Carbon

Fahad is brilliant as always and the whole supporting cast are almost as great as him still the film gives enough space for Fahad to outshine all of them. Cinematography, subtle characterisation, juxtaposing the protagonist with everyone and everything else all works perfectly. The only problem was that at times it feels very atmospheric but looses that clarity at other times. The journey through the jungle coukd have been a bit more tighter but looking it as the uneasiness of characters communicaying to the audience it works but it was also a little bit uneven with the tone that could have been used considering the rest of the film. If not for these minor problems I would have gave it a higher rating.

The movie was really good and engaging. The actors were also really great.

First of all the character Sibi was potrayed perfectly by Fahad fasil . This story revolves around a person named Sibi who is looking for an easy way to earn money . He is a person who does a lot of mischivious things for money. The first half gives us a character sketch of Sibi . Mamta mohandas , manikandan has also performed well. The director (venu) has done a good job as the movie is kept interesting till the end and according to my opinion there was no lag . He has been able to potray the forest beautifully but it could have been done in a better way. Some of the songs were very good while others was above average . The background help us gripping in to situation in the movie. K.U mohanan has given us some beautiful shots in the forest . Above all Fahads character potrayal has been one of the best by any of the youngsters . So watch it in theatres. It's a good movie

After the critically acclaimed 'Munnariyippu', veteran cinematographer-director Venu teams up with Fahadh Fazil (who is undoubtedly the best method actor among the current crop) on a film that sheds light on the newfound struggle (and eventual evolution) of a young bloke who relishes taking the shortcut route to success.

The protagonist Sibi (played by Fahadh Fazil) totally believes in the concept of 'working smart' as opposed to 'working hard' when it comes to making it big in life. As such, he deals in uncanny businesses that involve gems, barn owls, elephants, and Chinese cycles and racks up a huge amount in debt. He is deemed a 'failure' by the world. His family (especially his dad played by a nuanced Sphadikam George), however, is more concerned about his personal safety (because he goes 'missing' quite often and doesn't respond to calls/texts) than the loans he has amassed.

Circumstances lead Sibi to Mlamedu Palace - a project where he has been asked to transform a crumbling mansion into a tourist hot-spot both by giving it a physical makeover as well putting the word out to the public about its existence amidst serene surroundings. His conversations with Pillachettan (Kochupreman) the caretaker of the mansion, Stalin (Manikandan) an inhabitant of the area who knows his ways around the forests, and Sameera (Mamta Mohandas) a jungle fanatic, ultimately lead him into an adventure out in the wild in search of a lost treasure that dates back to Tipu Sultan's era.

While the storyline may not exactly be newfangled, what intrigues viewers is the treatment - the dialogues are utterly relatable (and sprinkled with clean humor), Fahadh comes up with a multitude of expressions that give every actor of this generation a run for his money, the visuals (by K U Mohanan) are ecstatic. The best scenes, in my humble opinion, are the ones where the viewer is unable to distinguish between real and mythical - such as the one with the mahout (played by an excellent Soubin Shahir), or the hallucinatory episode in the forest.

No one but Fahadh could have pulled off Sibi's metamorphosis this effectively. He is shown to be determined yet fearful and apprehensive for a good part of the first and second halves (he avoids family, undergoes crazy nightmares, is uncomfortable with the idea of sleeping out in the open, and is completely petrified at the thought of peeping into a bear's den) - how he overcomes his weaknesses is organically integrated into the screenplay. Vishal Bharadwaj's song compositions blend into the proceedings quite well (except maybe 'Doore Doore') while Bijibal's soundscape is apt. When it comes to performances, even folks who show up for just a few minutes (or scenes) manage to leave a solid impression - be it Vijayaraghavan, Dileesh Pothen, Soubin or Sharafudheen.

Having known Director Venu's fascination for forests and wildlife (as he also happens to be a family-friend), I had a feeling that it was not going to take long before he blew us audiences away with a story set in the woods. 'Carbon' may not turn out to be everyone's cup of tea - a sense of ambiguity prevails throughout, and the 'rushed' climax may appear underwhelming for audiences who enjoy being 'spoon-fed' all the time. But for me, 'Carbon' is certainly a thinking man's thriller. The aspects of mystery and magical realism are simply great add-ons. Experience it in a crowded cinema hall while you can, people!

There is a time in everyone's life when we fantasized. We imagine things in our head and twist reality to our whim, so much so that sometimes, the two worlds get confusingly mixed up. Most of us 'grow out' of this after we become adults and the child inside fades away. But what about those of us who don't fully grow up? Is there any place for fantasy in our overcrowded minds and overpopulated lives?

Carbon tells us the story of one such guy who is stuck inside his dreamworld, or rather half stuck. He doesn't have a job, but he has an abundance of schemes and ploys which can make him rich overnight. None of these schemes ever work though, either because they're too far-fetched in the first place or due to plain bad luck. He is, in society's words, a loser. What would such a person do when he realises that reality has long caught up with him? Does he give in to the blandness of the real world or does the dreamer inside him push him to do something beyond logic, in absolute desperation.

This is a beautiful film which many of us can painfully relate to on several levels. The responsibilities towards your home, your aging father standing at the bus stop, your friend who has an own house and a new wife, all of which call out to you, asking, what are you doing with your life?