`Orkkuka Vallapozhum' the very first movie released this year, is something that may not measure it up to the status of a great film. But it is also one that cannot be easily avoided. An intelligently made film about the nostalgic trip of a desolate septuagenarian, the effort is one that definitely needs to be appreciated, particularly when considering that it comes from a debutante director.
Sohanlal, for his debut film has chosen the subject that has been in the circuit for quite some time. Even the movie's protagonist Thilakan had himself been in a similar role, a couple for years ago in 'Ekantham' which even fetched him a national mention. But the director has played it safe by sticking to the typical formulaic arty path, rather than going to try odd ways to look different.
The movie has Thilakan as Sethumadhavan, who is left all alone as his wife is no more and his son is working abroad. One day, he finds a way out of his monotonous routines by setting off on a journey to his childhood. After a long drive, he finds out his childhood house, an old and derelict bungalow taken care of by Kashi (Jagadheesh). Sethumadhavan stays there and takes short trips to his happy childhood and adolescence where he had a loving companion in Paru (Debutante Shilpabala). He also finds to his surprise a young girl Devu in that quite hamlet, who resembles very much to Paru, which also trap him somewhere between the past and present.
Thilakan, as usual excels with his performances, but the character slightly fall short from becoming one of his bests. Debutante Shilpabala as Paru and Devu, shows promise of the star in the making. Jagadheesh, Rajith Menon, and Chali Pala also have a meaty role while the rest of the cast including Krishnachandran and Bindu Varapuzha are also satisfactory.
Director Sohanlal, who has done the script as well, makes an impressive debut mixing up the tales of different times in an engaging manner. But had he paid more attention to eliminate some cliched modes of narratives and some expected patterns of dialogues, the movie could have become even more memorable affair.
A couple of songs in the movie set to music by M Jayachandran are good of which Pandaththe Kalithozhan." is a brilliant hear.
The other highlight of the movie is definitely the camerawork by Cinematographer M G Radhakrishnan, who is all set to be in the race for another award session, from his very first film of the year.
On the whole, `Orkkuka Vallapozhum' is a poignant tale told with heart, an attempt that has not gone futile.
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