Calendar Malayalam Movie

Mahesh's film reminds you of one of those old time calendars in red and black that told you the day of the year. Stuck up on the wall, it lies inert for ages until a breeze happens to come by. And then it flutters a bit, and turns still all again. May 22, 2009 By Veeyen

In Calendar, the performances are remarkable, but there's no breaking free for the actors from the sob-o-rama script. This downward spiraling tragedy lacks spontaneity and spirit, and just about manages to scrape through banking heavily on its high profile cast.

Prof. Thankam Philip (Zarina Wahab) had been widowed for a tough long eighteen years, and has built up a world of her own around her daughter Kochurani (Navya Nair). The truly inseparable duo finds their immense love put on trial, as prospective suitors of Kochurani walk into their lives.

When the film is all about maternal affection, its depressing that the chemistry between the mom and daughter seldom works out in the film. It's even more disappointing when you see that this happens despite the presence of two of the best actors at the film's disposal. It's just that all the emotions that the script cooks up remain superficial and the scenes appear more contrived than natural. Like the one when Kochurani decides to go on a study tour and rushes back home complaining of severe stomach pain, only to find that mommy has been admitted to the hospital on account of a rise in her blood pressure. Reason?? Pangs of parting.

This failure to enthuse us emotionally is apparent when Kochurani falls in love with Sojappan and Inkachan. The former relationship springs out of nowhere and delivers a punch on your face when you least expect it. And the latter one is a pure embarrassment.

There is a strong absence of coherence when it comes to the film's structure. Sometimes it turns out to be totally chaotic with no definite mark-offs between the past and the present. Flashbacks are cut up into bits and pieces at the most inappropriate moments and they desperately try to intermingle with the rest of the storyline causing jolts and jerks in the narration.

That tiny bit of a bombshell that awaits us at the climax saves the film from being an extreme washout. So do the harmless little gags that are amusing at times, and at other times plain stale. Afzal's easy on the ear musical compositions need to be specifically mentioned in this regard as well.

Indeed, time flies! Feels like just yesterday when a lass from across the north ventured down south, acted in a handful of memorable films and silently made an elegant exit. It's good to see Zarina gracing the screen yet again and she's as radiant as ever. I wonder if she has had a fair deal in this film though. Granted there are a couple of instances in Calendar that truly calls for an actor of her caliber, but on the whole it's a role that relies more on its bearing than its behavior. Navya repeats her admirable feat in Calendar as well, and seems to be getting better with each film. Clearly an actor who has matured with age and experience, she's commendably good even in roles that offer her nothing spectacular.

Could someone tell me what Prithvi was doing in that role that couldn't even be called a glorified cameo? Contractual obligation? Surely a surprise, and an unpleasant one at that, coming from the actor who is otherwise on a royal ride right now, with some of the best projects neatly chucked under those new-found six pack abs.

Mahesh's film reminds you of one of those old time calendars in red and black that told you the day of the year. Stuck up on the wall, it lies inert for ages until a breeze happens to come by. And then it flutters a bit, and turns still all again.