Ee Adutha Kaalath

8 Points to note before watching the movie -

1. Movie becomes interesting only after 90 minutes.

2. Fab India, Domino's Pizza and Coca-Cola get publicity.

3. Nishan's character is creepy even to someone gay.

4. Karthika Balachandran and Dia Handrich play pivotal and uncredited minor roles in this movie.

5. Jagathy's character could have been played by a newcomer coz does not make a difference.

6. Why did Gimi George agree to do this movie?

7. Murali Gopy's doctor(?) character is frustrated coz he is unable to perform since many years.

8. Lena's wig is cheap and tacky. A feminist (a pseudo-feminist as well) does not require a 'boy-cut'.

Interconnecting different story lines and characters are kind of a craze in the malayalam industry now. While things haven't really gone bad for this genre with so many people jumping aboard, in fact a lot of other genres are being brought into the mix in this genre and things are looking good in the form of a Cocktail. There are so many characters in the story but the film advertises only six of them. And each of these six characters are vibrant and colorful human blueprints. How these humans make their decisions and what kind of an impact it has on the others - that is the basic core of the movie. And in order to the set the ball rolling, the director takes his own time. It gets frustrating after a bit but I sit patiently thinking that everything happens for a reason. And voila, the inevitable twist happens and then it is on a roll. By the climax, how things lock down has been brilliantly done by the director and the writer. What struck me was the inclusion of dark comedy in the second half. It is just a minor level entry but was done very nicely. Performances by Indrajith and Murali Gopy was good. BGM was average. Acting by Tanushree and Mythili was pathetic. It doesn't quite bring out the pathos experienced by the characters to the forefront. Overall a good attempt. Rustic over here and there. It doesn't bring about euphoric moments but worked around quite well for me.

Only flaw that was annoying more than anything was film's length which could've sorted out with clever editing. Film is about a lives of many people with different lifestyle and how their life get tangled with each other effectively conveyed through multiple narrative narration. The usual problem with multiple or hyperlink narrative is that they test your patience for awhile and ultimately rewarded as it reaches culmination(everything would be settled in its place). I believe all the actors have performed their roles perfectly. Standout performance seems to be coming from Indrajith. Murali G as a angry frustrated man was convincing. Other actors like Anoop menon, lena, Jagathy, Tanushree ghosh, Nishan etc done their part well. Although Tanushree lip syncing was a bit let down. None of the songs made an impact albeit background music was apt and perfectly placed. On technical side they should've trimmed the length. Pace of the film was making me yarn throughout. Second half was better than the first half. Overall film is a likable fare. Rating : 7.1/10

Director Arun Kumar Aravind has come out with his second venture "Ee Adutha Kalathu" and the screen play is written by Murali Gopi for whom this is a second endeavour as well. The movie comes to the theaters today and narrates the strange realities of life in a big city. Vishnu, the protagonist, played by Indrajith is an all purpose utility man: he collects rags, he is in great demand by cricket teams for his unorthodox hitting, he is an errand boy and many other things. He is also a loving husband and an indulgent father. Ramani, his wife, played by Mythili, does not think too highly of him and justifiably so. He has an ailing mother and two charming daughters. In short, they are the typical struggling family living in the city and off the city. And trying to keep the wolf from the door! In the process, they have to fight off the loan sharks as well. The movie is full of interesting characters who are unveiled as in a fashion show. Madhuri (Tanushree), an ex-actress with a few B-grade Bollywood movies to her credit, lives with her husband Ajay Kurien(Murali Gopi) and eleven year old son Ayur. Madhuri maintains her stunning good looks even now. And she is a kind soul. Ajay Kurien is a self-made person coming up the ranks and presently working as the Chief in a city hospital. He learned his trade in Mumbai and is proud of his feat and knows how to get around in a city. Ayur is mad after cricket and spends time trying to solve the puzzle of the Rubik's cube. A serial killer is lurking in the streets stalking his prey. Rustam (Nishan) has come to the city on a contract and lives in a rented room among the migrant workers. He is dashing, drives around in a bike and speaks Malayalam in bits and peaces. He is a dazzler and a scoundrel. Anoop Menon is Tom Cherian, the Commissioner of Police. He is an aspiring cop bent upon earning name and fame and for him, the end justifies the means. And his love Roopa, played by Lena, is equally ambitious as a no-holds-barred journalist. "Ee Adutha Kalathu" revolves around these characters and how they cope with the strange realities of life in a big city. Indrajith is subtle and classy and Murali Gopi is as good in his acting as in his script writing. Anoop Menon confirms his rising stature as a star, with a scintillating performance. Jagathy Sreekumar has done justice to his role. Nishan is impressive. Among the female stars, Tanushree with her glamorous looks and lucid expressions has left an indelible impression. Mythili as the fiery wife and Lena as the journalist have portrayed their characters vividly. Gimi George and Baiju have not disappointed. Arunkumar Aravind has created a different movie, relevant, yet attractive and the technical excellence has to be appreciated. The visuals by Shehnad Jalal are of high quality and helps in improving the quality of the film. Art by Jothish Shankar tasty and refined. Gopi Sunder's music is pleasing and catchy as well. The same could be said of background music. As the story unfolds on the screen, we watch the people helplessly caught up in mazes and puzzles in their journey through life and trying to unravel the mysteries. Joy and sorrow, anxiety and humour, fear and courage, we witness the different emotions and the different ways of dealing with them. There are plenty of loops and turns in the story but there is an element of credibility in them all and the viewer's intelligence is taken seriously by the film maker. Coupled with the all round performance of the actors, "Ee Adutha Kalathu" is a remarkably refreshing and sensitive movie making a candid statement of life in the cities.

Verdict: Excellent !

Ee Adutha Kaalath knits in several pieces from many plots and spin it with all the twists, flips and turns just like we do it in Rubick's cube. You need all the patience and brain in the world to really like it in the end just the way you need to solve the Rubik's cube puzzle. Its really lovable only if you follow the game from the beginning with keenness.

The multi-plot threads are always gripping and thrilling, the character sketching being too substantial for this mode of story telling. "Ee Adutha Kaalath" doesn't come out good in that respect with some of its characters half baked, and some sub plots over dramatic. Though the dialogs were a bit rhetoric throughout the movie, the scenes in which the book titles explaining the situation were pictured rather smartly. Murali, the script writer who also played Dr.Ajay Kurien needs special mention for unveiling his character so rigorously. Indrajith as Vishnu excels. The casting wasn't the best to be, so was editing - Arun Kumar who is the editor & director had a dream debut with "Cocktail" - which went down at times. The background score by Gopi sundar saves the movie many a time from getting drowned.

The movie brings in many contemporary social issues in the plot, all very brilliantly knitted. But seldom do we really stay glued to our seats anticipating the next move for it falls in shades where it could have been neat. That said, the script needs appreciation for bringing in too many things which are connected making them all fall in place in the end. Had it been suave and shrewd, it would have been a class apart. Ee Adutha Kaalath is a diacritical attempt which stands tall thematically and philosophically. Watch it once or twice.