Manthrikan Malayalam Movie

Feature Film | 2012 | Comedy, Horror
Critics:
Audience:
For the first time in my life, I fervently wished I had learned some magic. Magic, that could swiftly ship me away from the torturous times that this film was putting me through, late in the night as half the world lay peacefully asleep in their beds.
Oct 7, 2012 By Veeyen


'Manthrikan' is a flick that is all flat and generic that must have appeared not-so-good at the time of its conception. On screen, it looks and sounds even worse.


There is a blood thirsty spirit (Muktha George) on the loose at the Shenoy Mandir. The poor thing had spent years inside a weird looking pot and out in the open is on the lookout for a drink. The Shenoys run scared for their lives and invites sorcerer Mukundan Unni (Jayaram) over to teach the ghost a lesson or two.


And the lesson is taught of course, not to the ghost, but to the hapless viewers and it goes thus. Never venture out for a film that suspiciously looks like it might be a hazy job. This is a film that disappoints you on multiple levels - as a comedy, thriller or a horror flick, it offers you nothing new.


The suspense as such is minimum, and your only interest lies in why Rukku aka Muktha ended up being the vengeful being that she is today. You do know that she has been terribly wronged; how else would you account for her maniacal laughter that keeps echoing all around?


What surprises me is not that the story itself looks cooked up to the hilt, with not a trace of believability to be found anywhere around. What is indeed astonishing is that it has been stretched to about two and a half hours, which makes it seem like you have been caught in a no-time zone, where time stands still.


There is a sub plot that involves the three Nettikkadan brothers (Jayan, Mahesh and Kottayam Nazeer) and they make it seem for a while that these three men have something real important to do in the film. Turns out to be a misconception though, since they soon vanish into thin air. Magic, perhaps!


There aren't any shocking twists here either that would make you jump up in your seats. Everything is downright obvious and when you have a leading lady who has been struck by amnesia, you realize how sorry the entire picture is. Which is why if you ask me if this would qualify as a watchable flick for people who have just about started watching horror comedy flicks, I would admit that I am not entirely sure.


The technical aspects remain quite comparable with the general downbeat mood of the film, and there aren't any wonders on display. Terribly disappointing is the musical score by the incredibly talented S Balakrishnan, whose songs for the film fail to leave a mark.


What is Jayaram doing here in this terrible muddle of a film? I haven't got a clue. Ramesh Pisharody and Kalabhavan Shajon try to be at their witty best, while Poonam Bajwa gets to wear dhotis. Muktha George grunts and growls, but I need to admit that she does it well.


For the first time in my life, I fervently wished I had learned some magic. Magic, that could swiftly ship me away from the torturous times that this film was putting me through, late in the night as half the world lay peacefully asleep in their beds.


Veeyen

   

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