Medulla Oblongata Malayalam Movie
Suresh Nair's directorial debut 'Medulla Oblangata' remains faithfully close to its original 'Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom', the Tamil film directed by Balaji Tharaneetharan which was a runaway hit. The film, based on a real life incident, talks of four friends who find themselves in a quandary at a most crucial moment in their lives.
Appachan (Saiju Kurup), Seetharaman (Arjun Nandakumar), Chandru (Rahul Madhav) and Mani (Rakendu) are four pals who are in for a shocker, when a cricket match on the eve Chandru's marriage reception lands them in trouble. Having landed on his back in an attempt to make a catch, the groom starts suffering from a temporary memory loss all on a sudden. And the reason being that his medulla oblongata has been hit against, a bit too hard.
Despite not having made any spectacular changes in the script, the highly amusing 'Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom' transpires into a middling comedy as it emerges as 'Medulla Oblangata' in Malayalam. Somehow, not much seems to be working here, and after a while it turns out into a real gauge on your patience.
The script focuses on the only instance that Chandru remembers, and it is repeated a million times. While the repetition is intended to bring in amusement (initially it even does), it starts pulling on your nerves not much longer.
That doesn't mean that the film is devoid of the smiles and laughter that it has been promising all along. It does have you in splits on at least a couple of occasions, but one hundred and fifty minutes is too long a time, to have a couple of hearty chuckles.
Thankfully though, there are no song and dance routines to add any further twinge to the proceedings. One almost expects a time killer of a song to drop in at any moment, given the occasion is one that almost cinematically demands it. However, we are mercifully spared.
What is perhaps most interesting about the film is the premise of short term memory loss that it is based on. It does astound that an event as tragic as the one in question has been altered into a tale that invokes mirth and hilarity.
As for the performances, I loved Saiju, who seems to have finally found his forte, and is getting better with each film. Coming up with a mature performance is Arjun Nandakumar, while Rakendu surprisingly manages to tickle your funny bone. Rahul Madhav however plays it way over the top, and almost converts memory loss into a moronic act. Aavaana in a very brief role, makes do with whatever she has been offered on screen.
Some remakes aren't simply meant to be as rollicking as their originals were lauded as, and 'Medulla Oblangata' falls into the list. If I were you, I would go grab a DVD of 'Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom' and have a gala fun time burrowed in my couch.
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