Anchakkallakokkan

Complex Malayalam crime thriller “Anchakkallakokkan” (2024) directed by Ullas Chemban and starring Lukman Avaran, Chemban Vinod Jose, Manikandan R. Achari, Megha Thomas among others.

The story starts with a murder of Chaapra a planter in the plantation on the night he was drinking with two others. Vasudevan (Lukman Avaran) a stammering demure police man comes to take up duties at the forest police check post. Seeing his shyness, Nadavaramban Peter (Chemban Vinod Jose) offers him solace and makes him at ease.

As the case drags on and with the pressure from the higher ups and with the impending elections looming, police rounds up all those involved with the murder and starts beating them. More details start emerging of the nefarious business around the killing with some land deals gone sour and Chaapra keeping Padmini (Megha Thomas) as his keep.

The second half of the movie becomes more brisk as more skeletons start tumbling out with murky affairs galore. Shankaran (Manikandan R. Achari) comes and surrenders to the police that he is the one who has killed Chaapra. But he has a back story with his daughter who was epileptic and she died in an apparent epileptic fit but there is more to that.

Chaapra’s sons Gillapis are also on the lookout for the person who killed their father and their act is bizarre to the extreme. It ends in a tumultuous climax with lots of bodies going down, too much violence in the end and a breakout of characters of sorts.

The characterization of Vasudevan and Nada is interesting as both move in opposite ways to what they start out in the movie. Chemban Vinod Jose is a fine actor and he has done a superb part in this movie. Vasudevan goes from meek to strong in the end. Lots of folklore involved with most of the shooting in a plantation, camera work and cinematography is breathtaking. A different kind of story once again in Malayalam cinema, is quite refreshing to watch. IMDB 6/10

Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum

Interesting Malayalam crime thriller “Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum” (2017) directed by Dileesh Pothan, written by Sajeev Pazhoor and starring Fahadh Faasil, Nimisha Sajayan, Suraj Venjaramoodu among others.

Sreeja (Nimisha Sajayan) and Prasad (Suraj Venjaramoodu) newly wed inter caste couple were travelling by bus, when her gold necklace gets stolen by Prasad (Fahadh Faasil) who in a quick thinking act, swallows the necklace.

Sreeja sees the act and is quite vehement that she has seen him swallowing the necklace. Since she is the only witness, the police are at wits end. They give the thief Prasad enough chicken biryani and bananas so that he can flush the ornament out of his system. At first attempt it does not come out, so they take him for an x-ray which clearly reveals an outside item in his stomach.

Initially thief Prasad denies that he stole the item, but when x-ray reveals the truth, he has to ungraciously accept the truth. The second time, after flushing the item he attempts to run and after a long chase, the husband Prasad manages to catch him and bring him to the police station.

The police officer Chandran under pressure gives an almost identical necklace belonging to his family to Sreeja and asks her to accept it and return if she manages to get the real one after court procedures. There is a lot of police politics shown and the pressure that the police is in to solve a crime.

Sreeja and her husband Prasad needed that piece of gold jewellery in order to pawn it and dig a borewell in their land to find water. The inspector Chandran (Alencier Lay Lopez in a brilliant role) is fearing recriminations from his bosses and he is also nearing retirement.

Brilliantly scripted story with a superb linear direction and awesome acting once again by Suraj Venjaramoodu (such a fine actor he is) some bit of madness by Fahadh Faasil and very good acting by Nimisha Sajayan (she is turning out to be such a fine find). Malayalam cinema throws one good actor after another and that is the case since the 1970s. One has to give credit to the story line which is quite unusual in the local milieu it has been done very well. IMDB 6/10

Malice

Gripping thriller “Malice” (1993) directed by Harold Becker and starring Alec Baldwin, Nicole Kidman, Bill Pullman, Babe Neuwirth, Peter Gallagher among others.

The story starts with a crime when a student is attacked by a serial rapist. Dr. Jed Hill (Alec Baldwin) operates and saves her life. He has a larger than life image of himself. The Associate Dean of the college Andy Safian (Bill Pullman) and his wife Tracy (Nicole Kidman) invite Jed to their third floor house to supplement their income.

Tracy has a stomach problem and she is rushed to the hospital at the same time as another student Gwyneth Paltrow is attacked and killed by the same serial rapist. Dr. Jed operates on Tracy and removes one of her ovary which has developed a cyst. He takes a chance and removes the second ovary against other doctor’s advice. It turns out that the second ovary was a healthy one.

Tracy sues for medical negligence and to save the face the hospital and the insurance company settle for US$20 million. But Tracy leaves Andy alleging that he gave permission to Jed to remove the ovary. Andy is distraught but he learns a lot of disturbing facts about Tracy. That Andy himself is sterile and that Tracy’s mother is still alive though she said that her mother had died twelve years ago.

Interesting as it goes along to a climax involving insurance fraud, deception, fraud and murder. Lots of red herrings thrown on the way as the serial rapist is the not the real story. Alec Baldwin, Nicole Kidman and Bill Pullman have done good roles in their respective parts. Overall a good movie to watch. IMDB 5/10

Four days in Western Sahara

Breathtaking documentary on the political struggle in Western Sahara against the occupation by Morocco.

This documentary breaks down the history behind forced occupation by Morocco after Spain left it in 1975. Morocco took over and is leading a brutal regime there for more than 40 years.

US funded the regime as was to be expected, allowing American contractors to build businesses there. Political activists are routinely beaten, thrown into jail, tortured there and many times disappeared as well.

Western Sahara has some good natural resources which is exploited by Morocco by exporting to the world. The UN is unable to do anything about even though Ban ki Moon did make some effort by declaring Moroccan occupation as illegal.

Its a good documentary, a brave one at that, by sneaking into a closed country and interviewing several activists. Outside media or even local media is banned by the Moroccans. You can watch the documentary here.

Sanjh aur Savera

Emotional family drama “Sanjh aur Savera” (1964) directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee and starring Guru Dutt, Meena Kumari, Mehmood, Shubha Khote among others.

Its a complex family story with lots of twists and turns typical of Indian movies of that era of arranged marriages. Dr. Shankar Chaudhary (Guru Dutt in his last film before his unfortunate demise in that year) is engaged to marry Maya (Zeb Rehman). But she loves somebody else and on the night after the marriage is solemnised she runs away from home.

To escape the major shame that will ensue post that coming to light, Gauri (Meena Kumari) is entrusted as Maya in that household. She is accepted as the wife of Shankar and they do a purification ceremony to make the marriage valid.

But there has to be a twist. Maya survives a car crash but she does not remember anything including her name. Dr. Shankar is treating her. When that comes to light, all hell breaks loose and emotional upheaval takes place with accusations flying freely across.

All confusion is sorted out towards the end, when all the parties come together to explain what actually happened and why they had to do all this drama. Mehmood has done a good role as a comedian. Others are okay. This is an average picture of Hrishikesh Mukherjee, his trademark style missing. IMDB 4/10

Prisoners

American crime thriller film “Prisoners” (2013) directed by Denis Villeneuve and starring Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Terrence Howard among others.

The story is of two young girls being abducted from outside their family homes. There is a RV van near where the young girls were playing on the street. Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal) is assigned the task to investigate their disappearance.

One of the girl’s father Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) is distraught at the police for not being able to find the girls. The driver of the RV Alex Jones (Paul Dano) is caught and interrogated. It turns out that he is emotionally under developed. He is staying with his aunt Holly Jones (Melissa Leo).

Loki finds another suspicious looking character Bob Taylor (David Dastmalchian) and manage to sneak into his house where they find the girls’ clothing. He is arrested by the cops but kills himself in the police lock up.

One girl escapes the custody of the kidnapper and she reveals something to Dover which makes him come after Holly Jones. Deadly climax to the taut crime thriller. Suspense till the end and a cruel twist in the end. IMDB 5/10

Aavesham

Malayalam action comedy film “Aavesham” (2024) written and directed by Jithu Madhavan and starring Fahadh Faasil, Mithun Jai Shankar, Hipzster, Roshan Shahnavaz among others.

SPOILER ALERT

This is probably the worst ever Malayalam language film i have ever seen. There is no story worth the name, no content, some inane dialogues, crazy plot, unending violence, and non stop madness.

Such movies are best seen by keeping one’s brain in the freezer. There are three college kids who come from their hometown in Kerala to study in Bangalore. There they experience ragging of the worst kind.

Seeking revenge, they come across a local don Ranga (Fahadh Faasil) dressed in all white and screaming constantly. Ranga inducts the three kids into their gang and takes them on a couple of hits. On one boy’s perseverance, Ranga and his gang rain body blows on the seniors that had ragged the three kids.

Fearing loss of their term and with exams looming, the kids try to squirm out of the gang clutches only to meet with severe reprimand from Ranga. Another gang leader Reddy then uses the kids to try and eliminate Ranga. Ranga erupts in violence and more bodies start falling down.

Ranga makes funny faces befitting a don. Otherwise there is nothing in the movie. Even if we see it as a parody, the non stop violence takes the fun away. IMDB 1/10

Kerala Crime Files — Shiju, Parayil Veedu, Neendakara

Gripping six part web series “Kerala Crime Files — Shiju, Parayil Veedu, Neendakara” directed by Ahammed Khabeer and written by Ashiq Aimar and starring Aju Varghese, Lal, Zhinz Shan, Navas Vallikkunnu among others.

This is an unbelievably superb series of a crime taking place in a lodge when a sex worker is discovered in a bathroom of a room by the receptionist. There is no clue whatsoever except for a fake address.

The team led by SI Manoj (Aju Varghese) and ably supported by Pradeep (Zhinz Shan), Sunil (Navas Vallikunnu), Vinu (Sanju Sanichen) and with the CI Kurian (Lal) as giving them the leadership. They have a faint description of the killer who is a squint eyed tall person.

Brilliantly picturised and captured the team goes on a spree throwing everything into the investigation with multiple leads and not missing any clues and relentlessly pursuing even tiny doubts they had. The team blends together very well and every member of the team has a side story that goes with story.

The screenplay is magnificient and the kind of detailing that has gone into the making of this web series is spectacular. The camera work and cinematagrophy is very good as are the roles played by all the characters in the series. IMDB 6/10

The Caves of Steel

Isaac Asimov’s famous Robot series in “The Caves of Steel”.

It is set in a future where galaxy has already been conquered and Earthmen live a regimented life with no sun, wind, air filtering through. They live in caves of steel.

A murder takes place of a robot in Spacetown for which detective Elijah Baley is given task to investigate. He is given as an assistant a humanoid robot R Daneel Olivaw. Daneel looks and talks like a human but he is basically a robot.

Baley has a wife Jessica who is not so enamoured of robots and she is part of an undergound movement by Medievalists who do not want robots to take over the earth. Spacetown wants earthmen to migrate to other planets in the galaxy since earth is being overburdened.

Baley goes about his task assidously and his fingers point at his Commissioner Julius Enderby who was there at the spot when the robot was murdered. He has his reasons for doing so. Daneel has a positronic brain and he cannot eat anything and even if he eats for the sake of it, he has to remove the contents from his stomach.

Asimov paints a picture of a world far into the future. This novel was written in the early 1950s and his brilliance comes out beautifully in the way he describes a world of the future. My first book by Isaac Asimov and i am staggered at the magnificence of his writing. Goodreads 5/5

British Virgin Islands

Breathtaking documentary on British Virgin Islands, a volcanic archipelago in the north Caribbean. It has British dominance, that is why it is called as British Virgin Islands.

The documentary takes three to four stories and talks about them through and through. There is a rum distiller in the island as it is famous for rum due to ample sugar cane available.

There are crab races held every Tuesday with colourfully painted hermit crabs. There is an entrepreneur who collects salts available in plenty in one of the islands to make exotic heavenly soaps which are then sold to the outside world. Even the rum is sold in that fashion.

There is also a farmer who grows fruits and vegetables and sells them to the rich tourists who come to these islands in their own cruise boats. These are millionaire boat owners who ample money to spare.

British Virgin Islands is also a haven for offshore banking as several banks are having their presence in the islands. Its a beautiful documentary with lots of videos, and interviews along with the stories. You can watch the documentary here

Aashiq

Dense emotional love cum family drama movie “Aashiq” (1962) directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee and starring Raj Kapoor, Nanda, Padmini, Abhi Bhattacharya among others.

It is the second time that Hrishikesh is working with Raj Kapoor, first one being Anari. Here Gopal (Raj Kapoor) is a not so serious guy out to have fun and not take any interest in the family business. His elder brother Pratap (Abhi Bhattacharya) is planning to marry Renu (Nanda) but she is in love with Gopal.

Hearing this, Pratap sacrifices himself for Gopal. But he falls in love with Priti (Padmini) who is a dancer and recognises his talent in music. She encourages him which leads to family tension. Meanwhile Renu tries to commit suicide but is rescued by villagers.

Gopal not knowing that Renu is alive, becomes a recluse and starts drinking until Priti once again brings him alive with his lyrics and music. He is now Udai Kumar, a much famous singer. Meanwhile his family is going through poverty and on the verge of losing their family home.

Hrishikesh can’t stay away from poverty in his movies and that comes home towards the end. A much different genre than his usual socialist bent movies, this love triangle is quite dense and emotional. Raj Kapoor has given a bravura performance while others are ok. Mukesh singing is awesome as usual and Shankar Jaikishen excel with their music. IMDB 4/10

The Scent of Green Papaya

Emotionally beautiful award winning Vietnamese movie “The Scent of Green Papaya” (1993) written and directed by Tranh Ang Hung and starring Tran Nu Yen-Khe, Thi Loc Truang among others.

The story is of young Mui who comes to live as a servant in the house of a family. There young Mui learns the ropes of cooking and house keeping. The father of that household goes away for the fourth time chasing women and he steals all the money that his wife had kept by her earnings.

The father comes back but he is dying. They have three kids of which the youngest one is uncouth, the middle one harms insects and the eldest one is the serious one.

Cut to 10 years later, Mui is still working in that same household, but now they have reduced to penury and cannot afford to keep her. So they send her to the eldest son’s friend who is a concert pianist. The pianist is already married but he has time only for practising the piano.

While the pianist’s wife is tempestuous, Mui brings calmness to his playing the piano. Slowly he realises the true love and ignores his wife completely and she leaves him. The pianist starts teaching her the language and Mui is shown as pregnant in the last scene.

Beautiful camera work of a very brilliant Vietnamese movie which won some awards. The background music and sound design are absolutely breathtaking. Tran Nu Yen-Khe has done a good role as the older Mui — the one who loves little things and small animals and takes care of them. IMDB 5/10

Forensic

Malayalam psycho thriller “Forensic” (2020) directed and written by Akhil Paul and Anas Khan and starring Tovino Thomas, Mamta Mohandas, Reba Monica John, Giju John among others.

The story starts off very well, with a series of child murders in Trivandrum and Samuel (Tovino Thomas) as the forensic expert. The investigating officer is Rithika Xavier (Mamta Mohandas) who is the estranged sister in law of Samuel. Rithika hires Shikha (Reba Monica John) to watch over Samuel.

The case progresses on the premise that the serial killer is a child. While on that lead, they discover more deadly details like the missing twin daughter of Rithika and another mastermind behind the killings. There is another person Ubaid the school bus driver who was originally implicated in the murder but later let off.

Too much of twists and turns in the plot to be almost impossible to follow. The officials consult one psychologist Dr. Alphonse Kurian (Giju John) who also had some background. Its not a linear story and the unexpected and unnecessary, in my view, surprises takes away the charm of this movie. The last 30 minutes of the movie is complex.

Tovino as usual delivers a strong performance and so do Mamta Mohandas and others. Had the story been kept straight, it would have been a rocking film. IMDB 3/10

Manjummel Boys

Breathtaking Malayalam survival thriller movie “Manjummel Boys” (2024) directed by Chidambaram and starring Shoubin Shahir, Sreenath Bhasi, and others.

It is based on true story of what happened when one of the boys who went on vacation to Guna caves in Kodaikanal got trapped in a pit and had to be rescued. A group of friends from Manjummel a town near Kochi in Kerala go on a vacation to Kodaikanal.

While having fun, they decided to explore a cave called as Guna caves which is a highly restricted area. Being boys they jump onto the other side and start exploring when one boy Subhash (Sreenath Bhasi) falls into a pit deep inside the cave.

That cave is a dangerous spot is known to all locals of the area and when the police, forest guard and fire brigade are called in, they all express their inabilty to do anything about it. Until one among the boys Siju David (Shoubin Shabir) decides to go down via rope to the bottom of the pit.

Deadly action movie inside the pit and the cave with superb special effects and visual photography with sound mix, background music, cinematography. The production values are breathtaking to say the least. I doubt whether Bolllywood can bring off such a brilliant. Kudos to Malayalam cinema for this effort. IMDB 7/10

Memdidi

Emotionally roller coaster Hindi movie “Memdidi” (1961) directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, written by Sachin Bhowmick and starring David, Jayant, Lalita Pawar, Tanuja among others.

David and Jayant (who incidentally is Amjad Khan’s father) are goons in a village in Bombay. Lalita Pawar comes in to stay in one house. She is a feisty old lady with lots of guts and gumption.

She tames both these brave men and they start calling her Memdidi. Lalita Pawar has a young daughter Tanuja studying in Shimla. Tanuja was originally a rich kid but her parents died, her properties was usurped so now she is totally dependent on the monthly fees which Pawar sends to her boarding school.

Pawar makes her ends meet by stitching clothes and making papads and pickles. Tanuja loves a rich young boy but her father is dead against the marriage. David and Jayant hitch a plot to convince her father that they are from a rich background.

Lots of emotional ups and downs follow with some mad cap comedy thrown in between. Both David and Jayant have done excellent roles and Pawar is still histrionic despite her doing a good role for a change. Tanuja is passable.

Again Hrishikesh Mukherjee harks back to his favorite topic of rich vs poor in the socialist era of the 1960s. IMDB 3/10