Dear friends, I have an unfortunate but true experience to relate. For the purists who find the following confession too much, please close your eyes and continue to chant hymns and for those who have been there and done that like me (and I?m sure there are many), please nod your heads gravely and don?t forget to sympathise.
A hot, pathetic afternoon, January 2005.
After the deed, I ran out of the building sweating profusely and a heart full of guilt. As I walked hurriedly, some of the passers-by stared at me with unusual interest. Goodness, were they in that building too? Do they know me and most importantly, did they discover what I just did?
Before I relate further, I need you to know about the root-cause of it all. The one that influenced my senses and made me lose my self-control. It was that Mallu movie, Udayananu Tharam(Udayanan is the star).
About the movie ?
Directed by a newcomer, a once-upon-a-time struggling assistant director Rosshan Andrrews, this is a hilarious comedy that has swept the Malayalam industry like a whiff of fresh air (it truly feels so) and I will not be surprised if remakes will be made in other languages, including Bollywood. The story?s written by Rosshan himself and is kind of a comical satire on the Indian film industry.
The story is about a struggling assistant director Udayanan(superstar Mohanlal), a struggling actor (Sreenivasan) and a struggling actress (Meena). Mohanlal and Sreenivasan know each other but are not best of friends. Thrown out of his earlier accomodation due to non-payment of rent, Sreenivasan stays with Mohanlal much to the latter?s chagrin. Anyway, on one fine day, eureka (no, not the vacuum cleaner) makes it way into Mohanlal?s brain and he comes up with a good story having a stunning climax. Now, all he needs is a producer to finance the movie.
The non-actor Sreenivasan begs for a role but Mohanlal is unconvinced. So, when Mohanlal goes away to seek a producer-friend?s (Mukesh) approval, the devious and unethical Sreenivasan steals the script and brings it to another producer (Cochin Haneefa).
The deep-in-debt Haneefa falls for the script, ecstatic that he?s finally found a story that will save him from ruins. Before Mohanlal and Mukesh can figure out what went wrong, the movie gets made by Haneefa with Sreenivan as actor and goes on to become a blockbuster! A string of successful movies later, Srinivasan catapults to superstardom, charging crores of money and buying palatial houses.
Meanwhile, there?s the beautiful upcoming actress Meena who?s also in love with Mohanlal. Her greedy family is after her money and this provokes her to leave home and stay with Mohanlal. The helpless director who?s not yet recovered from the deep shock of his stolen script finally marries Meena and barely manages to find a reasonable house for the both of them.
Almost broke, Mohanlal quits his cinematic passion and begins to work for an outdoor catering company. Meena is shocked and a marital quarrel later, leaves Mohanlal. At his wits end, Mohanlal seeks the solace of alcohol. But in comes the saviour (no, not the eureka), producer and close friend Mukesh. Mukesh cannot bear to see his friend?s gifted talents go in waste and decides to finance Mohanlal?s scripts, success or not.
The grateful Mohanlal cannot hold back his tears but there?s a catch. No actor has a decent market except Sreenivasan. So, if Mohanlal must go ahead with his story, he must cast the latter. Vulnerable & helpless, Mohanlal swallows hard and agrees. Sreenivasan accepts too, for more reasons than one. He hates Mohanlal for two reasons ? 1) that unforgettable slap the latter gave because of the stolen script and 2) for marrying Meena, the lady whom Sreenivasan had his eyes on.
The movie is nearly complete, huge amounts have already been spent and just 3 days for its release, Sreenivasan quits! Mohanlal and Mukesh go shocked once again. They have yet to shoot some crucial scenes with Sreenivasan. So, what?s the final outcome? Can the poor, innocent Mohanlal finally realise his dream to make a movie or will Sreenivasan have the last laugh? And most importantly, will our lonely Meena get back to the warm arms of her Udayan?
Beautiful performances from the entire cast.
Mohanlal does a cool job (as usual) underplaying with finesse to show the character?s desperation, sadness and vulnerability.
Sreenivisan steals the show. As the character of a dirty scoundrel and an actor of nonsense talent, he delivers as only he can. And also, he wrote the screenplay for this movie.
Jagathy, as Sreenivasan?s manager, is absolutely hilarious. Look at his face as he teaches acting to Sreenivasan with the ?Nava-rasas? (facial expressions). Comedy is in his bones and if you didn?t know, he has done over a 1000 movies !
Meena is beautiful and gives a warm, sincere performance.
So, there you have it ? here?s a movie that gives you a peek into the riddiculous but true lifestyles of many of India?s superstars today. A blockbuster already 3 weeks after its release, it’s a complete entertainer with pleasing songs to boot, nice cinematography, good choreography.
And ofcourse that unexpected climax. Not revealing it, experience it for yourself.
Errr?Manoj?
Yes?
Err?what happened next on that hot afternoon?
Oh?I came back home, bathed and drank Horlicks !
(sighing) if you don?t mind, what did you exactly do in that building?
Oh, I saw the movie Udayananu Tharam in that theatre without informing my family of my whereabouts. Irresponsible eh?
(puzzled) and after that?
I came out
I mean, after you saw the movie and before you came out
(puzzled) I?m sorry, what do you mean, Confusious?
(exasperated) look, you were talking about how to Climax in your review title.
Oh?yes. This mallu movie may be able to bring some changes in the movie industry. Hopefully, more such movies come out with a decent story and a good climax like this one.
A long pause later?
(with a forced smile) Manoj darling, please come near. I have a secret to confess.
No thanks, buddy. I already received a stunning climax for my previous review.
(laughing loudly) don?t be silly, darling. I have great tips on how to climax. Really (naughty smile).
(hurrying near) You?re so cool. Tell me everything.
SLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP !!!