Neelavelicham

I don't think this film is supposed to be enjoyed without watching the original adaptation Bhargavi Nilayam. There are so many choices in the movie that would only make sense to someone who's already a fan of the original classic.

There are enough changes from the original that is expected to be the minimal changes from the original but not changing too much pkus the songs, etc further proves how much of a homage this film is.

The unnamed writer protagonist here is made to much more apparent as a version of Vaikom Muhammad Basheer himself here unlike the original and again that adds to it being such a loving homage. Technically it is amazing and the anamorphic format is always the best in theaters.

Tovino manages well as the protagonist. Roshan looks uncomfortable but somehow managed his character but Rima, even though not outright terrible, was really a miscast here.

Chithra's voice also felt unfit for the songs she sung.

With the dialogues being exactly the same as from 60 yeara ago and a general stiffness in acting that looks kind of a stylistic choice, this very well may feel like a bad movie that is shot beautifully to the majority. But for the fans of the source material this is a breezy watch.

We have been putting up with white saree clad ghosts who are always sad, singing and out to get their revenge in soulless movies for decades. Neelavelicham brings back the original white saree clad ghost. There is a back story which explains why she is what she is.

The protagonist's monologues addressing the ghost which he only half believes in is heart warming. Tovino brings to life the essence of Basheer. He is depressed from a recent break up, broke financially and still manages to crack jokes to himself. The master storyteller of Kerala was portrayed with lots of love and care.

Rima's Bhargavi is hated by most of the male characters in the movie. It beautifully paints the picture of a patriarchal society where a rebel young woman walked with her head held high. Her character arch and backstory were beautifully told.

Other actors like Roshan and Shine also did justice to their roles. The roles were portrayed a bit theatrically paying homage to the original. The recreation of songs was also well done. It has subtle differences from the original but the essence of the songs and the emotions are preserved. There are a few jump scares. Tovino's expressions when his character experiences the supernatural is the best thing with this movie. All blood drains from his face though he believes the ghost to be not malevolent is the best portrayal of human kind reacting to the concept of unknown.

In short, beautiful movie worth watching. Subtitles on Amazon Prime are decent, so non Keralites can enjoy it too.

Film Review: Malayalam language film Neelavelicham streaming on Prime Video ( available with English subtitles!!)

Directed by Ashiq Abu, Neelavelicham tells the story of a writer, Tovino Thomas ( Basheer )who rents a mansion that is reportedly haunted by the spirit of a young woman who committed suicide after being betrayed in love . As he starts staying there and writing the tragic love story between Bhargavi ( Rima Kallingal) and Roshan Mathew (SasiKumar) he stumbles upon evidence that suggests something otherwise. Will Basheer uncover the truth & free Bhargavis soul ?

The film is based on Vaikom Muhammad Basheer's renowned short story and a remake of the 1964 blockbuster, Bhargavi Nilayam.

To watch or skip - cinematography is nice and the beautiful sleepy seaside village ambience has been captured beautifully. Lead cast including Tovino Thomas, Rima Kallingal, Tom Chako & Roshan Mathew have performed well in their respective roles!!

On the flip side the narrative might seem a bit slow especially in the first half. Some songs and flashbacks end up slowing the pace of the film bigtime. However we have to remember that this is a remake of a film from a bygone era and the reconstruction hits the mark perfectly!!

If u have watched Guru Dutt & Meena Kumari's Sahib Biwi aur Gulaam or Satyajit Ray's Monihara .... This film will remind you of the treatment given to these evergreen classics !!

I enjoyed it but be warned, this is a film devoid of any chills thrills and action ... Hence not everyone's cup of tea!!

Going with 3/5 for this one .. Adios 🙂!!

#Neelavelicham #sanjuzzreviews #tovinothomas #RoshanMathew #tomchako #PrimeVideoIN.

When watching the newer version of the film, I was taken aback by how the editing quality was not nearly as good as the original version. The cuts between scenes felt disjointed and awkward, and the flow of the story was not smooth. Additionally, I felt that the lead actor, Tovino, was not up to the task of handling the main role. His performance lacked the charisma and energy that the previous actor, Madhu, had brought to the character.

Furthermore, I also noticed that the characters in the newer version of the film seemed to be much older than their counterparts in the original version. However, their acting skills did not seem to be up to par with their seniority. They appeared to be struggling with their roles and emotions, especially in comparison to the original performances. Overall, I was disappointed with the newer version of the film as it could not capture the charm, vibrancy, and energy level of the original version.

To watch the new version of the movie I was taken aback by how the editing quality was not as good as the original version. The music is mermerizing and the frames are aesthetically supreme the sound effect are not really to make some one scare with that. On the performance tovino did well rest were forgettable partly due to lack of character development the protagonist monologue addressing the ghost which he only half believe in is heart warming . The master story teller of Kerala was portrayed with lots of love and care. Other actors like Roshan and Shine also did justice with their character.