I always made it loud and clear that I simply adore dir. Kamal's movies. So when Kamal announced his next movie with newcomers I was eagerly looking forward for the final product. I was following his talent search through Kairalee TV's "Sensation". Finally Kamal announced the movie "Manjnu Pol Oru Pen Kutty" which translates into "A girl like a snow" with new comer Amritha Prakash in the lead role. This was the first malayalam movie I had seen in UAE and I like it for its novel theme and sensitive treatment.
The movie is bit bold yet cliched as it falls in the lines of "Aasai", "Vaali" & "Uthiripookkal". Adultery is the core of the movie and how an adoloscent girl overcomes the passes made by her stepfather is the theme of the movie. The movie starts with Nidhi S Menon (Amritha Prakash) confiding some secrets to us. She is in a confused state missing her studies always thinking how to overcome the phsyical advances of her stepfather (Suresh krishna). She doesn't want to take this matter to her mother (Bhanupriya) as she may be shattered because he is her solace after her father's death. When the protagonists are well aware of other's intentions there erupts a silent war. To save atleast her younger sister Nidhi plans to "finish" him with the help of her classmate & a "Jollu" uncle (Lalu Alex). The plan misfires, the uncle is killed and Nidhi is left with no option than taking the situation in her hands, finally emerging as a clear winner.
Speaking of performances it is clearly a one-girl show by Amritha Prakash. Amritha is a familiar face in modelling circle through advts of Rasna, Poppy Umbrella and she has done a sister role in "Tum Bin". Remember that "Choti Choti Raatein" song. The kid has transformed gracefully into a poigant adoloscent girl. She handles every scene with panache. Her pristine talents and crystal clear expressions are delight to watch for. Her expressions of fear when being left alone with her step father, her frustration and inability to do physically at that times, the way she blossoms when she sees her boyfriend, Amritha is a scene stealer. However her best is the climax scene where she virtually chews everyone in the frame with her enoting skills. I couldn't resist myself jumping out of the seat with sheer excitement at that scene. She is a star to watch on. Somewhere she reminded Shanthi Krishna in "Panneer Pushpangal". Her dialogue delivery was bit slow but considering someone who is not of Malayalam as mothertongue the performance was splendid. She did her homework thoroughly before facing the camera.
Next comes Suresh Krishna as her stepfather. His amorous looks with lust unleashed when she sees Nidhi alone in house sends shivers in your spine. They are amply supported by Bhanupriya, Jayakrishnan. Infact the screenplay is so crisp that there is not even a scene which you can say doesn't fit the movie or any character that stands out of the story narration. Since the story unfolds from Nidhi's point of view, she "discusses" certain things with us that makes us feel as if it is happening to our kid. Kamal had handled the story in adroit manner that even though the story had a great potential for lurid scenes Kamal manages to show its intensity without any steamy scenes.
Technically this movie came as a surprise because it was very superior and glossy by look. It can challenege any Bollywood movie that it doesn't need a Rs. 25 cr. budget to make movie slick. The duet in Paris and the title sequences that do justice to the title make the movie a visual feast.
Cinematographer P. Sukumaran does it again. He has effectively used the rain washed Kerala as a backdrop for the emotional toughening of Nidhi.
Music by Alphonse Joseph is OK. Even though it gels with the movie flow, it fails as a stand alone album. I downloaded the songs months back, but couldn't give a full hearing. Only after I saw them on screen I am hearing them now.
Kudos for Kamal for giving a nice entertainer. He did the best thing by choosing Amritha to carry the entire movie in her shoulders and girl didn't disappoint.
I am looking forward for Kamal's next offering "Perumazhakalam". This brings eminently talented Kamal & Meera Jasmine together for the third time after "Gramaphone & Swapnakoodu" along with Kavya Madhavan. This story is off beat with Meera & Kavya as main protagonists (no hero) with music of my another favourite MG Radhakrishnan. Meera Jasmine has decided to return back to her home turf, Malayalam cinema. She is now signed for a "Mother of all comedies" with Urvashi helmed by veteran Sathyan Athicaud who gave good actress like Samyukta Varma & Nayanthara. Meera is also working on her "controversial mentor" Lohitadas's "Chembattu" and "Vadakkum Nathan" with Mohanlal. Meera Jasmine is also doing the Kannada version of "M. Kumaran...." the same role which catapulted Asin in a top league in Telugu & Tamil.
