Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil

Movie focused on entertainment and comedy - but is not perfect or even close to perfect interms of logical consistency, profound story. Message or even screenplay - but was enjoyable nonetheless!

The movie is focused pretty much on the hot and cold bromance and relationship between Prithviraj and Basil - at the cost of the side characters. In a comedy, this could be forgiven - though felt many stellar actors are wasted due to this - mainly Nikila (who apart for a brief window towards to end) was a mute spectator, similarly Jagadeesh, Baiju etc.

The cameo by Yogibabu though was funny - but for those familiar with his Tamil movies would find it pretty flat and un-original - there are 10s if not 100s of films were he has done the same (expression, dialogues, actions all pretty much the same)

The main problem I had was the below average music - none of the songs made any lasting impressions. After watching movie I could not even recollect a single song from the movie !

I've never been bowled over by Deepu Pradeep's scripts - Kunjiramayanam was saved by a 10-minute Biju Menon intervention, Padmini was certainly an odd one, and The Priest was meh. I understand his and director Vipin Das' intention to create a colorful wedding entertainer like in the '90s, but with a premise this interesting and such a talented cast, one simply expects the output to be FAR, FAR BETTER. The music, for starters, is mostly a disappointment. And that's coming from someone who enjoyed Ankit Menon's work in Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey. The writing lets us in on an early twist (which is fairly nonsensical, to begin with) and then proceeds to stretch this one idea into a 2h 10m conflict with flat developments and a flat finish. I didn't find the use of Azhagiya Laila or the Drishyam dialogues to be that funny; maybe, it managed to generate mild chuckles.

I often wonder why the Priyadarshan entertainers of the '80s, '90s, and early 2000s work the way they do, even on an Nth rewatch. Yes, they often came from the smart brains of either a peak Sreenivasan, VR Gopalakrishnan, or Priyadarshan himself. They were beautifully packaged to suit our Malayali sensibilities, with fantastic songs, dance numbers, and a consistent supply of rollicking humor. A film like Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil aspires for the same, and it does seem like it has its share of happy takers. That said, I don't think anything or anyone in the film particularly stood out - including Basil Joseph (who's usually fun in his relatable, relaxed avatar but not quite the case here), Prithviraj (who still struggles in situational comedies), Nikhila Vimal (what a waste; she could've been the real difference-maker here if the writing was better), and Anaswara Rajan (who makes for an absolutely dashing bride, but the character sketch is so puerile). The Guruvayoor temple set design, however, was well done (+1 pt for the obvious Nandanam reference.

Even though the film boasts some reliable names in the supporting cast (like Jagadeesh, Baiju, Siju Sunny, Saafboi, Yogi Babu, and more), none of them get any memorable LOL scenes. It all boils down to bland writing that fails to extract the full potential of an organically funny premise. Vipin Das better get back to his own drawing board, as even from a directorial perspective, I couldn't find many creative decisions worth raving about. I wish folks didn't start branding this the new gold standard for humor featuring a large ensemble. Go and re-watch Vettam for the 78,463rd time, please.

P. S. I'm very clearly in the minority here, and that's OKAY!

Guruvayoorambala Nadayil follows the path of so many great 90s family comedy movies of Malayalam and updated it for the new generation. The bRomance between Basil's and Prithviraj's characters is truly the highlight of the movie. When Basil says "Ente Aanandhettan" that's better than all the romantic movies I've seen recently. The comedy of errors in the last act wasn't perfect but it had enough things going on well, that it worked really great. Guruvayoor in Malayalam cinema couldn't be mentioned without Nandhanam and that part was really nicely executed. Non-Malayalis who started watching Malayalam films recently would totally get confused by some of the things at the end.

The Guruvayoor sets were incredible. If I didn't know it was a set, I would've believed it was the real temple where I've visited so many times. Seeing places near Guruvayoor that I know very well was nice too.

I wasn't really impressed with the songs but the way they were visualized was nice. The really sad thing is how underutilized the female characters are when there is space for them to do things. Both Anaswara and Nikhila could have done way more in so many scenes that felt unfinished. Especially Nikhila Vimal is wasted with showing such potential for the character with that intro and plot points. That intro she got was really awesome and a fan inside me was ready to watch her do something but alas, she got to do nothing. It felt like there might have been more that was shot but they couldn't really coherently put it together, so opted to sideline them instead.

But despite all the flaws it had, it was an entertainer from start to finish in a purely Malayali way. Having a houseful responsive audience really do help with these types of films.

The film starts off with an incredible bang, delivering a first half that is nothing short of a laugh riot. The initial setup is expertly crafted, replete with sharp writing, well-timed humor, and engaging character dynamics that keep you thoroughly entertained. The direction in this segment is tight, the pacing brisk, and the comedy hits the mark with consistent precision. This is the part of the film that I'd eagerly recommend to anyone looking for a good time at the movies. However, a word of caution is necessary: brace yourself for a noticeable dip in quality as the film progresses into its second half.

After intermission, the movie unfortunately takes a nosedive. The writing loses its earlier sharpness, giving way to a series of poorly constructed scenes that left me cringing in my seat. The once bright and engaging storyline becomes muddled and directionless. It seems as though the writers ran out of steam, resulting in a narrative that drags and feels aimless. The climax, in particular, is disappointingly stretched out, leading to an unsatisfying and gloomy conclusion. What started as a promising journey ends on a sour note, leaving the audience with a sense of unfulfilled potential.

One of the most glaring issues in the second half is the underutilization of Yogi Babu. Known for his impeccable comedic timing and distinctive screen presence, Yogi Babu could have significantly elevated the film had his talents been properly harnessed.

Additionally, the introduction of too many characters mid-way through the film further complicates the narrative. Rather than enriching the story, these characters clutter the plot and detract from the central storyline. The focus shifts erratically, and the film struggles to maintain the coherence and charm that characterized its beginning. This overcrowding dilutes the impact of the main characters, making it hard for the audience to stay invested in their arcs.

In summary, this movie is a textbook example of a tale of two halves. The first half promises a delightful cinematic experience filled with humor and wit, making it a must-watch. However, the second half's weak writing, poor utilization of key talent, and an overabundance of characters derail the film, resulting in a frustrating and lackluster conclusion. If you do decide to watch this film, you might find yourself contemplating leaving at intermission to preserve.

Simple story presented in a very very engaging and entertainment manner by vipin das and crew !!

A lot of fresh faces and combo of actors are in it and they done their roles nicely!

Nikhila vimal & anaswara rajan has important characters and they did fine !

Bromance between Prithviraj Sukumaran & Basil Joseph is rollicking and it is very entertaining to watch them in big screen together ,they both rocked and their combo scenes are treat to the audience !

Technical side gave ample support .

Next super hit is loading from Mollywood !

Hilarious entertainment is awaiting near your cinemas !!!