Rajadhi Raja

I don't understand the obsession of the Malayalam film industry with high-octane action movies that look like different story sequences stitched together. And there are these fan associations that fuel such films with crowd-backing and whistling torque. Even one-movie old nobodies have such fan associations in Southern film industries, that I am planning to shift to managing and writing for such associations rather sit here and review a film which if you do not watch with caution will lapse you directly into a medically irreversible coma.

Mammootty plays an innocent family man, making his ends meet from the revenue collected from a gas station and a small restaurant. Lakshmi Rai plays his wife and together they have a hideous daughter. By the time you realize, from the title and the bombastic trailer, that there is another side to the central character, the running time clocks at about 70 minutes. Then, whatever plays is history.

Writers have tried to merge two things here, namely a situational family drama and a terrorism related thriller. While none of these two elements induce any traction individually, now merged together they go beyond their ineffectiveness and cause a catastrophe which is laid out in the remaining 80 minutes. Other than Mammootty's glamorous, slow-motion walks and stunts, there is nothing to relish here. And even that slips into monotony as the story succeeds in boring you, which goes like this: a good guy becomes bad guy and then again becomes good guy, but then the reason he became bad guy again coaxes him to become a bad guy. After spending his time in both the goodness and badassdom abysses, we are greeted with a climax which is more predictive than the outcome of post-apocalyptic forecast.

Let me not start about the cinematography and editing, which seems to have been carried out by rookies.

I was rejoiced to watch many Bollywood actors who in their original turf had slipped into oblivion. And if you, just like me, hate these Mallu actors speaking Hindi with that annoying accent, then cheers, you can unmercifully skip this film.

BOTTOM LINE: Only if you are a die-hard fan of Mammootty and if you watched his earlier film Gangster with much regard, Rajadhi Raja will be a feast. Otherwise, it is a powerful cliché.

Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES

Baasha is a film which many filmmakers (including suresh krishna himself) tried to recreate in various languages but most of them only failed in doing so. Rajadhi raja too joins those unsuccessful attempt. Mammooty's character is absolutely weak and ajay vasudev failed to utilize ikka's charm. Script is predictable where you(villain) are smart then I(hero) am smarter. Fights are terribly choreographer filled with slow motion where mammooty casually raises his hand and goons fly. If anybody who entertains us throughout was joju only. But still, it gives us decent entertainment.

A superb Mass movie from Mammootty! This Onam is for Rajadhiraja...Ajay Vasudev has done an excellent job. Udayan Sibi's scripting have abstained from trash comedies or cliché comics. Gopi Sunder's BGM is the energy factor. Lakshmi Rai has not much to perform. For Joju Vargese, this is his ever biggest break. Mammootty is at his best as Raja and Shekharan Kutty. The innocence of Shekheran Kutty and the wrath and manliness of Raja are the two different areas of the same character delivered by the actor splendidly. Songs are good. Choreography should have been improved a little bit. Art Direction is just up to the mark. Editing by Mahesh Narayanan is paced with fast cuts that avoid distraction and dullness. Shaji has cranked the visuals brilliantly. On the whole Rajadhiraja is what you have been really expecting from Megastar Mammootty for a long time as MASS ENTERTAINER...MY RATING FOR RAJADHIRAJA IS 4.5/5