Malayalam Film Review(English Subtitles)
Johnson Thomas
A delightfully winsome comedy
Film: Kumbalangi Nights
Kumbalangi Nights is a 2019 Indian Malayalam-language comedy-drama film directed by Madhu C. Narayanan (in his directorial debut) and written by Syam Pushkaran. It is jointly produced by Fahadh Faasil, Nazriya Nazim, Dileesh Pothan, and Pushkaran under their production houses Fahadh Faasil and Friends and Working Class Hero. The film stars Shane Nigam, Soubin Shahir, Fahadh Faasil, Sreenath Bhasi, Anna Ben, and Mathew Thomas in the lead roles
Cast: Fahadh Fasil, Shane Nigam, Soubhin Shahir, Ana Ben , Mathew Thomas,Sreenath Bhassi, Ramesh Thilak
Director: Madhu C Narayanan
Rating: * * * *
Runtime: 136 mins
Kumbalangi, an idyllic locale close to Kochi becomes the meeting spot for a rejuvenating drama that borrows it’s story-telling craftiness from Serbian Director Emir Kustirica’s body of work. The theme here may not be as deep and invigorating as in Kustirica’s films but the enjoyment is just as vivid and unforgettable as that of his best works. Director Madhu C Narayanan has certainly scored a winner with his choice of actors, brilliant characterisations and astonishing array of surprises.
Syam Pushkaran’s solo script tells the story of four brothers living in isolated seclusion in an urban dump that most high minded people would shun. Kumbalangi is an isolated place, and the people there are often the butt of jokes because of a perverted perception. Pushkaran’s story tells the positives of life there. This film is about the story of people who live there. The four lives and their dynamics are beautifully brought out here.
Frankie( Mathew Thomas), the youngest of four siblings has returned to his seaside home on a break from a football scholarship schooling, in the hope of rekindling affection between his warring brothers. They belong to a laidback fishing community and the four are rather laidback in their outlook of life. Frankie and Bobbie(Shane Nigam) are progeny from the same parents, Saji (Soubhin Shahir), the eldest, has the same father as them while Bonnie(Shreenath Bhassi) shares the same mother with Frankie and Bobbie. They live in a very modest dwelling and the four literally fight for space in the messy one room toiletless abode that their parents left behind. Baby’s (Anna Ben) romantic feelings for Bobbie give him the much needed motivation to better his station, Saji’s tragic dependency on a Tamilian(Ramesh Tilak) brings about a rather strange outcome while Bonnie’s involvement with a tourist brings him back home to roost. Shammi (Fahadh Faasil), married to Baby’s diffident elder sister is the trigger meant to give this idyllic seaside romance a diabolic twist.
Backwaters are best seen at night, and they are astonishingly beautiful in Kumbalangi. In this film, the location assumes a life and becomes a character in the film. This story is basically about careless nights in Kumbalangi. The tempo here is entrancingly laidback – you can actually feel the calypso like rhythm that the luscious visuals suggest. The characters are lovingly framed – each one standing out distinctively. They are real, not so perfect beings with problems and issues that are common place. Yet they are memorable because of the way in which they are rendered. The Performances are all first rate. Director Madhu C Narayanan helms this stunningly beautiful seaside drama with firm yet soft hands. The nuanced flow of emotion, the underscored background music by Sushin Shyam, the steady rhythm and the suggestively sinister tone make this a rather thrilling watch. Syam Pushkaran’s beautifully timed scripting, Shyju Khalid’s amazing cinematography and Saiju Sreedharan crafty edits make this experience something close to exhilarating.
Johnsont307@gmail.com
A delightfully winsome comedy
Film: Kumbalangi Nights
Kumbalangi Nights is a 2019 Indian Malayalam-language comedy-drama film directed by Madhu C. Narayanan (in his directorial debut) and written by Syam Pushkaran. It is jointly produced by Fahadh Faasil, Nazriya Nazim, Dileesh Pothan, and Pushkaran under their production houses Fahadh Faasil and Friends and Working Class Hero. The film stars Shane Nigam, Soubin Shahir, Fahadh Faasil, Sreenath Bhasi, Anna Ben, and Mathew Thomas in the lead roles
Cast: Fahadh Fasil, Shane Nigam, Soubhin Shahir, Ana Ben , Mathew Thomas,Sreenath Bhassi, Ramesh Thilak
Director: Madhu C Narayanan
Rating: * * * *
Runtime: 136 mins
Kumbalangi, an idyllic locale close to Kochi becomes the meeting spot for a rejuvenating drama that borrows it’s story-telling craftiness from Serbian Director Emir Kustirica’s body of work. The theme here may not be as deep and invigorating as in Kustirica’s films but the enjoyment is just as vivid and unforgettable as that of his best works. Director Madhu C Narayanan has certainly scored a winner with his choice of actors, brilliant characterisations and astonishing array of surprises.
Syam Pushkaran’s solo script tells the story of four brothers living in isolated seclusion in an urban dump that most high minded people would shun. Kumbalangi is an isolated place, and the people there are often the butt of jokes because of a perverted perception. Pushkaran’s story tells the positives of life there. This film is about the story of people who live there. The four lives and their dynamics are beautifully brought out here.
Frankie( Mathew Thomas), the youngest of four siblings has returned to his seaside home on a break from a football scholarship schooling, in the hope of rekindling affection between his warring brothers. They belong to a laidback fishing community and the four are rather laidback in their outlook of life. Frankie and Bobbie(Shane Nigam) are progeny from the same parents, Saji (Soubhin Shahir), the eldest, has the same father as them while Bonnie(Shreenath Bhassi) shares the same mother with Frankie and Bobbie. They live in a very modest dwelling and the four literally fight for space in the messy one room toiletless abode that their parents left behind. Baby’s (Anna Ben) romantic feelings for Bobbie give him the much needed motivation to better his station, Saji’s tragic dependency on a Tamilian(Ramesh Tilak) brings about a rather strange outcome while Bonnie’s involvement with a tourist brings him back home to roost. Shammi (Fahadh Faasil), married to Baby’s diffident elder sister is the trigger meant to give this idyllic seaside romance a diabolic twist.
Backwaters are best seen at night, and they are astonishingly beautiful in Kumbalangi. In this film, the location assumes a life and becomes a character in the film. This story is basically about careless nights in Kumbalangi. The tempo here is entrancingly laidback – you can actually feel the calypso like rhythm that the luscious visuals suggest. The characters are lovingly framed – each one standing out distinctively. They are real, not so perfect beings with problems and issues that are common place. Yet they are memorable because of the way in which they are rendered. The Performances are all first rate. Director Madhu C Narayanan helms this stunningly beautiful seaside drama with firm yet soft hands. The nuanced flow of emotion, the underscored background music by Sushin Shyam, the steady rhythm and the suggestively sinister tone make this a rather thrilling watch. Syam Pushkaran’s beautifully timed scripting, Shyju Khalid’s amazing cinematography and Saiju Sreedharan crafty edits make this experience something close to exhilarating.
Johnsont307@gmail.com
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