antophil

"Pranayam", even though the movie posters(gray heads, and the settings) gave us a clear picture of the entire story, I somehow finally decided to give it a try, risking 2-1/2 hours from my life, and as usual no surprises, the same old story continues in this melodramatic piece from Blessy. A mediocre plot(remember the old malayalam movie "thriveni sanghamam", centering around three people, expanded and over-elaborated dramatically, as if the director trying hard to make believe the viewers about the pathetic conditions of characters and literally forcing the viewers to accept and feel what he is churning out, brutally turning out to be a tedious and wearisome task for them and finally leaving the theater in relief, as if they just finished attending a dull and long "philosophical" verbal diarrhea. Blessy like a below-average school student writing long essays lacking depth, subject, and content during monthly exams, failing miserably as a director. Characters coming out from nowhere filled with over-excitement and tediously long dramatic dialogues sadly lacking life. Mohanlal as "Mathews" the only exception adding a little color to this altogether dull "requiem." My advise for the curious viewers, stay away! and save your precious 2-1/2 hours.

Only with the support of a tremendous camera work and the leading actor's brilliant performance, you cannot make a great movie..a perfect example is "Bhramaram." Mohanlal is talented and he delivered his one of the best performances..Ajayan Vincent is a craftsman and he did it brilliantly..so what was Blessy's role? Not forgetting the actors and technical crew are the tools of the Director, but only in case of great directors I strongly believe. Casting was awful (excluding Mohanlal) in Bhramaram. Child actor's (Mohanlal's daughter) "perfomance" makes us realize that we are sitting in a theater and watching just a movie. After a few minutes of curiosity from the opening, viewers starts to lose it. Sadly, Blessy failed to keep the thrill (at least the curiosity) until the climax. The "twist" is long before understood. Blessy should have to re-watch Padmarajan films before coming up with next crap, to learn how the Great Master keeps the viewers involved with the progress of the story-line in his movies. Bhramaram is an ordinary melodrama filled with "made up" and unnecessary scenes and an utter awful "acting" from it's co-stars.

If you want to feel the boldness of an unusual story telling or the chill of an unknown fear inching it's way up the spine, which you may not have experienced before..then go for this movie. A strong story line with limited characters, filmed mostly throughout a single location, building a subtle atmospheric terror without a doubt will haunt you for days. Character development at its best. Mammootty, Nedumudi Venu and Ashokan scoring in with outstanding performances. Giving the pleasure of reading a thrilling short story, the plot never losing it's tempo, keeping it all the way up to the chilling climax. Realistically and masterfully done by Director Padmarajan with a fine camera work by Shaji.