'Oru Naal Varum' (Malayalam, Humour/Drama, 2010)
Director: TK Rajeev Kumar
Cast: Mohanlal, Sreenivasan, Sameera Reddy , Devayani
There’s more difference between reel and real than just a letter. If Sreenivasan’s Rajappan in ‘Udayananu Tharam’ stole Udayan’s script, claimed it to be his, courted fame, and later confessed the sin, it would have done Sreenivasan more good than harm had he given away the credits of the script of ‘Oru Naal Varum’ to the school teacher who claimed it is a plagiarized version of his.
That way, the master storyteller could have escaped the ire of diehard fans who have slapped him with the charge of churning out an inferior film from his stable that boasts of gems like ‘Nadodikkattu', ‘Vadakkunokkiyanthram’, ‘Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala’ and more.
The excitement that was in the air when three of the best men in the industry - Lal, Sreenivasan and TK Rajeev Kumar - come together go down the drain when you see a mediocre show in the film. The satire lacks punch; the humour elicits not even a smile. Top it all with a climax that is intended to hit you like a bolt from the blue but ends up anything but that.
This is probably the first time Sreenivasan’s script has been such a huge letdown. The age old Sreeni-Lal magic we have been witness to over the years is mysteriously missing in ‘Oru Naal Varum,’ although their individual performances are good. Lal is at his natural best but offers nothing new to make Kolappully Sukumaran a memorable outing while Sreenivasan’s Gopikrishnan has his characteristic charisma - nothing more, nothing less.
Sukumaran’s personal life interferes with the main plot at inappropriate times and takes the life out of the serious subject that could have definitely been handled better by a director of the calibre of TK Rajeev Kumar, who has given Malayalam filmdom memorable cinema experiences like ‘Chanakyan,’ ‘Pavithram’ and ‘Kannezhuthi Pottumthottu.’ ‘Oru Naal Varum’ is shorn of all the charm the rest of his films exude.
If looking good is all that is expected of Sameera Reddy, she has done justice to her role as Sukumaran’s wife. But Sameera hardly contributes to the wow quotient of the film with her placid presence.
Devayani carries off her part as Gopikrishnan’s uncomplaining housewife who is unaware of the big, bad world of corruption her husband belongs to. Nasriya as their daughter who dreams of an MBBS seat conveys the teenager’s angst effectively. Humour will be the last thing that leaves you impressed about the film.Not once does Suraj Venjaramoodu’s expressions or dialogues tickle the funny bone.
M G Sreekumar, who has of late been concentrating more on making music, creates a good background score and a few songs to remember. But when a less popular song is prominently placed in the film, the hit duet ‘Paadan’ is hardly noticed as it rolls out with the closing titles, while ‘Nathoone’ gives a miss.
We were hoping ‘Oru Naal Varum’ would stage the resurrection of good cinema. But the Sreeni-Lal-Rajeev triumvirate disappointed. Never mind, we still have faith in you. And in your history of setting trends than nursing hangovers. Oru naal varum....(A day will come) .