Blue Skies, Green Waters, Red Earth

Plus: 1. DQ-Sunny bromance 2. Cinematography 3. Locations Minus: 1. Weak story 2. Half baked screenplay 3. Climax Verdict: watch it for the visual beauty

Neelakasham Pachakadal Chuvanna Bhoomi (English: Blue Sky, Green Sea, Red Earth) – Sub title based review "Been sometimes I had done an IMDb reviews, so thought of using my weekends to watch two titles and review. This one is about "English: Blue Sky, Green Sea, Red Earth" – A Malyalam gem of a movie. I have very low exposure to South Indian movie so thought of picking this up with quality English sub titles. This 2013 movie narrates the story of two engineering college friends who do their motor cycle diaries initially to get lost – to forget life – to ignore life. But just to be channelized to a larger quest for their own self, own believes & be the destiny. The film is shot seven Indian states - Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal, Nagaland and Sikkim – as the lead characters move ahead in their quest over their Royal Enfield. It has to be appreciated that the film has done all the research correct , I could see banners of Hornbill festival while in Nagaland, amazing site locations for Orissa beaches, Vibrant Kolkata – yes the movie captures Momo and Biryani's with Alu . Casting was gem as the film resorted to picking regional actors – while the lead actress was Bala Hijam from Manipur playing a half Naga women; the film also resorted to casting Dhritiman Chaterji – the Bengali iconic actor who has worked with the masters himself like Ray and Mrinal Sen ; being playing the role of a political leader. The film hits at all right cord to keep the travelogue while keeping India in mind. The music is by Rex Vijayan, who is well known in the Indian rock circuit as lead guitarist for band Avial ( Check Nada Nada song – if you like hard metal by Avial) does wonderful for its tracks. I am not sure who did the background scores but it was amazing as well. The scores indeed help you to craft the story yourself through diluted images & journeys. This film differs from other road trip films – maybe even Dil Chata hai – the single reason being – this film is more grounded, more real , has more panorama of life to offer – from college politics, to love, to lust, to discovering manhood to being absolute blank about life. A must watch if you like to see a wonderful movie. We definitely need more films like Neelakasham Pachakadal Chuvanna Bhoomi – to celebrate life & discover India. Kudos to the makes. Neelakasham indeed are our lives".

I entered the theater with a stereotype I had for modern Malayalam movies. Twenty minutes into the screenplay, the stereotype died.

Starting off with a fantastic camaraderie between the two lead hunks, the strong story begins unfolding itself through different places. I am mesmerized by the photography & locations (six different Indian states? Wow!). While the direction & cinematography actually pulls you inside the plot, the powerful soundtrack & score makes you enjoy the narrative. Songs are melodious and apt for the sequences they are played on. Editing could've been better. Talking about the intricacies of life, NPCB relates with its viewers with a wide range of life values like love, romance, family, hatred, travel, nature, etc.; issues - religion, language, politics & genres - action, romance, comedy & drama. The relevance of the script with current issues & time is both immense & dumb at the same time, but it easily passable.

It's a relief it isn't a melodrama. Humor is lukewarm, but the timing is thoroughly executed. Exhibiting so many ideas & beliefs on their journey, the lead pair magnify the meaning of life. Although, the climax seemed unfinished & the plot switches off with at least 2-3 unanswered questions. Maybe it was voluntarily done, because the plot was demanding more time; 150 minutes already! Let me tell you, it doesn't go monotonous.

Dulquer Salman is very serious about his portrayal and Sunny Wayne is the comic guy. Both are apt for the roles. The women in here portray amazingly and do their parts exceptionally well. Supporting cast is good as well. Only, some sequences seemed as if they were cooked up, but the audience is ready to overlook it if the table is full of food. Yes?

BOTTOM LINE: No cheap jokes, no obscenity and non-linear screenplay! I was greatly entertained & that is what a movie should be like. One more time, after Neram previously this year, Malayalam Cinema touches new heights. 8.4/10 for Sameer Thahir & crew. Highly Recommended because it inspires to live!

Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES

Profanity: Very Mild | Nudity: Very Mild | Sex/Foreplay: No | Mouth- Kiss: No | Violence: Strong | Gore: Mild | Alcohol: Mild | Smoking: Strong | Drugs: No | Porn: No

Neelakasham Pachakkadal Chuvanna Bhoomi (Malayalam):After the critically acclaimed "Chappa Kurish", director Sameer Thahir comes up with 2 and half hour Discovery Channel travelogue film, which has the shades of films like "Aranyer Din Ratri", "Dil Chahta Hai", "Rang De Basanti", "3 Idiots" & "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara". Despite the flashback track which is draggy, yet well unfolds the cause of the film's travel, the film has contemporary issues based strokes like the Naxalism, Communal Violence,etc. The film has a good layered screenplay by Hashir Mohammad with beautiful moments and warming dialogues. Editing by Srikar Prasad is as usual great where his editing the motif based shots actually makes the film travel smoothly. Sound Design and Production Design work is brilliant, but the cinematography by Girish Gangadharan captures the best of the journeys as well as the travellers. Music score by Rex Vijayan is actually compliments the film's journey. Now coming to performances, apart from the brilliant supporting cast, Dhritimaan Chatterjee is actually riveting and his moments with the protagonist played by Dulquer Salmaan actually make you remind of the latter's chemistry with Thilakan in the 2012 masterpiece "Ustad Hotel". Sunny Wayne is great and Dulquer Salman is absolutely great and he leaves no room for flaws in his performance where his Hindi speaking Charms you. Overall, despite the draggy flashback track, the narration by Thahir is loaded with great moments, visuals and aesthetics as well. My rating would be:4/5.

A very good feel travel movie.this movie shows you many places in india and also the people's. kasi and suni two youngsters travel in their bike from kerala to nagaland. watch this and enjoy