As the title and the credits roll, you will notice that the Director is trying to make a statement. A statement that Kalamkaval is not a typical Mammootty film. The tagline “The Venom beneath” added to the title, along with the quote “The venom beneath can’t be suppressed forever,” set the mood right at the... Continue Reading →
Ponman – My Flash Review!
2025 has been a great year for “non-star” Malayalam films, I guess. After Eko, here is another film that is a very good watch, though it is entirely different in genre. Ponman reminded me more of films like Thingalazhcha Nischayam, which are rooted in the nativity of a particular region of Kerala. Ponman is... Continue Reading →
Eko (Malayalam) – My Flash Review!
What do the films Ela Veezha Poonchira, Kishkindha Kaandam, and Eko have in common? They are slow-burn Malayalam films in the mystery-thriller genre. They are also films in which the places and surroundings in which the film is set become characters in their own right, playing a significant role in the storytelling. Remove these places... Continue Reading →
The Great Shamsuddin Family – My Flash Review!
It was by chance that I found this film on Jio Hotstar, having not seen or heard much about it in these promo-heavy film-release days. That it is directed by Anusha Rizvi, whose earlier film Peepli Live was adorable, helped. Despite not boasting any big stars, the movie, with its simple, stage play like storytelling,... Continue Reading →
Dominic and the Ladies’ Purse – My Flash Review!
For a Gautam Vasudev Menon film, it is an odd title. But then, GVM, as he is fondly known, has been trying to reinvent himself and step out of his comfort zone for some time now. We saw that attempt in his earlier film Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu as well. Not just the title, Dominic and... Continue Reading →
Dhurandhar – My Flash Review!
Dhurandhar is scripted, directed, and produced by Aditya Dhar, whose earlier directorial outing was Uri: The Surgical Strike. If the "Josh levels" were high in that film, Dhar takes them even higher in Dhurandhar. Although the film opens with a long disclaimer stating it is purely a work of fiction, most viewers can tell that... Continue Reading →
Kantara: The Legend – Chapter 1 – My Flash Review
I finally caught up with Kantara: Chapter 1 on OTT this weekend. In my review of the earlier Kantara film, I had mentioned that the film was a normal commercial film that was saved by the last 20-odd minutes with an intriguing climax sequence. Since we were told that this part is actually a prequel... Continue Reading →
Lokah Chapter 1 – My Flash Review!
In Indian cinema, this is a season of “Chapters”. Recently, we had Kantara Chapter 1, and now we have this. This sets the stage for a cinematic universe similar to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. For Malayalam cinema to attempt this is ambitious in itself. In its first part, with intriguing world-building, though with the usual... Continue Reading →
Mirage – My Flash Review!
Mirage, the Malayalam film streaming on OTT, is directed by Jeetu Joseph. His reputation as a master of the crime thriller genre precedes his movies. He gained national recognition with Drishyam—1 & 2 and established a new genre called the Drishyam genre. However, his other films, like Memories, Neru, Nunakuzhi, Kooman, and others, confirm his... Continue Reading →
Hridayapoorvam – My Flash Review!
Nowadays, Malayalam films are known for investigative thrillers, police procedurals, and serious cinema in general. However, in the 80s and 90s, one out of two Malayalam films was a slice-of-life comedy of the slapstick or situational type. Mohanlal featured in many of those films as the hero, with co-stars like Srinivasan playing active foil roles.... Continue Reading →
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