Movie buff

I alternate between Netflix and Amazon Prime subscriptions. After 2 months of standard Netflix membership - 2 screens at the same time, an issue that is not there in Prime - I have switched to Prime to watch a few new Malayalam movies - Malik, Nizhal, Cold Case etc. Unfortunately Sara's and Aarkariyam are not available in the UAE. 

Prime costs only half as much as Netflix, but the kids like to flex about a N subscription in their circles. However, there are more Malayalam movies in Prime, though once you have exhausted the movie list it gets boring.

Mira watched Cold Case while I went for my afternoon siesta, and became so scared that she couldnt sit alone in her room. The second half she watched in the drawing room where Ash plays his games on TV. Moreover, she entreated that I sleep with her in the night. Still, unable to get the fear out of her system, she made me sit and watch Mayanadi on NTV (a local Malayalam channel) with her. 

I had seen that movie in parts, the last part first and then a bit of the opening scenes. I did not like the way the heroine treated the hero, who follows her like a dog at her beck and call. She uses him mostly - when she is happy, when she needs motivation or help. 

Though most reviewers rave about this steamy love story that is different from the usual, I found it too tragic for my liking. And like most new-gen movies, the characters mumble most of the time in Malayalam or Tamil, and one needs subtitles to understand what they are saying.

Tovino Thomas is his usual vulnerable, lovable and rake self - a mix of a thug and an angel. I had probably first seen him in Luka, and was moved by his acting. Next came Kilometres and Kilometres, which was an okay fun movie. However I couldnt sustain my interest in his Theevandi (as a chain smoker) or Maradona (a criminal). Most of his characters are the bad guy types needing some effort or inspiration for reform.

Mathan is apparently an orphan - his family committed  suicide owing to financial troubles - but studies in an engineering college and lives in style. I dont know if it is mentioned who takes care of him after his parents' death - maybe the TV version is a truncated one - or how he joins a criminal gang or what exactly transpired that made the heroine lose her trust in him.

We get an idea of how actors struggle to get their first big break. Aishwarya Lakshmi's Aparna is very much the story of a starlet biding her time while her room mate is already successful. Strangely, the Muslim friend is allowed to pursue her career in films until her brother finds her in a somewhat objectionable music video. Apu's break comes from the space her friend has left.

Syam Pushkaran's story has to be different and modern. Where the hero looks for security and heroine looks for career advances. Good to see Lijo Jose and Unnimaya acting their real selves as director and casting director. The songs are soulful and keeps you humming long after you're done with the movie.

#Mayanadi #Tovino