerated.
I am not leading not concluding that one is better than the other.
I enjoy all genres, but some more than others; and then selected movies across these genres more than the lot.
Often I have tried to analyse what makes it work for me, and I find the balance a key aspect.
Hence perumazhakkaaalam. Balance in amount of emotions, amount of music and quality of it, balance in the total happiness quotient, balance in roles for actors.
Here are some arguments to the effect:
1. There are two romantic songs in the movie. One based in the north kerala mappila pattu Hindustani ragas and another based in Carnatic ragas for a more Hindu Iyer mode(not an expert here... Just a little ahead of the common music enthusiast at best). And both these songs are awesome: kallayi kadavathe & chentharmizhi.
2. The key roles played very convincingly by Meera Jasmine and Kavya Madhavan have each their turns to set the screen and the audiences minds on fire with some brilliant acting. Through the clever slicing of parts, the storyteller has you believe that one is better than the other, and then flips the tables on you. At the end the ladies were the two poles around which the movie wins you over.
3. Importance of supporting roles - Mala Aracindakshan is possibly one of the most typecasted underrated actor in malayalam; mammukoya another. And this movie is a lesson to what these actors can achieve when given meaty roles. The balance they bring to the otherwise bi-polar is amazing. Hats off.
4. The total happiness quotient of the movie is not too negative even when the subject is a no one wins plot. To put a positive spin to the movie, the story picks out just the right measure of despair to empathise with the characters and wraps it with just an iota less of colourful moments and cheer.
5. No super hero - even with super heroesque Dileep, who would want to overact his typical comical nuance (am I too harsh on the guy or did he earn it? Not sure). This movie had one of the most sensible acting from him. His counterpart in the movie, vineeth, too has portrayed his role with balance. Just enough of these characters are shown in the movie to not leave out and feel connected to the plot that revolved around then as much as the ladies.
Enough on the balance; the next item I have to mention is the constant rain, and in agreement to the movie title. There is a constant, almost unreal, rain switching on and off, and with references in dialogues and songs. It marks the helplessness, the gloom, the nothing can be done today feeling that brings back memories of growing up in Kerala.
The other thing I have to mention is the music. FABULOUS - in the days of cassettes and records, this would be one you could not miss. My fav? Rakkilithan vazhi marayum novin perumazha kaalam.
I kid you not - I was in tears when this song played, and then for most parts of the movie. Watch it !!
Movies portray emotions, some realistic some exaggerated.
I am not leading not concluding that one is better than the other.
I enjoy all genres, but some more than others; and then selected movies across these genres more than the lot.
Often I have tried to analyse what makes it work for me, and I find the balance a key aspect.
Hence perumazhakkaaalam. Balance in amount of emotions, amount of music and quality of it, balance in the total happiness quotient, balance in roles for actors.
Here are some arguments to the effect:
1. There are two romantic songs in the movie. One based in the north kerala mappila pattu Hindustani ragas and another based in Carnatic ragas for a more Hindu Iyer mode(not an expert here... Just a little ahead of the common music enthusiast at best). And both these songs are awesome: kallayi kadavathe & chentharmizhi.
2. The key roles played very convincingly by Meera Jasmine and Kavya Madhavan have each their turns to set the screen and the audiences minds on fire with some brilliant acting. Through the clever slicing of parts, the storyteller has you believe that one is better than the other, and then flips the tables on you. At the end the ladies were the two poles around which the movie wins you over.
3. Importance of supporting roles - Mala Aracindakshan is possibly one of the most typecasted underrated actor in malayalam; mammukoya another. And this movie is a lesson to what these actors can achieve when given meaty roles. The balance they bring to the otherwise bi-polar is amazing. Hats off.
4. The total happiness quotient of the movie is not too negative even when the subject is a no one wins plot. To put a positive spin to the movie, the story picks out just the right measure of despair to empathise with the characters and wraps it with just an iota less of colourful moments and cheer.
5. No super hero - even with super heroesque Dileep, who would want to overact his typical comical nuance (am I too harsh on the guy or did he earn it? Not sure). This movie had one of the most sensible acting from him. His counterpart in the movie, vineeth, too has portrayed his role with balance. Just enough of these characters are shown in the movie to not leave out and feel connected to the plot that revolved around then as much as the ladies.
Enough on the balance; the next item I have to mention is the constant rain, and in agreement to the movie title. There is a constant, almost unreal, rain switching on and off, and with references in dialogues and songs. It marks the helplessness, the gloom, the nothing can be done today feeling that brings back memories of growing up in Kerala.
The other thing I have to mention is the music. FABULOUS - in the days of cassettes and records, this would be one you could not miss. My fav? Rakkilithan vazhi marayum novin perumazha kaalam.
I kid you not - I was in tears when this song played, and then for most parts of the movie. Watch it !!
Labels: Movie Review, perumazhakaalam, Songs I like
posted by Heart of Gold !! at 5:09 PM
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