What's in a name? - Movie titles that spelt success or doom in 2013 & 2014

“What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet!” - William Shakespeare

While it's true that good movies with quality content and excellent execution would taste success irrespective of their titles, it would be unimaginative on the part of their creators to disregard the importance of an apt title. A trendy and catchy title would not only "ring the bell", but also build a unique identity in today's overcrowded celluloid world.

Malayalam film industry has never been so industrious about giving its movies the most attractive and unorthodox titles. While some of them hit the nail on the head, a few go overambitious to script their own disaster story.

Here's an attempt to identify the top ten instances where movie titles have more to than meets the eye, taken from the release years 2013 and the first half of 2014.

How Old Are You

There couldn't be a better name for the movie. So apt! The resurgence of a middle-aged woman from the overpowering emotion of dejection caused by her own family that doesn't bother to recognize her, to the resolute and firebrand personality that she had once been, could not have taken a better label.

The title is a direct question or wake-up call to its spectators, prodding them to shake off the stagnancy of whatever their age might have sedimented in them. Like Nirupama, we all must be able to respond "I am JUST 36", or "I am JUST touching 57", or "I am JUST in my late 70’s", or still better “it does not matter!” to the core question.

Neram

It's not at all easy to be short and sweet, and at the same time relevant as well, with movie titles. As a two-syllable cool name that gels with the plot and narration so well, Neram hits the bull's eye in splendid style. The movie proclaimed Nivin Pauly's “neram" as well!

Ohm Shanthi Oshaana

Very creative name! Very special! And as pleasing and easy-going as the movie. Entertainment in its simple, popularist and clean format. The name unites two religions so gracefully, while the movie does the same in LOVE, which is the core of every religion!

Sound Thoma

Having all the desirable traits of a proper nickname, "Sound Thoma" qualifies the movie's protagonist so very well. With Light & Sound shops in every nook and corner of Kerala, the name tickles the funny bone naturally, creating great impression. Though the movie could not live up to its hyped expectations, the title definitely added fizz to it.

Koothara

The name was a gamble. It was clearly a shrewd marketing trick. And how it boomeranged! It reminds one of the classic novel “Frankenstein”, where the grotesque creature that Frankenstein creates turns around to torment its own creator! There has never been such an apt title, describing or labelling its own content in such a forthright manner, and unabashedly!

Mr.Fraud

Who's the real Mr. Fraud was the million-dollar question that many raised after watching the highly-hyped movie - is it the nameless character played by Mohanlal, or is it Mr Unnikrishnan B who screen-wrote and directed the movie. With the many logical loopholes in the plot and its narration, and the unimaginative & come-a-cropper climax to an exaggerated yet decent build-up, Unnikrishnan wins the accolades, which is why Mr. Fraud finds a place in this list.

Vedivazhipadu

The pun-intended name and the cautionary note to the moralists promised a lot of scintillating, cheeky and kinky firework to the new & bold generation. The censor board certification issue added more firepower, and alas, it turned out to be an all-gas case at the end! It teasingly reminds one of the proud bridegroom, who stood in front of the mirror and declared, "two inches more, and I would be a King!", with his bride responding, "two inches less, and you would be a Queen!!" Much ado about nothing! Storm in a teacup!

Nee Ko Nja Cha

The name was imaginative and innovative, which must have contributed to the movie's success to a good extent. For the very average movie with many sex jokes, and only sex jokes, the name was indeed the soliciting agent (pun intended!).

Bicycle Thieves

There's nothing praiseworthy about the name, but the blasphemous and ignorant disrespect to the all-time 1948 Italian masterpiece, directed by Vittorio De Sica, brings the movie to this list. It would have been kind and aesthetically humane had the makers of this movie spared the classic title that movie-lovers all over the world revere!

Escape From Uganda

Thank God, they did not take a leaf out of the book from the team behind the Bicycle thieves Malayalam movie, and call it "The Great Escape"! The so-called escape was exhaustively covered in its two-minutes theatrical trailer, or its six odd posters. Breaking our local boarding school's security system must be tougher when compared to the grand Ugandan escape! No wonder why the hapless spectators shouted "ESCAPE! ESCAPE!" when the closing titles started rolling on the silver screen. The name was so overambitious.