'Ee Adutha Kalathu' (Malayalam)
Director: Arun Kumar Aravind
Cast: Indrajith Sukumaran, Murali Gopy, Anoop Menon, Nishan, Mythili, Tanushri Ghosh
How many will remember the faces that you have come across in “recent times”? Very few bother thinking that one day or the other, these persons, whom you pay no attention to, may play the saviour’s role in your life. That’s life, like a Rubik’s Cube, and the perplexity of it cannot be easily resolved. We just need to keep twirling it till the sides are arranged with even colours.
How many times have we seen innovative ideas and novel narration getting reflected in the Malayalam cinema in the recent past? ‘Once in a blue moon’, will be the answer. But wait! There are indications that Mollywood too is on the path of bold filmmaking. It is good to see that the early summer moon of Malayalam cinema this year has already risen up through 'Ee Adutha Kalathu'. The film directed by Arunkumar Aravind revolves around a theme containing all the complexities of a Rubik’s Cube, but perfectly solved in the end with a good narrative technique.
How many times have we seen on screen a bold attempt mocking at Malayalis’ exaggerated perception of moral values? ‘Rarely’, will be the answer. But “Ee Adutha Kalathu”, in that sense, is indeed a gritty attempt. It deals with multifarious elements in the Gen-X society - right from the impact of internet on kids, the growing cyber sex rackets, friendship for friendship’s sake, the use-and-throw affairs, the suffering of the downtrodden and lot more. It also clearly reveals how the sexual frustrations of a man affects his family relationship. Still, his ego prevents him from admitting that he lacks sexual capability. Penned by Murali Gopi (who portrays the role of Ajay Kurian, the frustrated hubby), the scenes are clever, like the ones in which Ajay asks his secretary to send him a ‘love’ SMS every 10 minutes and how he makes his wife Madhuri (Thanusree Ghosh) feel that she is not good in the bed.
How many times have we seen a hero collecting scrap for his livelihood? The answer will be ‘many’. But again, wait! The hero of 'Ee Adutha Kalathu' is different. Well executed by Indrajith, Vettu Vishnu, is an ordinary man. But, the unpredictable nature of the character gives it a heroic image, where the spectator ends up empathising with him though he has committed a crime. A majority of the characters in the film, true to human nature, have that good and bad sides. That, perhaps, explains life.
How many times have we seen tales revolving around extra-marital affairs? In the recent past, in quite a few movies. 'Ee Adutha Kalathu' is no different. However, the frequent focus shift from the Ajay-Madhuri relationship to the sufferings of Vishnu and Ramany (Mythili) to the probe into the serial killing, has saved the movie. The making in some places seems flat and inconsistent, especially when the scene ends up nowhere when the spectator is expecting the “unexpected”. The makers, apparently, wanted to break the predictability barrier at certain points, and did succeeded in the climax scenes, especially. How many times have we seen directors making good debuts and failing to keep the momentum? There are many. But here, Arunkumar does not disappoint. If his maiden venture, the much-appreciated 'Cocktail', was blamed for lacking in genuineness, this one will be counted as a gallant and sincere work.
And a special mention to Gopi Sundar’s background score and Shehnad Jalal’s camera work, all of which made for a captivating cinema experience.