Dagini Malayalam Movie

Feature Film | 2018 | U | Comedy
Critics:
Four elderly women lead a fight against a ruthless villain in a senseless manner, and in the process, their absurdities are too menial to make you laugh. It fails to exploit the acting prowess of a bunch of seasoned actors due to a hollow screenplay.
Oct 20, 2018 By K. R. Rejeesh


Here playing cards and boozing is the trope of liberty enjoyed by these aged women. Neglected by their children, who are understandably NRIs, they are free souls in the apartment. Among the group, only Mollykutty, played by Pouly Valsan, is a spinster. Scripted and directed by Rahul Riji Nair, 'Dakini' is an unattractive humour drama that is devoid of the vital fizz and fun required for a humorous plot.


Along with Mollykutty, who is a mechanic in her own workshop, the other elderly women-Rosemary (Savithri Sreedharan), Saroja (Sarasa Balussery) and Vilasini (Sethu Lekshmi) - orchestrate a plan to rescue Kuttanpillai (Alencier) from the confinement of a dangerous hawala broker, Mayan, essayed by Chemban Vinod Jose. They take Kuttappi (Aju Varghese) with them to assist them. Kuttappi, who runs a shop, usually runs errands for these old women.


It was Kuttappi's idea to seek the aid of his friend and goonda Vikraman (Saiju Kurup) to bump the deadly Mayan off. This premise is set for delineating the bravery and intelligence of these women but the way things are unfolded is truly nasty and crude. Rahul Riji Nair of award-winning 'Ottamuri Velicham' fame carelessly manages plot in which funny lines are missing. The movie fails to exploit the acting prowess of a bunch of seasoned actors due to a hollow screenplay.


Pouly Valsan takes away the honours among the actors in her portrayal of bold Mollykutty, who had a romantic affair with Kuttanpillai in the past. Her hopes blossoms through the reunion with Kuttanpillai but Mayan abducts him. Saiju Kurup plays a timid goonda and his histrionics, meant to evoke laughter, are nothing but disastrous.


Aju Varghese appears in a role that has minor significance in the tale. Indrans plays Mayan's father Raju Bhai and the actor is mere onlooker in the whole action. Chemban Vinod makes the impact of a fierce villain in the beginning but in the latter half he is made to appear as a bewildered antagonist. Apart from the curiosity of coming together of four senior actors and their interesting appearance, there is hardly anything that makes this film impressive.


'Dakini' is a remarkably unfunny film and it offers a tale that even struggles to vie against the themes of modern-day comic books. The literal battle and conspiracy of four elderly women against a ruthless villain is senseless by all means. In the process, their absurdities are too menial to make you laugh.

K. R. Rejeesh

   

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