Pullipulikalum Aattinkuttiyum Malayalam Movie
In 'Pullipulikalum Aatinkuttiyum', Lal Jose unearths a primitive tale, dusts it up, places it on a canoe and sets it sail on the backwaters of Kuttanadu. The crux that remains precisely the same, however sees to it that the canoe is toppled in no time.
Chakka Gopan (Kunchacko Boban) is a new generation tourist guide striving hard to feed a family of four, including his mom (KPAC Lalitha) and three elder brothers - Chakka Mani, Suku and Vijayan (Irshad, Shiju and Joju George). Kuraichan (Shammi Thilakan), the local leader is envious of Gopan and swears to ruin him, when one of Gopan's unintentional statements land the moneybag in jail.
I guess one should not expect a film with a title as 'Pullipulikalum Aatinkuttiyum' to stimulate your brain cells. It is on the contrary, expected to be a self proclamatory entertainer that would keep you delightfully amused. Sadly, Lal Jose's latest offing does neither.
The script is the major downer in 'Pullipulikalum Aatinkuttiyum', and Sindhuraj has absolutely nothing new to proffer in this almost three hour long film. Almost every situation in it, every event, is something that we have seen before, and not even a single surprise is in store.
I do agree that it's all fairly mild stuff that doesn't tax you beyond a point, but the film's running time does start eating into you after a while. The prolonged climax that finally arrives after a lot of dilly dallying presents Gopan with an opportunity to firmly establish that he is the hero, as is customary in the case.
There is a romance wedged in between, one that springs up when Gopan sets his eyes on a local dancer Jayasree (Namitha Pramod). Opposition to the romance too spirals up in no time, as the girl's mother Revamma (Bindu Panicker) is hell bent on sending her abroad on a job - premises that we know like the back of our palms.
One wonders what it is that prompts a director like Lal Jose to attempt making a film out of a mundane tale as this. Sticking to a formula is no crime perhaps from the point of view of a film maker, but it's tough being inspired as a viewer, especially when you have set high hopes on the man behind the film.
What is disheartening is the way the screenplay swerves left, right and center, unsure of the mark that it intends to hit. So you have a boat race being drawn into the plot at the n-th hour, only to be snubbed out prematurely. The three brothers too disappear for a while post-interval, but they do reappear again towards the climax, reaffirming that the title still makes sense.
Kunchacko Boban and Namitha Pramod do make a lovely pair on screen, and they are amply supported by the rest of the cast that consists of Suraj Venjaramoodu, Harisree Ashokan and Anusree. The three leopards are aptly cast as well, as all three of them - Irshad, Shiju and Joju - deliver performances that are right on spot.
There are two people worth a very special mention in this jumble - S Kumar for gifting us with some amazingly stunning frames that soak up the very last bit of exquisiteness from the spectacular Kuttanadu locales, and Vidyasagar for not disappointing us yet again with those easy on the ear melodies.
A few initial light moments, here and there, are the best that Lal Jose's new film has on offer. Beyond that, it's water, water all around, but not a drop that could quench your thirst.
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