Ullozhukku

Leave it to Mollywood to consider a plot that that other industries won't touch with a 10-ft poll. The leads were phenomenal in this "All parties are at fault, but can you blame them?" storyline that not only showcases what phenomenal acting they can do, but also some amazing frames of Kerala in ways that you may not have seen before.

Much is said about how 'big names' in Indian cinema are mostly male names, but here's another example of why actors like Urvashi, who's been there and done that is all sorts of roles, are bigger than some of the 'big names' when it comes to acting chops.

This is a serious drama film - not for everyone, but definitely worth the watch so that when Urvashi receives a very well deserved award for this film, you know what it's for. If this were an American drama, the Oscar for Best Female Lead was pretty much guaranteed. Watch it for her and Parvathy, for an interesting portrayal of Kerala, for the writing and execution.

Ullozhukku

An ocean of emotions portrayed through sunken human minds.

The plot of the story is about the survival of a young women in a unhappy married life covered up with lies,emotions and her deeply rooted relationship with her mother in law.

Christo has excelled in portraying the inner emotions of each characters in the movie very brilliantly. Not a single lag was felt and it is evident from the way he has penned the script. He has associated the emotional agony of each characters with the endless downpour in the movie.

Urvashi...The real queen...What a versatile delivery. Parvathi's performance with Urvashi especially in the darker areas was at par. Impressive delivery by Prashanth Murali,Alencier,Arjun & Jaya Kurup.

Sushin Shyam has got a feather on his hat again. He has proved that he can shoulder music for any genres. The Background score was so soothing and blended well along with the heavy downpour.

Shehnad Jalal's hands behind the camera was top notch and the way he captured the real beauty of Kuttanad and the hardships of the people in monsoon.

An emotionally touching family drama after Kaathal - The Core.

Rating - 3.75/5.

Ullozhukku, written and directed by Christo Tomy, offers a raw and sincere take on human vulnerabilities and their long-lasting undercurrents. All it takes is a solid screenplay for the magnificent revival of powerhouse performers like Urvashi and Parvathy Thiruvothu, especially the former. Urvashi, portraying a mother (and mother-in-law) dealing with her son's illness and eventual demise in a frequently flooding backwater town, is in a league of her own. She reminds us what an asset she is to South Indian cinema, with even the minutest changes in facial expression and demeanor wholly accounted for. On the other hand, Parvathy plays a character that's etched in such a way that she's initially difficult to side with, but the layered writing keeps telling us there's more to her than what meets the eye. She also brings a methodical yet gripping take on Anju, a woman who's forced to marry someone against her choice, and then left in a dire situation between her (ex) boyfriend and mother-in-law.

The writing carries the heft of a family drama with secrets unfolding one by one, and it even exhibits shades of a thriller occasionally, because we're led to think something drastic might happen with each little plot development. DoP Shehnad Jalal smartly plays with character focus, switching between Leelamma and Anju in intense scenarios featuring both. The constant flooding in and around their house also comes across as Mother Nature playing its own game and messing things up further, only to resolve them in due course. A delayed burial, a mistimed phone call, a conversation being overheard, an old medical report being found, a moment of familial reconciliation - every event has an emotional payoff. Death and birth begin to take different meanings in the household.

The supporting cast, including names such as Arjun Radhakrishnan, Alencier Ley Lopez, and Jaya Kurup, is also really good. Sushin Shyam's work on the score is a definite plus, and he brings his A-game. Kiran Das keeps the drama pegged at a good 2 hours and he's wise not to stretch a single scene to milk further sentiment. Christo Tomy and his 8-year journey with Ullozhukku ends on a highly satisfying note. I get the feeling he and his crew benefited big time by shooting the film in sync sound.

P. S. Did I expect things to go insanely overboard in the climax? YES. But, was I satisfied with the route Christo took to end the film? ABSOLUTELY!

Movie 7, Urvashi Chechi Oscar.

Urvashi Chechi as the Meryl Streep of kutanad.

Best performance yet by the GOAT.

Movie is slow, great visuals of kutanad.

Urvashi Chechi Oscar worthy performance, her performance is the only thing to talk about in this movie.

The movie is average Urvashi Chechi kills her part.

Her best lead performance movie yet.

Parvathy Thiruvothu is the other lead performer in the movie.

Flood issues of kutanad presented well as the region is mostly flooded and boat journeys are required.

GOAT of Malayalam Urvashi Chechi is the only reason to watch this movie, her performance adds pain to the movie.

Brevity in story telling by Christo Tomy with excellent cinematography by Shehnad Jalal .. not only resurrects the soul of the Shakespearean drama that unfolds but also highlights the surreal beauty of kuttanad through breathtaking visuals.

Subtle background music by Sushin Shyam in classical western style is captivating and adds to the core feel of the movie.

Besides excellent emote from all - principally an ageing Urvashi and the young Parvathy Thiruvoth .. the film is the combined result of all elements of movie making fused together brilliantly, drawing in the viewer emotionally too.

The movie with the right type of subtitles is sufficient to pull itself off singularly before any discerning international or national audience sans spend on marketing for such is its narrative strength. This point is beyond debate.

The film is a text book case for all budding film makers to watch over and over again to understand the nuances.

Conclusion: Malayalam films are once again on the ascendancy by virtue of the creativity behind each, indicative of a welcome renaissance and shift away from action staples and crime/police stories that held centre stage so far .. we need to travel far more and the changing trend seems encouraging ...

premnath d trivandrum.