Daivathinte Swantham Cleetus Review

Mammootty has a very interesting year in 2013 with many films featuring him in good, humanitarian roles. But none of the them, except 'Immanuel' had been in that clear commercial grammar, which also affected their Box Office run. The latest from the Mammootty camp for Onam 'Daivathinte Swantham Cleetus' is one film that can help the senior star to find another safe hit. Opening in a light note with plenty of comedies, and progressing through small heroics and culminating in those emotional sequences, the movie will definitely satisfy the fans of the star.

Directed by newcomer G Marthandan and scripted by Benny P Nayarambalam, the movie have Mammootty as a small-time goon, who is selected by a priest to play Jesus Christ in a drama meant for fund-raising for the church. His uncanny resemblance to Jesus Christ in looks and mannerisms -the composure, stillness and glow on the face all forces the Priest (siddhique) to have him in the lead role. Though Cleetus controls himself much, his actual self comes to the fore during rehearsals. And even when the actualities behind the new actor is revealed, the priest persists in his decision of continuing the drama with the goonda guy, in the hope that the character in which he is in the dram has the power to lead his transformation.

The movie has an ensemble cast of Aju Varghese, Thesni Khan, Abu Salim, Rajath menon Suraj Venjaramoodu and P Balachandran who makes merry with their witty one-liners all through the first half. Benny P Nayarabalam succeeds in giving them all fine dialogues to time well and uses many satirical gags on the existing film industry as well, to push the narratives. Mammootty in a very different getup appear energetic than many of his recent films, but has little to do in the acting side expect in the final sequences and make a easy cakewalk through the movie. The lead ladies, including Honey rose were average. But the later half gains a pinch of melodrama, moves around usual Benny P Nayarambalam sequences before concluding into an optimum finale.

The technical sides of the movie are fine with good visuals from Pradeep Nair. G marthandan also will benefit with this film as a 'debut-hit' maker, but needs to fine tune his sequence building abilities. The BG scores are average with no catchy songs in the narrative..

All in all, this 'Cletus, may succeed as a festival escapade and is sure to make the producers merry.

Rating - 6.5/10