"Sorry guys,No plans to change,No plans to impress"- These words from the side of Lijo Jose Pellissery after the debacle of his experimental flick "Double Barrel" released in 2015 was the testimony of a director's faith in his creativity and vision which he has showcased yet again with this brilliantly crafted gangster flick that's a director's entity right from the word go Brimming with raw energy at each moment of the narrative,'Angamaly Diaries' is a gripping tale of rivalry between two local gangs from the town of 'Angamaly' that manages to shed light on the lifestyle and culture of the small town in central kerala in the most efficient manner an auteur can imagine.The daily life,food habits,local festivals all gets to be a part of the focused narrative by Lijo that's devoid of any stereotypes that one expects from a gangster flick in general.
Humor is not something that one associate with a gangster flick,but 'Angamaly Diaries' is more delightful on this regard with ample dose of light-hearted and even rib-tickling natural comedies that are utterly realistic and easily connectable for the audience.
Chemban Vinod Jose's screenplay is tight and filled with such realistic humor,romance,grudge and revenge,mixed effectively to make it a wholesome meal that you cant resist.Each character of the film is perfectly written and makes an impression with their peculiar characteristics,likes and dislikes that creates huge space for blending different emotions proficiently.
Now coming to the best part of the movie,- "Casting and Performances"! 86 newcomers -u kidding?? May it be the lead hero 'Vincent Pepe' played by Antony Varghese or U-Clamp Rajan by Tito Wilson,the performances were stellar and genuine which will make anyone fall in love with the characters in no time.The lady characters were all good,particularly 'Lichi' played by Reshma Rajan that felt so genuine and lovable.One particular performance to be noted is that of 'Appani Ravi' which was portrayed eminently by newcomer Sarath Kumar.
The single-shot climax that extends to 11 minutes was a treat to watch and brilliantly shot by Girish Gangadharan who deserves a special mention for handling the particular shot and the bounty of fresh frames that made Angamaly Diaries catchy for the eyes.There weren't any notable negatives except for occasional lags that are negligible.
Songs and Background score by versatile composer Prashant Pillai was a stunner and filled with raw tunes that suited the narrative to the fullest.The song bits were efficiently placed by LJP and took the narrative forward well.Cuts by Shameer Mohammed were sharp.
Overall,Angamaly Diaries is a hearty gangster drama with originality in narration.
Final Verdict::"Angamaly Diaires",'The light-hearted Kammattipadam' of Angamaly is a stunning gangster flick with bounty of terrific performances and directorial brilliance that makes it an affair not to be missed from the silver-screen.Make sure you catch this #Kattalocal treat in a cinema near you at the earliest!
