Watching a classic of 1982 in the year 2014 and deriding it for lacking new-age panache would never do justice to the film. So, Yavanika, in all its glory, could be considered a masterpiece.
Because of the narration. No one would even guess the film is about murder. It starts with the proceedings of drama troupe as they rehearse, perform and interact with each other. The character development is amazing; each character is idiosyncratic and their stories all are told beautifully. Take Nedumudi Venu as the flirty dandy or even Jagathy Sreekumar in one of his initial comic roles or Thilakkan as the troupe manager.
The story advances quickly in the second half as Mammootty enters the scene to investigate the missing of a troupe member who is known to be a drunk bastard. We could guess who the murdered might be, but all the following sequences negate our guesses. The interrogation, actual field investigation all will keep you hooked. The dialogs are both witty & apt. Even the songs are classics and I sat there asking my partner "Oh! That song is from this movie!"
K G George has captured his sets nicely: the murder spot, the troupe's hub and even the performing stage. I didn't much like the performance by Jalaja. But Ashokan is terrific. The climax is good. The makers concentrated not only on murder as a tool to convey a message, but they also evince shades of poverty, adultery, romance, alcoholism, assault, policing, and the elements surrounding drama as a genre.
BOTTOM LINE: If you are in your mid-20s as of year 2014, then you may not appreciate the film. Because chances are you may have watched many similar films. But if you are above 40, I bet you will appreciate the sheer mastery behind the film which is considered one of the best not only in Malayalam cinema but also in the world.
Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES
