Naran

The lone hotel owner in Mullankolli village decides to put a board for his hotel with the name in both Malayalam and Tamil. No, says Velayudhan (Mohanlal), a local thug. A man comes to sell fish which is kind of rotten. The buyers have no problems with it, but the man cannot sell fish, says Velayudhan. When someone challenges him, he beats him to pulp. As his symbol, he puts a stick on the ground, like a totem and challenges anyone to touch it. Apparently Mullamkolli exists in a place where no one has heard of Indian Penal Code and personal freedom.

How can you have heard of it when the place itself is isolated and to get there one has to cross a river by boat. Occasionally there is flooding in the river and trees comes floating down it. Velayudhan's main job is to jump into the river, collect those trees and sell it for a good income. Though he dictates others on how to run their business, he runs a toddy shop, but it is alright, since there are some rules for the shop, like the Ten Commandments.

Due to Velayudhan's thuggery, there is law and order in the village and outsiders and insiders seldom do mischief and women are not harassed. He also sleeps in the veranda of a prostitute Kunnil Shanta (Sona Nair), so that she is not troubled. Where else can you find such a lovable thug with a heart of gold other than in such movies. Due to this Velayudhan is loved by a lot of people, including Kelappan's (Innocent) daughter Leela (Bhavana). He also has an ex-flame, Janaki (Devayani), who got married to ration shop owner Krishnan (Maniyanpillai Raju).

Velayudhan's mother had come floating in the floods and had given birth to him and floated away. He was taken by Valiya Nambiar (Madhu), the only person whom he respects. Due to Velayudhan's moral policing, he is hated by the Panchayat Member Kurup (Jagathi Sreekumar) and Nambiar's son-in-law Gopinathan (Siddique). Both of them try to attack and discredit him many times and many people die, but ultimately the predictable happens.

Read rest of the review at:http://varnachitram.com/2006/09/22/review-naran/

The movie is a totally refreshing one with splendid performance by Malayalam's greatest actor. Mohanlal as Mullamkolli Velayudhan is a visual treat. The story is nothing new but the experience of Joshi and Mohanlal make it a "Must Watch" for the festival season. Mullankolli is a interior rustic village, near a river. Velayudhan (Mohanlal) is an orphan who came floating on a reef during floods and he was brought up by Valiya Nambiar (Madhu) a do-good and a feudal landlord of the area.

Velayudhan grows up into a riff-Raff, drunkard and a local rowdy with a good heart. He hates injustice and has set his own rules for the villagers who are scared of him including local moneylender and politician 'member' Kurup (Jagathy). Gopinathan Nambiar (Siddique) son-in-law of Valliya Nambiar who wants to lord over the village in his own way.

When Velayudhan plants a stick like lord Murugan's Vel, it means that it has his stamp of authority. The only man who he listens to is Valiya Nambiar and to a certain extent Kelappan (Innocent) who looked after him as a child. The villagers including Kurup and Gopinathan regularly bring goondas from outside the village to eliminate Velayudhan but they fail. There are three women in his life- a prostitute Kunnil Shanta( Sona Nair) old flame Janaki( Devayani) and Kelappan's daughter Leela (Bhavana). But things turn bleak for Velayudhan due to the machinations of Gopinathan which leads to the climax.

The only aim of producer Antony Perumbavor, director Joshi and writer Ranjan Pramod is to somehow cash in on Mohanlal image during the Onam season and make a hit. The music of Deepak Dev is hummable especially the Kavadi number, though there is only two songs. But what makes the film look fresh is the Hogennakal and Polachi locations and the art work of Joseph Nellikal and camera of Shaji is top notch mainly all the river and underwater scenes.

Go and watch it for Mohanlal. He is simply superb!!

Anti-heroes are always risky. For a small mistake in execution can result in big loss. With a gripping script, Ranjan Pramod and Joshy knew only one man cud do 100% justification to the character. And he did it again this time. Mohanlal didn't act as Velayudhan. He came live on-screen. His transformation from a rogue anti-hero to a human hero is pakka.

Mohanlal is the only one who can don this role. The characterisation is perfect. Right from Lal's intro, each and every action/one-to-one dialogue sequence was received by the audience with huge applause. Even after the film, the theatre was filled with clapping sound and applause. Everyone enjoyed it for sure.

To conclude, I would say Naran struck the right balance between human and super-human. The right mix of action, adventure, comedy and sentiments has resulted in a delicious feast.

Mohanlal has brought a different dimension to his skills. Naran has it all. It shows that the actor had worked hard to make the character living on the screen.

The story doesn't have anything new. Ranjan Promod has etched out the characters very carefully. Keeri-Bheeman Reghu's character is with a difference. The dosage of comic touch in the dialogs are in correct level. There are clichés in the movie. Songs would have been avoided. The theme song is hummable.

Shaji's camera work is first rate. The rain/underwater scenes make you wet. After all kudos to Joshi.

I don't know how many times I have seen this movie.. in this movie you can't see mohan lal at all!! it's all Mullankolli Velayudhan.. his innocent nature and stubborn theories and love and affection for his loved ones are the movie is all about.. Mohan lal lived as this character and you won't regret watching this movie..