Celluloid - Exclusive Malayalam Movie Review

Directed by Kamal

Produced by Kamal, Ubaid

Written by Vinu Abraham

Music by M. Jayachandran

Cinematography Venu

Studio Prime Time Cinema

Release date(s) 15 February 2013

Country India

Language Malayalam

'Celluloid' is the biopic on Jivanayakam Cyril Daniel Nadar (1893 - 1975) aka J.C.Daniel the Director, Producer, Writer, Cinematographer & hero of Malayalam's first film ever 'Vigathakumaran'. It also discusses the troubles women had to face during that time, especially those from the lower caste, through P.K.Rossie, Mollywood's first heroine. The film based on the book written by Chelangatt Gopalakrishnan who did extensice research on Daniel, fought even with Kerala Govt. who at that time refused to acknowledge or honour Daniel.

Prithviraj - J.C. Daniel

Mamta Mohandas - Jenet

Sreenivasan - Chelangatt Gopalakrishnan

Chandini - P.K.Rosie

First thing first, Celluloid is a fitting tribute to the 'Father of Malayalam Cinema' from master craftsmen Kamal.

Kamal is a director known for making both commercial entertainers and serious real life subjects. Celluloid belongs to the second category and once again he hasing colors. Celluloid is a 'GEM' of a movie that no lover of Malayalam Cinema or just Cinema itself, shouldn't miss. Biopics are rare in Indian cinemas, well this one gives courage to all the makers out there to try out the genre. 

Prithviraj has given his career best perfomance in Celluloid. Won't be a surprise if he wins both State & National awards for his brilliant portrayal of J C Daniel [He also appears as Harris Daniel, JCDaniels youngest son] 

New comer Chandini is outstanding as PK Rosie

Mamta, Sreejith Ravi and all the other supporting cast has done superb job.

The 2 Songs in the film are already a super hit.

Kudos to the cameraman, Music Director, Cinematographer, Art Director, Editor and the entire crew for making a wonderful movie

This one doesn't belong to the typical art house movies, its short, sweet and entertaining. 

I don't think anybody who loeves Malayalam cinema can leave the movie house without a  shed of tear in their eyes.
 Special care ahs been taken by the makers to get the feel of 30's and 60-70's .


Celluloid is a Brilliant, must watch for all Malayalam Cinema lovers -  4/5

Dulquer Salman's Theevram - Exclusive FDFS Movie Review

Theevram

Directed by	Roopesh Peethambaran
Produced by	V. C. Ismayil
Written by	Roopesh Peethambaran
Starring	Dulquer Salmaan Shikha Nair Sreenivasan Riya Saira
Music by	Roby Abraham
Cinematography	Hari Nair
Editing by	Kapil Gopalakrishnan
Studio	VCI Movies
Distributed by	LJ Films
Release date(s)	November 16, 2012
Country	India

Expectations

Nothing much was going for the movie as far as I am concerned, except the fact that it stars Dulquer Salmaan and the curiosity that whether he will score hat-trick hits.

 Story

The story is about  Harsha Vardhan's (Dulquer) revenge on somebody, due to some reasons. The first half is taking place in present where the revenge happens. The second half is in flash back mode where What, Why When are answered. Maya (Shikha Nair) plays his Wife/Girl Friend. S.I. Alexander, (Sreenivasan)is investigating officer and Vinay fort (Ramachandran) is his assistant. 22FK fame Riya Saira plays the GFs role of Harsha's friend (Don't know his name)

Evaluation

We have seen many revenge stories in the past like Thaazhvaram, Bhramaram nand many recent movies in Tamil. This one belongs to the similar genre. The story is not exciting or surprising. But the presentation and writing (some what) saves the movies, well supported by some good perfomances.

Dulquer is slowly raising his bar, which is evident from his choice of movies and performances. He has done a very good job, especially in the court scene which is one of my favourite scene in the movie. (There is a small teaser of him doing 'stylized' action as well in the film for his fans)

Sreenivasan as cop was good, eventhough many of his TM antics are getting repetitive and failed to evoke much response from the crowd. Viay Fort was very good. Riya saira and the guy who played her friend too was good. Heroine was OK, a known actress could have helped the movie a lot as viewers need to sympathise for the hero for his revenge (and the movie) to be accepted by the audience. here even though Dulquer tried his level best to bridge the gap.

Roopesh Peethambaran's presentation of the story is very good. I Think we got a new promising director in him, writing need to be a bit sharper i think. Camera, BG, Editing were good. One song & one bit song in the movie both of which gels with the movie.

The blue/black dark tint shade given to the movie in DI could be a problem (it was for me) especially in poor screens. In the dark hall, it was bit difficult to watch the movie (2nd half is normal color though). People were asking for torch and to keep the hall lights turned on :-).

Overall its one time watch movie, sans any commercial elements, liked it more than 2nd show though.

Rating: 2.75/5

Not Must watch, but not a disappoinment either

Box Office: should be a above average grosser, Hit if budget is low

Kerala Box Office 2012 So far - Hits & Misses - Exclusive Data

For the first time 10 years Malayalam films release count in a calendar year has crossed 100 [figures till October 19]. Til now about 120 films has been censored and among which 110 has made it to the theaters. In early 2000's it was with the help of 'Soft Porn' films Mollywood used to acheive this target, but today the scenario has completely changed. In the coming months we are expecting atleast 20-30 new releases which will make 2012 biggest year in 25 years.

Not just the release count but the total investment has also gone up. Last year it was about 200 crores, this year it will cross 300 crores for sure. The biggest budgeted, @ 20crores according to various media sources (UnConfirmed), 'Casanovva' released earlier this year. Revenue wise it has been a great year for Kerala Goverment and state owned Cinema Halls. It was due to Government's stern measures that Online Piracy of new release movies has been completely vanished. Plus the decision to grade theaters based on facilities forced theater owners to renovate their movie halls . All these helped in bringing  more people to the cinema halls.

The Result is evident in the Box Office performances of films released in 2012. According Kerala Film Producers Association about 14 films has earned the HIT tag so far, with Mayamohini being the biggest (2nd biggest ever after Twenty 20).

1.Mayamohini
2.Run Babby Run
3. Ordinary
4. Thattathin Marayathu
5. Ustad Hotel
6. Spirit
7. Grand Master
8. Mallu Singh
9. Trivandrum Lodge
10. Diamond Necklace
11. 22 Female Kottayam
12. Ee Adutha Kalathu
13. Second Show
14. Cobra

Apart from these about 15 other movies have entered the 'Safe' zone thanks to the increasing Satellite rights and low PPP (Production, Print & Publicity) costs

Multiplexes is slowly becoming a trend in Kerala too, more and more families who stopped going to theaters year back have started coming back to movies, thank to them. The Multiplexes at Ernakulam, calicut & Angamaly have helped a boost in collections eventhough the ticket rates are bit higher compared to other cities in India. But with about 20 Multiplexes, by all major movie chains, set to open in the next 2 years its even merrier time ahead.

Most of the Telugu dubbed & Tamil films failed set the box office on fire unlike last year, even though they still continue to get bigger theater count than most straight Malayalam releases. Nanban & Gajapokkiri could be regarded as the biggest hits (so far) in those categories, while Maattrraan took the biggest opening of 2012.

With 2 months to Go Hope that the hit count touch '20'


Source: Kerala Film Producers Association

Image Credits to ManormaOnline

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