Mr. Marumakan

Mr. Marumakan is a 2012 Malayalam family drama film written by the duo Udayakrishna-Siby K. Thomas and directed by Sandhya Mohan. The movie stars Dileep and Sanusha in the lead roles and Bhagyaraj, Khushboo, Sheela, Biju Menon, Nedumudi Venuand Hijaz in supporting roles.

Story

Ashok Raj (Dileep) is the son of Rajagopalan Thampy (Nedumudi Venu), whose family is based in Ottappalam. Although Ashok Raj is a lawyer, his interest lies in reviving a defunct drama troupe called Bharatha Kalakshetram, which used to be run by his family.

He is directing a drama titled Dasavatharam for the troupe and is also the lead actor in the play. Ashok Raj even changes his name to Ashok Chakravarthy as he thinks it has much more punch as a name for an artiste. His elder brother Babu Raj (Biju Menon), who runs a company, is now in a financial mess.

Balasubrahmanyam (Bhagyaraj) is a bank officer who has come to initiate legal proceedings against Babu Raj to get him to repay the loan that he had taken to start his venture. As it turns out, Balasubrahmanyam is now estranged from his wife the haughty Raja Mallika (Khushboo) and daughter Raja Lakshmi (Sanusha). Raja Mallika hails from a wealthy family and is the daughter of the even haughtier Raja Kokila (Sheela), the boss of Raja's group of companies. The trio believe that a woman can survive easily, without the help of a man. The entry of Ashok Raj into their lives forces them to revise their opinions. On the parallel, we are shown a romance story between Ashok Raj and teenaged Raja Lakshmi.

Hit Songs

• "Vaayo Vaayo"
• "Anganamaare"

BoxOffice Results

Mr. Marumakan received mixed to negative reviews.

Theater Balcony gave the movie 66/100, saying that "Mr. Marumakan will bring lots of laughter and is able to create a festival mood. 

Metro Matinee gave 2/5 the movie a verdict of "Time Pass Entertainer".

Sify gave1.5/5 rating for the movie and rated a verdict of "Strictly for Dileep fans!"

Rediff gave the movie 2/5 stars, stating that "Mr. Marumakan is a typical Dileep film, we excepted many more.

Now Running gave the movie 2/5 stars, saying that "'Mr. Marumakan' offers little wackiness when it comes to humor since the jokes never build up.

Overall Rating : 1.5/5

Verdict : Watchable (below average)

Friday (2012 film)

Friday is a 2012 Malayalam drama thriller film directed by Lijin Jose and starring Fahadh Faasil, Ann Augustine and Manu. Fahadh does the role of an auto rickshaw driver. The supporting cast includes Nedumudi Venu, Vijayaraghavan and Tini Tom. Produced by Thomas Joseph Pattathanam under the banner of Innovative Film Concepts, the film is set and shot completely in Alappuzha. It released on 18 August 2012 to positive critical reviews. Carrying a tag of One Day... Many Stories, the film has a multi narrative aspect and is woven in the format of a hyperlink cinema.

Story

The film tells the life stories of many people who arrive into a town on Friday 11 November 2011 (11-11-11) to mess up their life into confusing proportions.

Balu (Fahadh Faasil), an auto-rickshaw driver by profession, lives by taking it on daily rent. He is least happy with the way the day has started off. He has just learned that a jack fruit has fallen over the roof of his house. We see the poor condition he lives in as he does not have the money to repair the roof of his house.

Out in the city, Aswathy (Nimisha Suresh) is busy shopping for her wedding. Accompanied by her grandfather (Nedumudi Venu), sister and mom, she is seen quite busy attending the phone calls of her beau Achu (Tini Tom) who is incidentally in the city as well.

Muneer (Manu) is the son of the auto-rickshaw owner that Balu runs. He is a typical young college student who refuses to do anything that his mother wishes him to do. Muneer and his girlfriend Jincy (Ann Augustine) decide to head over to the beach, as a holiday has been declared for the college.

A fully pregnant beggar woman roams the city with hopes of finding a place where she could deliver her baby. Another mother (Seema G. Nair), whose daughter in law has just delivered a baby, has to head back home with the newborn, as the hospital decides to discharge her all on a sudden, due to want of beds.

Arun (Prakash Bare) and Parvathy (Asha Sarath), a childless couple, also lands in Alapuzha on the same day, to adopt a child. They are quite in a hurry, and have to leave back to Bangalore by evening, and when the orphanage officials demand a certificate to complete the adoption procedures, they find themselves in a fix.

A single incident that happens on that day unites them together and this forms the crux of the story.

Hit Songs
   Not yet.

BoxOffice Result

Friday released on August 18, 2012, and received positive reviews.
Nowrunning rated  and gave it a splendid review and commented that "'Friday', more than everything else, presents an enterprising director, who has an eye for fine cinema.
Oneindia.in gave 3/5 rating and said that Friday "is a well-woven neatly scripted movie with minimal loopholes."
The Times of India rated the film  and praised its direction and script.
Metromatinee.com also wrote a positive review and gave a verdict "Don't Miss This".
Rediff.com rated the film  and commented that the film is "passable as there seems to be an overdose of stories of similar kind."

Overall Rating : 3/5

Verdict : Entertainer

Thattathin Marayathu

Thattathin Marayathu is a 2012 Malayalam musical romance film written and directed by Vineeth Sreenivasan, starring Nivin Paulyand Isha Talwar in the lead roles. While the supporting cast is played up by Aju Varghese, Manoj K. Jayan, Sreenivasan, Sunny Wayne, Bhagath Manuel, Manikuttan, Niveda Thomas along with a list of new debutant actors.

The film is produced by Mukesh and Sreenivasan under the banner of Lumiere Film Company.  The music is composed by Shaan Rahman, while the cinematography is handled by Jomon T. John, and the editing is by Ranjan Abraham. Distribution of the film is done by LJ Films. The film got released on July 6, 2012.

Story

The story is about a Hindu boy Vinod who falls in love with a Muslim girl Aisha.

Hit Songs

• "Muthuchippi"  
• "Anuraagathin Velayil"  

BoxOffice Results

The film released on July 6, 2012 and met with mixed to positive reviews.

Metromatinee.com said that the film is a lovable movie and got all praise for Vineeth's execution.

Nowrunning.com gave a negative review with 2.4 / 5 and criticised that film does't have a credible story line.

Theaterbalcony.com given a 3.5 / 5 rating and concluded that "Vineeth and the team gifted us a beautiful Poem of Love, and we just can’t miss this for the theme, the dialogues, the performance, and above everything the feel of love it is offering."

Sify.com too all impressed with the film, and gave a verdict of Very Good, and termed as a don't miss one.

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

Verdict: Hit

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.

Bachelor Party (2012 film)

Bachelor Party is a Malayalam spy action thriller directed, co-produced and filmed by Amal Neerad. The film stars Indrajith, Asif Ali,Nithya Menen, Rahman, Kalabhavan Mani and Vinayakan in the lead roles while Prithviraj, Padmapriya and Remya Nambeesan make guest appearances. The film's screenplay is by noted authors Unni. R and Santhosh Echikkanam. The original music and background score of the film are composed by Rahulraj. It was released on June 15, 2012, to mixed reviews. The film's plot is inspired from Exiled, a 2006 Hong Kong action movie.


Story


Bachelor Party is a travelogue of friendship. The whole story is happening during a time frame of three days. A group is into a journey, which turns out to be a crucial one. Geevarghese (Indrajith), Tony (Asif Ali), Neethu (Nithya Menen), Benny (Rahman), Ayyappan (Kalabhavan Mani) and Fakeer (Vinayakan) are the main characters. Prithviraj and Remya Nambeesan appear in brief but important roles in turning points in the story.


Hit Songs

   Not yet.

Boxoffice Result

• The film received a warm welcome,although the viewers wrote it off as another watchable entertainer. Watch for Stunning visuals spawning for 150min, get mixed reviews, mostly negative reviews.
• Actually the film was not upto the mark of the expectation.
• The film Bachelor party has got one of the worst script. It can really be categorized as a shaky script. According to the script, the film should only have duration of around 10-15 minutes. But the film is stretched to hours using the method of old fashioned slow motion. There is a scene in the movie where the rogue guys plans to assassin the enemy. But the enemy is out for shopping. This makes the viewers to wait for the movie audience to wait with the rogue gang.
• One of the point to be noticed is that the film is entirely filled with baudy words. This makes the film less watchable for the families. The film really depicts some awkward symbolism. Out of all actors, Rahman was exceptionally well.
• The film mainly tried to satisfy the viewers through the song sequence only. Nothing is done to script in order to satisfy the basic need of the viewers.
• Sify rated 2/5 and said that it is just a watchable movie.
• Metromatinee rated 2 out of 5 and said: "The script is nothing spectacular, the film is engrossing as long as you are washing it".
• Theator Balcony also rated 2/5 declared as a just watch movie.

Overall rating: 2/5

Verdict: Watchable

Spirit (2012 film)

Spirit is a 2012 Malayalam satirical film written and directed by Ranjith. The film primarily focuses on the increasing habits of alcoholism in Kerala but is altogether a take on all things contemporary with a satirical tint. It stars Mohanlal, Kaniha and Shankar Ramakrishnan in the lead roles while Lena, Nandu, Thilakan and Madhu play notable supporting roles. The film released on 14 June with positive results.
According to the director, "The movie does not, in any way, advocate or proscribe alcohol. Spirit discusses the subject and examines what happens when a person, however intelligent, falls prey to an addiction, any addiction for that matter.

Story

Raghunandan is an ex-Bank of England employee who resigned his lucrative job because he was bored with the rather sedentary nature of his work. Having lived in different parts of the world as a bank employee, he chose journalism as his next career and worked in different cities in India. He is now working on a TV news channel as an interviewer in a show named "Show the Spirit". In the mean time, he is writing an English novel too. He is essentially a loner but loves his pegs and has an expensive collection of vintage drinks at home.

It was his excessive drinking that resulted in his divorce some years back, but he shares a healthy friendship with his former wife Meera and her current husband Alexy. The couple has the custody of Raghunandan and Meera’s son Aditya aka Sunny, who can't speak or hear. Captain Nambiar is his next door friend. Raghunandan, however, is not really bothered about relationships and prefers to live life on his own terms. He rubs some of the mighty and powerful, who comes to his TV show, in the wrong way and never regrets it as well.

Raghunandan's fatal addiction towards alcohol takes a heavy toll on his personal and professional life. However, good sense dawns, albeit late, when he comes across a man who is worse than him because of his drinking problem. That is plumber Mani who is so drunk that he cannot distinguish between what is real and unreal. His character manifests all the worst characteristics of an alcoholic, including abusing his wife. Mani changes everything, bringing some meaning to Raghunandan's life.

Hit songs

   Not yet.

Boxoffice Results

The film was positively received by most critics. The movie was reportedly well received by the audiences who opined that it is a class affair with a fine script from the director. Most of them suggested that it gives a good message to the youth who is addicted to alcohol.

Nowrunning.com rated the film  and said, "Spirit is a turbulent watch that is bound to clamor for your attention. 

Malayalamnet.in gave the film a rating of  and said, "spirit is an advice to the community presented in a well manner".

The film received some negative review as well. 
Deccan Herald said, "There are too many characters and side stories, some of which are not relevant at all.Some ideas are introduced and left incomplete, which is a shame.

Sify.com said, "If you are not expecting a high voltage drama stuffed with the usual share of emotions, Spirit can turn out to be a nice experience.

Overall Rating: 3/5

Verdict: Hit