Classmates Malayalam Movie

Sep 4, 2006 By Unni Nair

Classmates, director Lal Jose's Onam offering, sends very positive signals as far as the Malayalam film industry is concerned. The refreshingly different film proves that with the back-up of a well-written script and good direction, the younger generation stars too can work miracles.

For the older generation, Classmates is a nostalgic trip down memory lane to college days. At the same time the film has ingredients that would satisfy the younger generation. Classmates may not be an outstanding film, but it is a well-made nostalgia evoking, lovable film that may even herald the beginning of a new trend in Malayalam Cinema.

Sukumaran, Pious, Satheeshan Kanjikuzhi, Thara Kurup, Raziya, Koshi and Vasu are part of a group and they reunite 15 years after they left college. The reunion was planned years ago by one of their classmates Murali, a singer who died during their college days. Now Murali's parents Professor Iyer and Lakshmi, both working in the same college, have made the reunion happen.

On the very night of the reunion, Sukumaran is found strangled by the wire of Murali's guitar, which had been placed there. While he is fighting for life in a hospital bed, the others are left to surmise whether it is an attempt to commit suicide or an attempted murder. At this stage Pious and Professor Iyer recall events of the past and many things hereto untold come out of the closet.

Prithviraj, Indrajith, Jayasurya, Kavya Madhavan and Balachandra Menon all have done justice to their respective roles. Anoop, who had earlier put in comic performances in Achuvinte Amma and Rasathanthram, repeats himself as Koshi. Vijeesh of Nammal fame has grown slimmer and is good as Vasu, Satheeshan's sidekick. Sunil of 4 the People fame, who has rechristened himself as Narein on making his entry into Tamil Cinema with Chithiram Pesuthedi, puts on a commendable performance as Murali. Radhika as Raziya, popular in college days as 'Penguin', does well in the climax scenes.

The songs, penned by Vayalar Sarath Chandra Verma and set to music by Alex Paul add charm to the film. Script by James Albert, camera by Rajeev Ravi, art-direction by Gokuldas and editing by Ranjan Abraham are the highlights of the film. Kudos to Lal Jose and team for having given us a clean, lovable film!