Nadirshah is one man who knows what people want when they go for the movies. In 2015, he gave us "Amar Akbar Anthony", a partial laugh riot with a social cause etched into it. This year, we have this comedy drama with the intrinsic essence of cinema in it.
Krishnan (Vishnu Unnikrishnan) is an enterprising young lad who aspires to star in films. This would not have been his life dream had his father Surendran (Siddique) not proclaimed in front of the entire village that he would make his son a film actor. It was Surendran's dream to follow the footsteps of his favorite actor, Malayalam star Jayan, and become a "Junior Jayan". However, when he realizes that cinema is not child's play and that it requires great struggle to become an actor, Surendran forcibly transfers his dream threads into Krishnan, a child who was born with a darker skin and an unattractive face. Both father and son know these facts, but still, deep inside, they hope that Krishnan will become a star one day. The story, thus, follows Krishnan's comical struggle, along with his bestie, auto-rickshaw driver Dasappan (Dharmajan Bolgatty), to act as a star, fall in love with a (relatively) beautiful girl, and...
The first thing one will notice in the film is the horrible makeup. But, you won't have much time to follow up on that because you will be soon overwhelmed by the trifling jokes and comic references that quickly turn to big ones and bring charm to the otherwise straightforward sequences. The uninterrupted flow of comedy, delivered without hesitance by Salim Kumar and Bolgatty, is what will seize your attention and advise you to lay back and grab that expensive bucket of popcorn. References of old classic Malayalam films and their scores will bring back the Malayali in you as you await more of the idiosyncrasies of the wicked characters who do not even mind joking about themselves. Take for instance the wildly popular classical song, 'Pramadavanam Veendum' from the 1990 blockbuster "His Highness Abdullah". Who would think of playing its prelude during a shot capturing the haplessness of students who are appearing for an examination? It's pure cinematic genius. The comedy, on which the entire first half and parts of the second depend on, looks mostly like spontaneous improvisation by the talented actors. Director Nadirshah should be praised for bringing out this spontaneity in his actors; we already know he is deft in it. Bibin George and Unnikrishnan do a decent job in writing and expanding their story.
The primary theme of the film is the condition of side actors and extras who are typecast under compulsion. If a certain actor has done an excellent job as a policeman, then he will be approached by casting directors for mostly similar roles. That is the bane of such actors who would like some diversity in their roles; and we even have some fragmentary examples like that of Kalabhavan Shajon, who did a great job in Jeethu Joseph's Drishyam (2013). Hence, he was cast in a similar role for enacting almost similar sequences in Priyadarshan's Oppam (2016). Krishnan experiences this industry practice and is saddened by it. The decrease in his level of self-esteem is apparent as he dresses up every morning, gets on his bicycle, and goes to shoot locations for roles which he think will aid in his ultimate dream.
While the audience will be enchanted with the comic happenings on- screen, they cannot ignore the stretched screenplay where the story actually moves with a snail's pace. It is only in the second half that it gathers steam and scrambles to move on with Krishnan as he comes in terms with his fate. Another diversion that the makers employ here is the inclusion of Prayaga Martin as Ann Mariya, a pretty woman who hopes to cajole Krishnan to get her a break in films. Talk about passengers of the same stairway to heaven.
Vishnu is absolutely perfect as the young man trying to get into films. His performance is carved beautifully by Nadirshah, which never goes overboard. He is well-supported by Bolgatty, Siddique, and Kumar, who all add into the humor, as well as the drama towards the end. Shout- out to Lijomol Jose for doing a sweet role yet again. It is mostly because of the actors and their performances that the film moves and succeeds in reaching the climax, which can be strongly termed a tearjerker.
All in all, the film has enough material to make you laugh and to make you cry. Nevertheless, sometime during the film, you will realize that you have seen it all before. And that is what essentially works against it. Do note the small reference made to 2016's best film so far - Dileesh Pothan's Maheshinte Prathikaram.
BOTTOM LINE: Nadirshah's "Kattappanayile Rithwik Roshan" is great comedy, but is let down by its familiar story and the ordinary social cause attached to it. It also gets the Bollywood actor's name wrong among other things. Wait for DVD or go for a late-night weekday show.
Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES
