Ustad Hotel

Us tad Hotel (Malayalam: ഉസ്താദ് ഹോട്ടല്‍) is a 2012 Indian drama film written by Anjali Menon and directed by Anwar Rasheed. It stars Dulquer Salmaan, Nithya Menon and Thilakan in the lead roles while Siddique, Mamukkoya and Lena play prominent supporting roles. The film is about the strong bond between Karim, a Sufi Muslim, and his grandson Faizi.
Ustad Hotel is produced by Listin Stephen under the banner of Magic Frames and is distributed by Central Pictures. It features music composed by Gopi Sunder, whilst cinematography is handled by Lokanathan and is edited by Mahesh Narayanan. It released on 29 June 2012 to highly positive reviews from both critics and audience. Some critics have even called it one of the greatest Malayalam films ever made.

Story 

Ustad Hotel is a quaint place run by a foodie named Kareem, who is fondly called Ustad, on a beach in Kozhikode. He sells biriyani – not to make money but to ensure that his biriyani has his customers asking for more. It is the aroma of good food and the smile on his customers' faces that keep him going and not the tinkle of money. Kareem has been managing Ustad Hotel for the last 35 years.
Kareem's grandson Faizie, has been living with his rich dad Razaq (Siddique) and four sisters in the Gulf. As he grows up, his sisters are married off one by one. And then his father marries for a second time. Faizie hopes to be a chef, much against the aspirations of his dad. He goes to Switzerland to study hotel management and when he returns with much fanfare after the course, it is revealed that he has done a chef's course secretly and not hotel management. This shatters Razak's dream of opening a five-star hotel in his home town Kozhikode. Razaq virtually disowns Faizie and even takes away his passport and credit cards so that Faizie cannot go to London where he has already got a job. In anger, Faizie comes to Kozhikode to join his grandfather. Razaq wants him to marry a business tycoon's daughter Shahina (Nithya Menen) and they meet.
Faizie's stay in Kozhikode continues for a bit longer than what he had anticipated and during his stay with his grandfather, Faizie unearths a real world that exists beyond the sea and its shores. The film is about the bonding between Faizi and his grandfather and how a few days with his grandfather and Ustad Hotel changes his life for ever.

Hit Songs

• "Appangalembadum"
• "Vaathilil Aa Vaathilil"

BoxOffice Results

Ustad Hotel received positive reviews.

• Mutiny gave the movie stars, saying that Ustad Hotel is "an amazingly refreshing, gently touching and absolutely entertaining visual treat."
• Madhyamam and even went on to call Ustad Hotel one of the greatest Malayalam films ever made.
• Deccan Chronicle  gave the film a and commented that it is "an artful combine of old and new."
• Indiaglitz.com gave the movie 7.5/10 stars
•  Nowrunning.com gave the movie a rating of , concluding that "it is undoubtedly one of the finest films to have come out in Malayalam in recent times".
• The Times of India gave the movie stars, commenting that  " it is one of the best film in recent times".
• Malayalamnet gave the film a rating of stars, concluding that "'Ustad Hotel' have something special which is as sweet as a poem"

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

Verdict: Hit.