Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja

For a Mollywood cinephile, there are quite a few reasons to watch Pazhassi Raja .Not only that it is made in the biggest budget ever in Mollywood, it is also an offering from the masters of the media, including Mammootty, M T Vasudevan Nair and Hariharan. Moreover, there are a plenty of other great names including Rasul pookuuty, Ilayaraja, Sharath Kumar and a plenty of others whose credits itself demand interest. Above all, it is the first visual rendering of the most fascinating epoch making struggle of the great leader, against tyranny and oppressions of the British.

Expectations are obviously sky high. And the question is whether it has lived up? And the big answer is 'yes'. The movie is indeed a masterpiece, which grab your attentions from the word go, taking the acceptable cinematic liberties to keep your attention all through, though in a story that everyone knows very well. Set in the final years of seventeenth century, the brilliant writer in M T has taken extreme caution to avoid the complications in narrating history. He goes by the safer path , concentrating more on pazhassi and his men and just giving out the necessary touches of historical facts .And thus the movies gallops over the first barricade of just being a realistic historical.

The movie begins with the Britisher's decision to levy heavy takes from the local rajahs. Pazhassi who belonged to the Kottayam Royal family of Thalassery region oppose this and becomes the first ruler from the state for British, to be branded as a big enemy to fight it out. Pazhassi who is forced to flee from the his palace starts a carefully planned counter action ,with the aid of his trusted lieutenant Edachena Kunkan, Sharath Kumar, Kaithery Ambu (Suresh Krishna). He gets the full fledged support from the kirichiers and tribes headed by Thalakkal Chandhi and Neeli who fights the Britishers wit Guerrilla warfare , with tribal weapons .British face heavy setbacks in various confrontations and as many as five hundred from British army are killed in fight with Pazhassi. Though Pazhassi was able to surprise the British with his tactics and bravery, traitors like Pazhayawvedam Chandhu helps the British to gain momentum and capture each of Raja's men.

The movie shows the grace of its great names in many a points and it is sure without an expert team of technicians like this, it's just impossible to execute a movie of this magnitude. In terms of visual and creative terrain that this movie covers, the big salute must be given to Rananath Sheety and Venu's mind blowing Camera-work, Ravi Dewan's action direction, splendid costume and art direction by N Muthuraj . The only aspect that could have been better include Ilayaraja's music and background scores, though songs like'' kunnathe'' are gems which may once again give the desi nightingale ''Chithra'' another big accolade. And some have craved for some more brilliant dialogues form M T, to be planted on the megastar's character.

Coming to the performances, Mammootty has given a restrained performance as the graceful raaja, but his screen presence and body language is s enough to carry the heavy character with ease. The director also seems to have decided to keep the central character more manly, without heroic build-ups until the last reels. Sharath Kumar comes up in a surprise package, with fantastic heroic looks and emotes well and gives some great action sequences. It is definitely one of the best roles ever by the Tamil Star. Manoj K Jayan and Suresh Krishna, along with Padmapriya and Kaniha, make the movie a treasure of performance with exhilarating performances.

Overall, Pazhassi Raaja remains as a great movie with brilliant direction, solid performances spectacular visuals. Never miss it, of you will be missing a classic, a brilliant tribute to the first freedom fighters who fought a valiant battle realising the inherent death, but to safeguard their honour and their land.

Indian ANSWER TO TROY,GLADIATOR BRAVE HEART. Its most awaiting movie in India.Its just not an Indian Cinema. Its a world cinema. Famous Indian actor, who won 3 National awards in Two different languages Padmasri Bharath Mammootty done the title role. The movie is simply awesome telling the story of one of the first freedom fighter in India Kerala Varma Pazhassiraja. Film is directed by Hariharan and the story is written by Famous award winning Indian writer MT Vasudevan Nair. The film is dubbed in to 5 languages. Hope this film will be rock in red carped. The sound mixing is done by Oscar winner Resool Pookutty. For more just watch the movie and enjoy.

The long anxious wait is over and the classic movie Pazhassi Raja has released in all the major theatres with much enthusiasm.

The Hariharan – MT Vasudevan team is back with their historical venture with Mammootty at the helm. Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha was a novel venture and Pazhassi Raja can only heap laurels on the makers for their creative endeavor.

Mammootty has proved once again that he has more mettle than anyone can vouchsafe for. Mammootty with his royal looks and majestic voice shows us why he is considered as the best in Indian Cinema. Tamil actor Sarath Kumar is a pleasant surprise and Manoj K Jayan is back with a bang. The manliness of these three characters is a novel sight for the audience. Kaniha as Pazhassi Raja's wife Makkam, Suresh Krishna as Kaitheri Ambu, Lalu Alex as Emman Nair, Captain Raju as Unni Mootha add to the meaning of the cinema. So also Peter Evans as Major James and Harry Key as Thomas, the representatives of the East India Company deserve special credit for their performance

With the music by Ilayaraja and special sound effects by Resul Pookutty, which is very evident in the war scenes, the movie is a treat for movie lovers. This film is technically several notches above the standard fare offered in Malayalam cinema. It would not be an exaggeration if we say that it is comparable to the best in Indian cinema.The camera work by Venu and Ramanath Shetty give the film a sleek look. The action sequences remind us of the internationally acclaimed Chinese martial art movies of recent times like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and Hero.

Gems like these happen only once in a while and when it does, never give it a miss. Two big thumbs up for this masterpiece of our times!

I have to say, I was taken by surprise. Something as Grand and Majestic as this could pop out of Malayalam film industry!! I am proud, being a Malayali myself. I loved it.

The movie begins with the British's decision to take heavy taxes from the local people under the Rajahs. Pazhassi who belonged to the Kottayam Royal family of Thalassery region oppose this and becomes the first ruler to resist them and fight it out. Pazhassi who is forced to flee from the his palace starts a carefully planned counter action, with the aid of Edachena Kunkan(Sarath Kumar)and Kaithery Ambu Suresh Krishna). He gets the full support from the kurichiers and tribal people headed by Thalakkal Chandhu( Manoj K. Jayan) and Neeli(Padmapriya) who fights the British using Guirella Warfare tactics. British faced heavy setbacks in various confrontations. Though Pazhassi was able to surprise the British with his tactics, traitors like Pazhayaveedam Chandhu helps the British in the later part of the warfare and capture each of Pazhassi's men.

Mammooty has given a graceful & effortless performance as Pazhassi Raja making him as Humanly as possible. Sharath Kumar gives us an electrifying performance as Kunkan with his machismo and sword fights. Kaniha, on the other hand, could have done better. I wasn't very impressed. Padmapriyas character maybe(I am not sure) first of its type in Malayalam films. She has handled it well and so has Manoj K. Jayan with his Thalakkal Chandu. Lalu Alex, Captian Raju, Thilakan..etc all of them have done a fine job. Its the English actors who really sucked. They should have put more professional actors. The cinematography was simply brilliant, capturing the beauty of Malabar Region. The sets and costumes and the lighting were excellent, simulating that bygone era on the silver screen. The music score by Ilaiyaraja is magnificent. The direction was good and so was the legendary M.T.'s script. The war scenes were impressive, except for the gravity defying stunt scenes.

Overall Pazhassi Raja is a great flick to watch. 9/10

Hariharan-M.T Vasudevan Nair-Mammootty team After 20 Years..After evergreen classic Oru Vadakkan Veeragadha..Expectations were sky high...Did they meet it..?My answer is a big YES...Yes one of the best war films in India..No doubt..

But comparing it with OVVG is not a good thing...In OVVG MT had full freedom to mould his character with multi-shades because of its fiction or fantasy treatment of Vadakkan Pattu. Here it is a chapter from History..So He used a safety path of straight forward storytelling...We can say script wise MT Excelled in OVVG than this..But a war film from history is not at all an easy task..Because common audience have to follow the path with less troubles..Here MT succeeded 100% with a gripping screenplay within the commercial format...You can see the beauty of dialogues here also..

Hariharan...Seriously I was very much doubtful about his treatment..Because of his recent deliveries..But he corrected in this one...His directorship is very much apt for this movie...He superbly handled(utilised) actors and production crew in all categories..

Mammootty...Who can else in Malayalam to portray a Legendary King...His screen-presence will do half the things..He performed it with subtle manner..kind of underplay...exactly opposite of Chandhu in oVVG...For fans It will be little bit disappointment...Because MT did his characterisation in this way...Thats the one of the best thing about the script..Otherwise it would have been a one-man show...

Sarathkumar...A real warrior in all aspects...Most favourite character in this film for masses..One of his career best..Manoj,Pathmapriya other protagonists..are also in good form... Technical side: Ramnath shetty:- Beauty of frames without camera gimmicks...Night shots the best one in Malayalam..(He excelled in these category in Virumandi also.."Unnai vidai" song). Resuls Sound Mixing...IMO, it's his best work than Oscar slumdog...BGM is good..But Raja sir could have done it even better...

Next is Gokulam Gopalan...big applause for his guts and dedication for this project..

I'm not going to the negatives...(because those are very minute things here...) This kind of films...Rarely happens in Malayalam...A real pride of Malayalam....