Script & Direction - BHADRAN
Produced by SUBAIR (Varnachitra)
UDAYON (the Landlord) is the story of Sooranadu Kunju, a 76 year old who passionately loves and values his land more than even his blood-relatives, be it his sister or his own sons. This passion for land has been quite impressively picturised by director Bhadran through a few touching (and the only memorable) sequences in the movie.
Kunju (Kunji pappa to everyone) has four sons (Innocent, Idavela Babu, MohanLal himself & a child artist) and a daughter (Sukanya). The youngest son was born to his second wife, but he is everyone’s pet. Kunji pappa had given 5 acres of land to each of his elder sons for farming, along with Rs 10, 000. He wanted them to work hard on the barren land and reap the results. But none of the sons followed his instructions. Furious at this, Kunji pappa refused to offer any more monetary help to them, and used to scorn them at every opportunity. Unni (Nazer), Kunji pappa’s childhood friend is his lone companion.
Kunji pappa had altered his father’s will to possess the land, which was due to his sister Eechamma (Bindu Panicker). He even did not help Eechamma’s husband in time of financial crisis, and the latter ended up committing suicide. This turned Eechamma’s sons (Kalabhavan Mani & Manoj K Jayan) against Kunji pappa’s family. But Eechamma has great affection for Pappoyi (MohanLal), Kunji pappa’s son.
The movie narrates Kunji pappa’s rigid and sanctimonious way of life, his conflicts with everyone and how he transforms in the end realizing the value of relationships. But I tell you what, it is depicted in the least convincing manner. The director (who also handled the script) lost his way somewhere in the middle.
MohanLal plays the protagonist with absolute conviction, though it’s hardly surprising if u know him. Manoj K Jayan and Bindu Panicker too fit the bill and make-up man Pattanam Rashid too has done a commendable job. But.. there is virtually nothing else remarkable about the movie - no good plot or convincing script, pretty ordinary technical effects, pitiable humor scenes, forgettable music, weak characters and a poor climax. In fact MohanLal is wasted as the son-character. But I recommend UDAYON on account of the sheer performance of MohanLal as Sooranad Kunju. Watch it only if you would like to appreciate that. Expect nothing else from it. The director of movies like Spadikom and Olympian Antony Adam is capable of doing better.