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Angamaly Diaries Malayalam Movie Review

Angamaly Diaries Malayalam Movie

Feature Film | 2017 | UA | Comedy, Drama
Critics:
Audience:
Lijo's brilliant narration and stupendous performances of a bunch of newcomers give an impetus to the film that would have otherwise ended as a regular revenge story between two rival groups.
Mar 3, 2017 By K. R. Rejeesh

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Where To Watch:
Streaming:
   Netflix
DVD Release: Jun 21 2017

The barrage of random shots that appear on screen delineate about Angamaly and its precincts. We get to know all about Angamaly and its unknown interesting trivia (as per the voice over).


Ruckus and scuffle are aplenty in "Angamaly Diaries" and the story of angry youngsters is reminiscent of a couple of recent flicks that dealt with vendetta among gangs. Then where does it score? If you look at any of Lijo's movies, be it "Nayakan", "City of God" or "Amen", his films have a craftsman's identity and signature. Novelty in narration, subjective movements of camera and slice of dark humor are his trademarks. In "Angamaly Diaries" the filmmaker is banking on 86 newcomers, who have justified their selection, and vibrant performances from each of them have made the film an engaging movie, albeit you are in a familiar milieu.


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Vincent Pepe (Antony Varghese) and his friends are at odds with their rival gang in the pork meat business, mainly run by Rajan and Ravi. Pepe tries to eke out a living by running a pig farm along with his friends, but some unexpected incidents land him in trouble. He wants to go abroad to live with his lover Lichy. Circumstances in Angamaly push him to commit even murder by mistake. It incurs the ire of the other group.


All the newcomers deserve applause for the realistic portrayal of their characters. The script of actor Chemban Jose Vinod, though not refreshing, is taut and rooted in realism. The scenarist has adopted the obvious choice of a writer while narrating about a local place: to harp on local goons and their misdeeds.


As a filmmaker, Lijo has evolved his own unique style from the word go in his film career. And his efforts hit the bull's eye in "Amen". If "Angamaly Diaries" appears to be refreshing, it's due to his innovative and brilliant handling of the plot using the newcomers including Ullas Jose Chemban, Reshma Raju, Sinoj Varghese, Benny Varghese, Sarath Kumar and Milton Raju et al.


The froth in the substance of "Angamaly Diaries" is vivid throughout the movie. However, Lijo's brilliant narration and stupendous performances of a bunch of newcomers give an impetus to the film that would have otherwise ended as a regular revenge story between two rival groups.


On technical front, Gireesh Gangadharan's camera works wonders in the climax scene which has been presented in a single shot. Prashant Pillai's music lends the required mood to the film. Scope for a family drama is sparse in this typical Lijo movie, but signature of a seasoned filmmaker is stapled in it.


K. R. Rejeesh

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Kiran Allan

Kiran Allan
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USER REVIEWS
Roshan Pramod

Above average....But realistic
Anuvind Ben

its totally disgusting movie, no proper story to cope with .. actors are done good job.. but movie is totally upsetting .. slaughtering animals, bloodshed... alcohol, weed, gambling..
San Pi

Brilliant is the only word I could sum up for this masterpiece. Extremely well thought of ad brilliantly executed. Hats off to Lijo & the entire crew for a stupendous movie ..
Anand Unni

We are lucky to have directors like lijo jose pellissery. In this movie you will be Teleported Angamaly for 2.5 hours. Just brilliant. If you are a movie lover and want great movies in Malayalam you should watch this one at least two times. If you are someone who is not that passionate about movies can miss this one. Can come back after 10 years and say "Excellent movie" and wonder why i didn't enjoy this one back old days ;)
prasanth p

waste movie
John Mathew

Superb movie...brilliant acting,cinematography,bgm,script and direction.its a superb thriller with raw acting and black humour..must watch if you are a movie lover!!!
Ritchie Johnson Johnson

Superb movie..All new faces..But top performance on screen..Hats off to the team of Angamaly diaries.. Beautiful camera shots as well..
Nishanth Ramachandran

After watching AD one cant help wondering why the critics & film fraternity is hyping this movie as a cult classic. AD not meant for all sections of audience. By glorifying goons, guns, violence & alcoholism in the name of realism it distances itself from women & family audience. The story has nothing new and reminds one of many violent movies from the past. The only saving grace is the performance of the newcomers. Lijo's craft which is widely written about was much better in amen & City of God
Aneurin Augustus

Waste of both money and time.Media along with film fraternity is misguiding audience.
Rajoy Alfes

This is definitely not a movie meant for family audience. It celebrates a goon story full of violence and bloodshed. Such stories have been told and retold several times in many languages, and this movie does not offer anything above the usual. However, this movie has given a handful of promising actors to Malayalam cinema . A big salute to Lijo Jose for taking the risk of investing in new actors. Good photography and enchanting folk tunes are the other highlights.
Anoop K

ONE OF THE WASTE MALAYALAM MOVIE EVER SEEN. I don't know how it is sanctioned by Sensor board. Really bad...!!!
cinema buff

The review seems to be a bit misleading, since the movie might be good only for some viewers who are ardent fans of hyper violent, booze addicted small scale gangster stories and for others it may be a strictly average movie, just another ‘kerala kotteshan kadha’ placed in Angamaly. It is definitely true that the film is narrated in an extremely raw, almost realistic style, but the problem is that it tells a story that has been done to death in all most all languages and nothing new for regular
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