Writers and their films

While sipping Vodka with lime at Bijoy’s house, we were musing over which movie we need to see amongst the Vishu releases. After seeing the promos and a song we decided that it won’t be “Innathe Chinthavishayam”. But eventually, we gave in to the wishes of one of our comrades who wanted to see the same. Must say that, we (at least I) were disappointed but not surprised.
We knew that it would be something of this sort. If it is Sathyan Anthikkad, then it has to have certain elements, family being one of the most important and the protagonists being morally correct people who take on the onus of counseling the world around them. It’s no different in Innathe Chinthavishayam.

But I need to admit one thing. All writers in general have certain common elements in some of their scripts. We have already seen Sathyan. If it is Sreenivasan, then for sure there will be one or two references to the color of his skin and his height. The degree of this self-derision also doesn’t vary with movies. Having said that, Sreeni is one of the finest story tellers in Malayalam. One doesn’t have to go too far. Katha Parayumbol, as Rahul says was the saving grace among all the movies of 2007 as far as commercial films are concerned. Impeccable story telling along with some fine dialogues that had the tinge of sarcasm, a regular feature of Sreeni and a superb cameo (in its literal sense) after a long time by Mammootty were the highlights of Katha Parayumbol. The climax of the movie wherein Mammotty comes and delivers a speech in the school is excellent and is what is called a real cameo. Compare it with the climax (especially the dialogue part) wherein Mohanlal speaks about his own problematic childhood, its poles apart. Hats off Sreeni…

One of the reasons why I prefer to watch a Renjith movie is primarily because he is one writer who sells dreams. His protagonist, most often, a free spirited globe trotter will be a person with specialties. He will mouth philosophical dialogues with most of them as Jayasankar says having a touch of soft hindutva; he will be a connoisseur of arts and most of all, he will be a “know it all” types. But Renjith’s films also have certain common traits – character sketch of the main protagonist as we have just seen, a few friends of the hero who will be waiting for him in the native land and of course loads of nostalgia, which the protagonist, most often who comes back after a long time brings along with him. Though predictable, it’s enjoyable.

So there’s nothing to complain about Sathyan except for the fact that it would be good, if he can attempt to make something different next time which the other two writers do at times.
Well, for this Vishu season, my bet is on “Dey Ingottu Nokkiye” by Balachandra Menon who has taken the courage to put a junior actor Jayasuriya in the lead unlike others who are still dependant on the veterans...

Happy Vishu...