At first look, Gireesh Mano's debut feature, Lavakusha, looks like a mockery of cinema. But, when you look closely and give it some more patience, it shows itself. As a shoddy and overlong remake of Sathyan Anthikkad's hit 1986 comedy film, Nadodikattu. Which is the same thing. The only difference is that the 1986 film is my all-time favorite, and this rehash here is one of the worst I saw of 2017. Neeraj Madhav and Aju Varghese play two testosterone-charged loafers who are looking for jobs, but do not want to put in the efforts. They eventually bump into Biju Menon's character who seems like he has a plan, and when you see it, a shady one. The first five minutes is enough for anyone to understand that not much imagination or creativity has gone into writing Lavakusha, which is the debut work of Madhav as a scenarist. Other than the hugely off and continuously abrupt narrative, this comedy thriller looks like it is inspired by all the comedies and thrillers we have seen in Malayalam cinema over the past year. Maybe writer Madhav thought of repurposing all the films that he has watched since he entered the arena. Whatever is the inspiration, for an informed audience, Lavakusha is a hike and disappointment. The one or two jokes that may make you chuckle is not enough entertainment and the remaining jest, which is of a lower quality than what you see in those comedy television skits in Indian Malayalam national channels, together make it an undesired and highly repugnant affair. Even the lead actors' childish performances or Deepti Sati's eye-candy character and single expression could not save this from tanking. Lavakusha is terribly long, massively off-putting, and an altogether failed attempt. TN.
